I listened to this books on audio cd. The readers little girl whispery voice was intensely annoying. I did finish it and I would never presume to critize her choices and acts. What I find difficult to understand (spoiler ahead) are her choices outside the "church". She speaks of her mother and father as victims of a "religion" and of their inability to help or protect her as "because of their religous beliefs". The religious belief that one man and one man only talks to God and runs their life. Isn't this a cult? Doesn't she see it as a cult now that she's on the ouside. As a mother, she should have a clearer picture of what her parents did not do. Her constant use of the "love" of her mother is self-deluding. But I cannot question her big heart and forgiveness. Warren Jeffs may be gone, but her sisters are still there. Cults and their victims are very sad things. Editors should have trimmed this book by half. And definitely gotten a different reader.

Stolen Innocence was a unique story written about how one woman was able to escape the clutches of the FLDS after a 4 year forced marriage at age 14 to her first cousin who had been known to be abusive towards her as children. When she would not obey him, he repeatedly raped and physically abused her.

The marriage was arranged, in part, as punishment to her and her mother because they had spoken out on several ocassions and were thought to be a "troubled" family. Despite her begging and pleading not to marry a cousin "I hated," she was told she either went through with the marriage or her family would be excommunicated and set out on the highway. She had seen this happen to her brother and others, so out of fear went through with the "marriage."

Although I don't in any way condone her husband's actions, it appears from the book that he, too, was a victim of this order. There was NEVER any sex education: in fact, the word sex was never used, and was a subject not even married women were allowed to discuss. Children were taught to think of the other sex as "snakes," and even casual touching was forbid. Then, suddenly you are married, and all the girls have ever been told is "Your husband will explain your wifely duties to you." Sex is only supposed to happen to pro-create and NEVER for pleasure. In this case, the young man didn't seem to have any more knowledge of what he was supposed to do than she did. A man will have his "pristhood" taken away from him if he cannot control his family. This means he will not be allowed to enter the Celestrial kimdom, so it is a big deal. Fearing he was loosing control of his 14 year old wife, he began to rape her to insure she provided him with children. Unfortunately, she suffered 3 miscarriages and 1 stillbirth with NO medical care.

This religious group believes that Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was correct when he stated Pologamy was a revelation from God. The purpose was to create a family on earth that would be transferred to the Celestrail Kingdom for those who "stay sweet," and take advice from the Prophet, whom they believe are receiving messages directly from God. The men will then be set up as God's of their own "Kindoms." BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE OBEDIENT,and have duitiful wives.

The biggest problem in this story was that a sociapathic man who studied Hittler, manipulated his way into becoming the professed prophet. Because this group had been brought up to believe that anything the Prophet says is coming directly from God, no one questioned his actions. Those who did were x-communicated, had their wives and children taken away, their homes taken, and were left penniless. Under Warren Jeffs rule, the governing body of 12 was done away with, all property individually owned was taken and given to the "church," who then gave out land and houses to the "most worthy" of followers.

Because the people are carefully removed from society and taught that outsiders are evil and will only cause extreme harm, they are afraid to come forward. All the local Police, Judges, etc are FLDS members, so going to the authorities is fruitless.

This women came forward with the truth of what was happening in this isolated town despite death threats to her and her family. She risked her very life to come forward, and as a result has brought knowledge to authorities, who then were able to act on reports by many who had fled.

The book is well written, flows well, and explains why and how this has happened.

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What the Kindle version lacks is nice pictures. The pictures are displayed, but black and white and faded.

I thought this was an excellent book, very thought-provoking. It was a look into a very strange life compared to how most women live in this day and age. It seems hard to understand how these women and men go along with a "prophet" who makes every decision for them, including who they marry and at what age. Then you look back at history and there were many people who were able to control others like this, eg. Jim Jones, whose followers committed mass suicide. It is hard to believe that this kind of mind control is still in existence. It was a definite eye-opener for me.

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs

A disturbing look at the cult commonly called the FLDS, a polygamy espousing sect with enclaves in British Columbia, Utah, Arizona, Texas and Mexico and ruthlessly run by jailed "prophet" Warren Steed Jeffs. This is the story of Elissa Wall whom Jeffs forced to marry at age fourteen her abusive first cousin, and from whom she later escaped.

Stolen Innocence recounts the ordeal Wall's life was in a cult where women must be subservient to their husbands, and most importantly, to the prophet, or face consequences. Wall describes her ordeal in prose, while not literary, is at least compelling and aptly states her case.

During her horiffic marriage she suffers rape, miscarriages, extreme mental cruelty and takes to sleeping in her truck to avoid the bedroom and her abusive husband. She watches her 18-year-old brother banished from the enclave with her parents doing nothing to stop the action. She witnesses her mother removed from her blood father and reassigned to another man as his fifteenth wife.

She recounts how a former FLDS man befriends her and how that friendship turns to love. And most importantly, you'll read how she got the courage to tell her story and give the testimony to convict Warren Jeffs.

Difficult to read without feeling pity and anger, but an important book in learning about this sect.

There is no doubt that Elissa Wall suffered at the hands of the FLDS cult and Warren Jeffs in particular. Her story would have been more engaging had it been more succinct in it's writing. Read: it went on and on and on........While the tone and style are that of a young girl, (and perhaps the author(s) wanted to maintain that), the book simply grew tiresome from redundancy, lack of intrigue, and sheer wordiness. While Wall definitely has a story to tell, she could have told it better.

I just finished reading Stolen Innocents by Elissa Wall. From the moment I opened the front cover I was pulled into a story of strength and very real trauma that Elissa was subjected to in her childhood. Elissa's account of her life makes your heart ache for her and makes you feel as if you were right there with her but like many other people in the story unable to help her and you are left feeling as desperate as she did. The strength and survival instinct Elissa displayed is amazing. I encourage anyone to read this book, there are lessons for ever man and woman. Elissa is a role model of what can be achieved when you are trusting of the process and are not willing to be defeated! A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this book go to MJ Fund , a fund designed to help other people in the situation. That alone is a great reason to purchase this book. God bless you Elissa, and thank you for filling my heart and showing women not to back down and be defeated.

I felt this book was a very good book very well written......one can only imagaine what that poor girl went through.....peace be with her!!!! overall it was a very good book!!!!

I just finished reading Stolen Innocents by Elissa Wall. From the moment I opened the front cover I was pulled into a story of strength and very real trauma that Elissa was subjected to in her childhood. Elissa's account of her life makes your heart ache for her and makes you feel as if you were right there with her but like many other people in the story unable to help her and you are left feeling as desperate as she did. The strength and survival instinct Elissa displayed is amazing. I encourage anyone to read this book, there are lessons for ever man and woman. Elissa is a role model of what can be achieved when you are trusting of the process and are not willing to be defeated! A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this book go to MJ Fund , a fund designed to help other people in the situation. That alone is a great reason to purchase this book. God bless you Elissa, and thank you for filling my heart and showing women not to back down and be defeated.

I've recently read three books on life in the polygamous sect, the FDLS, and this is by far the most readable of the three. Elissa Wall's story is contemporary. She recounts the mental and physical pain of living under the leadership of Warren Jeffs and the difficulty of breaking away from a religious community in which one has been raised. A fast read, this is a fascinating book that gives insight into the recent court cases concerning this fundamental group.

This was a long story of how Elissa grew up in the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints community, how her life was controlled by a man called "The Prophet" whom she was taught to believe spoke for God and how she eventually broke free. She was forced to marry at age 14 against her will, was raped and finally left the community and brought charges against "The Prophet." This book gives the reader an inside look into the workings of a polygamous cult and shows how difficult it is for people to leave. It is shocking that this really happened in America in recent times.

Elissa was forced to marry her 19-year-old first cousin at age 14 while living in a polygamous sect. Eventually a nearby stranger helped her break free at age 18, after which she provided crucial court testimony against sect leader Warren Jeffs.

Elissa remembers her father, a respected geologist, engineer and entrepreneur, obtained his third wife. Having three wives was required to achieve the highest level of heaven.

Two wives had already created a climate of suspicion and distrust involving issues such as parenting style, spending priorities, and the access to the lone husband. Sect fathers lived in fear of local prophets - if considered a threat to the faith they could be expelled from the colony and lose both their family and home. Not being able to bring peace to a home could also qualify for expulsion. (This happened to Elissa's father, who then spent much of his life attempting to regain them.) The sect prophet also had the power to compel wage-earners to quit their job and move closer, even to sell a business to designated buyers (eg. the prophet's relatives), with most of the proceeds going to the church.

Members were expected to dedicate Saturdays laboring on churchwork projects. Outside "non-worthy" books and TV were banned.

There were 22 children in the family at the time. Elissa went to private sect school in a converted 20+ bedroom home. Her mother was an herbalist, and as a consequence Elissa rarely saw a doctor. Her older sister was married to the 81-year-old prophet.

Women had no rights vs. a husband. Elissa eventually recognized that getting married and having children was a sect means of disciplining - she would then be under the threat of having her own children taken away. Regardless, by age 16 she had had 2 miscarriages and a stillbirth.

Eventually the people Jeffs had abused got together for revenge; they saw Elissa as a valuable tool to be used through the courts. Jeffs was arrested, tried and convicted of being an accomplice to rape of a minor, and sentenced to a minimum of ten years in prison, with another trial scheduled in Arizona. However, it was also disconcerting to read that some in the community then refused to work with her husband.

Elissa is to be commended for rebelling, taking a public stand against Jeffs and the sect, and helping end or at least curtail these practices. Additional "good news" is that rebellion ran in her family - her brothers and several sisters also escaped, despite their parents' strong opposition.

This book was outstanding. The courage it took for Elissa Wall to write this book about her life. This was a book I couldnt put down. I would reading it, and then look up and it would be 2 or 3 in the morning. I brought the book everywhere with me, just so when i had a few minutes i could continue reading! I would recommand this book to any one that wants a good read!!!

This is a riveting account of a childhood circumstance that should never have happened. And yet, as the author herself points out at the end, this sort of thing is still going on in the FLDS community. This book is a very uncomfortable read on many levels, and is made even more so thanks to the publisher's corner-cutting to save a few bucks - obviously, not even a proofreader, let alone a copyeditor, ever saw this book before it went to press. What a mess! I'll think twice before buying anything from this publisher again.

Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall is the book that tells the tale of the girl who put Warren Jeffs behind bars. Elissa was raised by the polygamous group known as the FLDS, and at the age of 14 was married to her first cousin by Warren Jeffs, despite her pleas and tears begging for more time or at least a different groom. She regularly faced rape and abuse by her husband Allen, until she found freedom and strength through her siblings who had left the group and eventually fell in love with another former FLDS member. They are now married with two small children. When authorities were looking for a way to bring Jeffs to justice, it was Elissa's case that they used and her testimony that convicted the cult leader and sent him to prison. Elissa's story is heartbreaking. The FLDS regularly manipulated families, pulling them apart and trying to fit wives and children into new families, even telling them that God changed their DNA to fit into the new "father's" genes. As a child raised within the group, she saw firsthand the damage done to her father and mother, both of whom remain in the religion. Elissa's rise to independence is a terrific story for all women, and she has a wonderful voice.

I am only halfway through with this book but I am enthralled and can't put it down. I came here to see what some of the reviews were. I am troubled that others might think that the FLDS, which is a serious cult, is in any way related to Christianity. Nowhere in the book yet has she mentioned the word Jesus or His death on the cross to save us from our sins. THAT, my friends, is what true Christianity is about: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for those who accept his loving sacrifice. So far in this book, only Warren Jeffs, a mere man, and his father Rulon Jeffs are held up in such a godlike status. Woe to those who have been so deceived. I pray that Elissa's story will help others to break free of this dangerous cult.

To give this book 5 stars dose this book an injustice! It's a 10 Plus!! It is the true story of Elissa Wall, who grew up in the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints ("FLDS") and was taught to believe all she was told. You will laugh and recoil in anger at what she goes through. Then she finds the courage to go to court and face the "Prophet."

You are a remarkabe woman, Elissa! Thanks for sharing your story. Everyone will enjoy this book. It reads like fiction, but you know it's not. I hated to see it end. It's just incredible!

I greatly admire and respect Elissa Wall, but not this book she wrote... obviously with the help of an amateur journalist. Yes, the story seemed interesting enough for me to pay $25, but wasn't worth it in the least. I guess it could be a good beach read... but check it out of the library, or at least wait for the paperback. This book is no work of art, and certainly wasn't life changing. The writing was laugh-out-loud terrible. I guess I have to give it to Elissa, though--she certainly had a tough life. But, don't buy the book. You're much better off with "Under the Banner of Heaven".

This is a great book! It came right away and was in really good condition. I would do business with this seller again!

Over 10 years ago, our across the street neighbors were polygamists, the husband had two wives. One lived in the upstairs apartment the other in the bottom apartment. Nothing was ever said, our kids sometimes played together, we waved to each other as we went on our ways. One morning, the apartments were empty. Where there had been activity the night before there was nothing. Under the cover of night the family had picked up everything and moved. Several people came by looking for them, but there was no forwarding information. Not until I ran into one of the children several years later did I know what had happened.....they had received word from their prophet that they had to move immediately, and so this little family did as they were instructed. The one son (the one who told me this) eventually was forced out of the community and had returned to a familiar areas to make his way.

This is my only close up experience with the practice of polygamy, though I know it exists all around. Polygamists are not part of the Mormon Church The Mormon Church quit the practice of multiple wives in the 1800's. Living in Utah, it is a part of our state's history. Many of us have polygamy somewhere back in our own family line.

The news of actual charges being presses against the leader of the FLDS was stunning. Over the years there had been cases brought here and there, but never against the leader of the sect. News stories carried the troubling stories that followers were moving to southern Utah and becomming ever more secretative. several families had members move away without a word. Now,their prophet, Warren Jeffs was being charges with aiding rape. My first impression of Elissa Wall (though her name was not made public at the time) was that she was an unbelievably strong young woman. Stolen Innocence is a glimpse into the very secretive world of the FLDS and the laws and beliefs that bind them. Chosen by the prophet to marry a young man she did not like, and soon grew to hate, Elissa tried every thing within her abilities to seek to understand the "whys" of or an end to the marriage. Time after time she sought counsel and tried to pray and humble herself so she could understand the reason she needed to remain in this union. Each time she was told she was lacking and that she should turn to her husband. She wanted to remain within the church, but as each attempt she made was met with harshness and cold unyielding doctrine, she soon saw the outside world as her only chance.

Unfortunately, as the FLDS people became more and more entrenched in the teachings of Warren Jeffs they lost touch with the outside world. Elissa had to throw aside all she had learned about the world and hope that someone would believe her and help her find relief and happiness.

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs
I have read numerous books on this subject. It held my interest. I would recommend it to some one who wants to learn the inside workings of this group.

I have read both Escape & Stolen Innocence. Stolen Innocence is unnecessarily too long and so redundant at times. I skipped a bunch of pages, especially in the end. However, with that said Elissa Wall tells a very interesting and unfortunate story.

This book had fascinating content. The life of the FLDS women is so different from anything like other women in the US. Reading this book is like a window into a different world. I think it gives us more compassion and understanding for people who are not raised with our freedoms, be they FLDS or other religion within the US, or in another country. Most amazing to me is how Elisa was able to slowly come around to freeing herself, and the attitudes of the women who just cannot free themselves.

Yes, the writing style is "amateur," but the editing is mostly sound, and since this is written in the voice of someone with an 8th grade education (a deficient one, at that), it is authentic. It's not "Angela's Ashes," but despite a little bit of a slow pace, it is a good read that somehow sucks you in. The style of it actually seems mostly like a testimonial in a courtroom. Seeing as a legal proceeding was the reason why Elisa had to relive all of this, that makes sense. I am glad she had the courage to come forward.

I am fascinated by the mind games that are played in the name of religion and applaud this young woman for her ability to see past her indoctrination and begin making decisions for herself. Unfortunately the gentleman in charge of this organization needed psychological help and never got it because of the blind faith of the people around him. The consequences for all involved are dire, including Mr. Jeffs. This was a very interesting read and it helped me to understand the mind of those who embrace these philosophies. I wish the author the best in her "new life" and hope she always questions the path someone else lays out for her and instead charts her own path.

It was really hard to put this book down. It's one that you just want to curl up with and read from cover to cover. A very different way of living than I am used to, or would want to be used to, but very interesting to read about.

Difficult Read / Fascinating Story

While I applaud Elissa Wall for her willingness to share her trials and tribulations in the FLDS, I am totally baffled by the fact that HarperCollins publishers were willing to print a book with a zillion grammatical errors. As a veteran teacher and media specialist, I was shocked by the number of errors. While I realize she only had an eighth grade education, didn't she have a co-author and an editor???? The book had numerous errors such as:

*dropped articles (a, an, the)
*misspelled words
*pronouns not agreeing with nouns
*incorrect verb usage
*run-on sentences
*typo graphical errors (Spell Check does NOT identify misuse of correctly spelled words)

If Americans are truly concerned about our children being educated, let's blame others in our culture besides teachers. Even the sub-heading of chapter 29 is missing the article "a" within a quote from Emily Dickinson!!! I am thinking she would have turned over in her grave with such a glaring oversight. Merril Jessop's name is misspelled in several places (he took over the FLDS after Jeffs' incarceration).

This would have been an excellent book for high school students to read IF it had been written grammatically correct. I would never recommend this book to anyone as it exists today, which is a travesty in my eyes. Her courage to leave the FLDS cult and stand up to the dictator Warren Jeffs could have been a tremendous example to so many people who face insurmountable odds.

However, I would strongly recommend Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer, and Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer.
The most positive aspect of the book was Jeffs' trial and his incarceration.

I kept literally shaking my head "no" as I read all of these books because of my inability to relate to each follower's situation. I kept thinking HOW MUCH ABUSE IS TOO MUCH??? It is extremely difficult as an outsider to understand how Jeff's followers and now Merril Jessop's followers blindly believe everything they are told. I hope that other women and children who are abused will also be able to escape this Evil Empire.

This is an amazing subject and I really admire Elissa Wall for telling it to us and for appearing in the court case that brought down Warren Jeffs. But for those of us who know very little about this subject, there could have had more detail.
Not of all the traumatic things that happened to her, but of all the every day life in a FCLSD. I wanted to know what they ate (with 14 children), how the sleeping arrangements were organised. I wanted to know what they learnt in their home economics class (since most of us these days have never done home ec). I was curious about their clothing, where they got the material, what was popular amongst the girls, acceptable by the leaders and how they learnt to make them. What were the undergarments she referrred to? I wondered why the photographs were so poorly captioned. Which one was Rachel, Kassandra or even Mother Laura and Mother Audrey? I was confused about the actual nature of the rows in their household. How did they do those hair-dos and what sort of chores were they doing for how long and how often.
I don't blame Elissa, she had lived the life and couldn't see it objectively, but she had a ghost writer (Lisa Pulitzer) and presumably William Morrow gave them an editor, who could have drawn her out for the prosaic details of her extraordinary life.

This is a very interesting book and I am literally unable to put the book down. I was surprised to learn how uninformed I have been about this way of living and that it has still to this day thrived to stay alive in this country so hidden from many people. How brave Elisa has been to break away to tell her story to the world.

A refreshing account of the young woman who brought about the downfall of Warren Jeff as leader/prophet of the polygamous sect of the Morman religion. In this day and age it is very difficult to understand how there can be this big body of people held captive to the controlling mindset of women being possessions. This book has it all - an understanding of brainwashing techniques and the lustful ways of the men that us them. Wake up USA! Read the book and weep at our ignorance.

I enjoyed reading this book. Broke my heart to hear everything she and her family went through. I thought the first half of the book was a litle slow moving but otherwise I enjoyed it. She's a strong woman. I would recommend this book.

This is the 4th book about polygamy I've read just since hearing all about the FLDS in the news recently. I have been fascinated by the stories and found it hard to believe that pologamy is still being practiced in 2008. I had no idea. Amazing.

Of all 4 books I have read so far, I would have to rate this book #1 and definitely far, far better than "escape" by Carlolyn Jessop (whom also was from the FLDS group). I wasted my money on that book, and as a result, waited to get this one from the library as I didn't want to throw away my money again. In fact, I almost didn't read this one at all. But in the end, I was too curious not to read it. I'm glad I did. This book is much much better written and I didn't notice any contradictions in the book.

This child of 14 had far more reasons to feel betrayed and upset. She was abused many times by her husband. I never really got the feeling anywhere in the book that she was trying to lay blame on everyone else, just her abuser and the men who helped him continue his abuse. In fact, several times she mentions how there are good people in this cult. This book seems to be much more honest. Even when there were fights in her family with the other Mothers in her growing up years, she was always able to see their side of the story and not totally lay the blame on them. Remarkable, especially for a child so young.

Also, given the fact that she tried multiple times (by requesting meetings with the "prophet" and pleading her case to her Mother and Step-Father) to prevent and later to get out of her forced marriage, especially at the tender age of 14 spoke a great deal about her. If I had been in the same shoes, I know, at age 14, that I would not have had the courage to stand up to the "prophet" as she did. What she did was remarkable and proves she did all she could at that tender age to try somehow, someway to get out of that marriage.

I agree with another reviewer that this book doesn't deal as much with pologamy as sexual abuse, however, she does give many details about her own family growing up with 3 Mothers. I think it was horrible how Warren Jeffs kept separating their Father from his family and just "gave" his wives and children to other men. That is outrageous.

I read the book in one afternoon, I couldn't lay it down it was so interesting. And, thankfully, this book didn't leave me with the impression that she thought she was above everyone else in their cult, and she never tried to run the others down. In fact, my only impression when finishing the book was that I wanted to weep for her. I hope she and her current husband find continued healing and that somehow she can reunite with her Mother and sisters again.

A cut above the other pologamy books I've read, and several notches above "Escape".

Very good book. Well worth reading.

The awareness of the public regarding polygamy and its harmful effects has increased dramatically since early April, 2008, when Texas authorities raided the FLDS compound at El Dorado. Several books have been written in the last 2 years or so by women who managed to get out of the grip of FLDS or other fundamentalist polygamist sects. No doubt their sales have increased since this raid (at least I hope so.)

This book, though, is the one written by the young woman whose victimization ultimately led to the arrest and imprisonment of Warren Jeffs. You should read all these books. Save this one for last, however, because in a sense it is a culmination, of sorts, of the issues raised in the other stories.

Many elements of these various sagas are similar: raised from birth in the polygamist sect, the same game of mind control and behavior control by a handful of men acting without checks and balances, unhappiness and at times terror in the lives of the young victims (especially women) as they grow, become "married", and are at that point the chattel of their "husband" and expected to become an ever-willing baby making machine.

The story is so familiar, after reading one or two of these accounts.

Elissa's account is different. She figured out at a young age that something was grievously wrong with this culture and its mores. She knew instinctively that all of this was wrong and harmful. Even more astoundingly, she found the courage to get out. Talk about courage on a battlefield?--read this and see what courage it takes for a young girl to do what is right in the face of friends and family condemning her to Hell.

The lesson for the rest of us similar to that in the other accounts. One is never wrong to think for oneself; to question those who claim an absolute authority over a person's life and body (especially when they claim a religious authority to do so.)

Given the odds stacked against her, it is amazing that the outcome led to Jeffs' imprisonment. She is a remarkable woman. You should read her book.

After finishing the book, I just wanted to call Elissa and congratulate her for escaping the FLDS cult as well as bringing their 'prophet' to justice. Escaping mind control is extremely difficult and those who have not been through this, probably do not understand the immense social and emotional control that a religious cult can place on people.

I hope that her message reaches into the dark corners of Short Creek and helps other girls escape as well.

I was given this book to read by my mother in law. I dont' read a lot of memoirs but I can tell you that this one was amazing. No one should miss this opportunity to learn first hand about what goes on in this FLDS 'religion'. This group of people, this culture, is based upon the men dominating the woman. The religion proclaims that a man's key to heaven is to obtain three or more wives and keep them in the children ruled over with a firm hand. The woman's key is to 'keep sweet' and obey your husband at all cost, never let anyone see that you are less than perfectly happy in your subordinate lifestyle. And if the men don't honor their part in the religion? They can lose thier wives, children, home and money. Sometimes their jobs. Young boys who question the religion are tossed out, literally onto the streets, some as young as twelve. There is much more to learn, a lot of it pretty shocking. Elissa Wall grew up in this culture; she lived in a house with three mothers. When she turned fourteen, the 'prophet' Warren Jeffs, forced her to marry her 19 year old half first cousin. They share the same grandfather. When Elissa faught the marriage, she was mentally beaten down and had no escape. After repeatedly telling her 'husband' she wanted no physical relationship, she was raped. Repeatedly raped, and physically abused at times as well. Here we learn what lead to her escape from the religion and how she came to fight Warren Jeffs in court and save many future children from him. Elissa made MANY sacrifices along the way, and her story is heartbreaking. I cried at several points of the book. I plan to try to learn more about the history of these people and how evil or misguided men obtained such powerful and total control over thousands of followers. We need to stop this from happening to youth who don't know a way out. Elisssa's story can definitely help. The only reason this book got a four star rating rather than a five is because the writing is weak. Points are often repeated far too often. I think the editing and professional help Ms Wall employed could have cleaned the story up as far as the grammatical problems went. Otherwise, an unbelieveably quick but humbling and eye opening read.

I must say, I was disappointed in this book. I have read several other books by "wives" who have "escaped" and I found this one quite boring. I got really tired of hearing how Allen did this to me, Allen did that to me. As another reviewer stated, she had a rebellious spirit to challenge the prophet over and over. The first 100 pages were good, the last 100 pages were better, because of her courage in testifying against Warren Jeffs. The middle could have been pared down to 75 pages or so. If you want a really good glimpse into the mindset of a FLDS wife read Irene Spencer's Shattered Dreams. But keep in mind her story takes place in the 50s and 60s and has a totally different viewpoint.

Most mothers and fathers would lay down their lives to protect their children, but not the parents of Stolen Innocence author Elissa Wall (warning-upcoming spoilers). Her mother Sharon becomes the second (of three required) wife of Douglas Wall, who sires almost two-dozen children with the three of them. Dad's response to learning of abuse suffered by his toddler daughter: a verbal complaint to church leaders, which goes nowhere. At seven, (p 36) Elissa's 22-year-old sister learns she'll marry Rulon Jeffs, a man (at 81) old-enough to be her great-grandfather. Two years later (p 193), another sister, then nineteen, shares the same fate. At ten, Dad decides that her 18-year-old brother must leave the household (p 47) rather than attend "reform" (think forced labor church camp for naughty kids). Mom promptly ditches him by the side of the highway. Months later, after a series of warnings and punishments, God, through his mouthpiece Warren Jeffs, deems Douglas unworthy and "reassigns" Sharon and her children to a man with already over 15 wives and twice as many children. Fortunately, (p 101) God transforms the tainted blood and DNA of reassignees to match that of the worthy fatherly successor. By the time Sharon Wall learns that her daughter is to be married at fourteen, she knows just what to do: throw her to the wolves (after writing the obligatory complaint letter). (p 149) "This must be the will of God and the prophet," Mom tells her future rape victime daughter. Elissa respectfully, repeatedly questions the decision, but is ultimately forced to submit to the demands of the FLDS and, in spite of zero knowledge about the birds and the bees, the amorous advances of her first-cousin husband. Expectedly, Mother and absent BioFather do nothing. Fortunately, she saves herself with a little help from a friend.

Ms. Wall's story is compelling, but the writing of a middle-school educated girl is expectedly amateurish and stiff. In fact, the attempts at using challenging vocabulary and complicated phrasing only make things worse, (p 66) "...assuage my own overwhelming loneliness," (p 123) "A sick, heavy feeling crawled into my stomach...," (p 128) "...she cautioned, interrupting my stream of consciousness," (p 146) "...deep melancholy had taken over my mind," (p 154) "Sad thoughts permeated my mind and put me in a somber daze." Stolen Innocence won't be winning any literary awards, but it is an honest, forthright, firsthand account of one girl's memories of life within the FLDS. Good companion reads: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

It was a book I just couldn't put down. It was easy reading - I usually don't read a book that thick in a week like I did. I think it's a subject that most women would find interesting - I'm passing it around at work now. This book just HAD to be written and I'm glad she found the courage to do it. It's hard to believe that stuff like this goes on in this day and age.

a great glimpse into the world of the Fundamental sect of the Mormon church. Elissa Wall's first hand account of growing up under the rule of "the prophet" is clearly written by an amatuer, but very interesting if you are intrigued by their way of life and want to learn more.

This book, like Carolyn Jessop's "Escape," was hard to put down. I found this book even more disturbing than Jessop's, however. It is amazing to me that people live this way in the United States in this day and age-unbelievable. This seems like something that should have been going on in a remote part of the world 200 years ago. Bravo to the people who question this so-called religion and have the courage to leave. It's a shame what the children of the FLDS have to deal with- and what their so-called parents allow them to suffer. The unwavering love Elissa Wall holds for her mother after all she has been through, without the support of her mother, is hard to comprehend. This book shows how truly gullible people can be, and how evil others are who prey on people under the guise and false "teachings" all based on religion and religious beliefs. Very scary. This book disturbed me and made me very sad at the same time. I congratulate Elissa Wall and her family members who got the heck out of there. Most of the adults of the FLDS should either be in prison, or in a psychological facilities. Out there doesn't even begin to describe them. Being gullible is no excuse for some of the things that are described. I feel sorry for those children and everyone who still believes that the FLDS is the way to live. It's nothing but a breeding ground for acceptable abuse of many kinds and levels. The women in particular need to get educated and open their eyes. They're being used and treated like pieces of meat and nothing more. Criminal.

The author should be commended for her instrumental role in getting Warren Jeffs behind bars, and it is good to have an additional voice in the battle against the FLDS. That said, the book itself left a lot to be desired.
I agree with a previous reviewer who wondered why Elissa did not seize upon her many earlier opportunities to flee. Yes, she was raised with the FLDS mindset, but she disobeyed and rebelled against the rules over and over. For all her claims that she believed she had to obey the "prophet," she was not afraid to speak up, even to Rulon and Warren, when she wished. She also led a life that was completely alien to most of its members (not that that's a bad thing). It certainly seems that it was her affair with Lamont that propelled her to leave and not the abusive lifestyle she endured, or she would have attempted to earlier, given that she was hardly the model of a submissive FLDS wife and daughter. Furthermore, she excuses her mother's dreadful behavior by constantly saying that her mother was raised in the FLDS, believed in them, and this lifestyle was all she knew. Then why doesn't the same go for Allen? He was raised in the FLDS, this is all he knew, too, and he completely believed that Elissa was his wife and that he had a right to sexual relations with her. I think what her mother did was much worse. She abandoned Elissa and her other children many times and never even explained to her what consummation of a marriage would entail. Had she done that, Elissa would not have been so shocked and unprepared. Of course it is a horror and a crime that a 14-year old would have to be married, but Elissa says that the worst part of her wedding night was that she didn't understand what Allen was trying to do. Yet Elissa forgives her mother and praises her, understands her mindset, but does not extend this understanding to a young man who was told that this was his duty. I think he really struggled to understand his young wife and was hurt by her. I hope that he is able somehow to escape the FLDS because he deserves a shot at life, too.
Finally, though in the acknowledgments the copy editor is thanked for her "meticulousness," the book is riddled with errors.
This is a one-star book to which I am giving three stars, strictly because at least she did help bring Jeffs to justice.

I love how she describes her life befor warren jeffs, its not all about poor me and its not a pitty party, this book was very interesting, i never rooled my eyes in the whatever tone i have done befor... i have passed this book on down through to my sister and she loved it also

This book was excellent! It was very well written and easy to understand, considering what a complicated religion the FLDS is. I would love for her to write a follow up book about her life afte the trial.

I received the book in good condition and very quickly. I am quite pleased with this vender's business manners.

Elissa does a great job at telling her story. You really put yourself in her shoes. Some nights, after reading the book, I couldn't sleep. I would just think about all the creepy things Warren Jeffs would do to the people in the community.

With hearing about the whole FLDS in Texas and underage brides, I was curious. I saw this book at Target and picked it up. I probably read the covers and looked at her pictures for a good 10 minutes, I totally forgot I was standing in an isle in a store lol. This book will really open your eyes on this for of religion. How it's almost inexcapable. As tough as it all is, Elisa is strong and finds the good in all of it. It makes me think that if I were in her situation, married at 14 to a jerk, I would do the same thing. This was a very very good book.

I just finished this book and found it fascinating and an eye-opener.
It amazes me at how young the author is right now in light of what she has already been through. What she has done has taken a lot of courage and determination, and I applaud her bravery.
This book, along with several others lately, bring to light a lot of things that have been kept secret about this cult--and cult is what it is. The followers, both men and women, appear to do whatever the "Prophet" tells them to. I have a feeling that if they were told that God (through the prophet) wanted them to drink poison, many of them would do so without hesitation--another Jim Jones situation.
What I have trouble understanding is why the federal government doesn't do something about this whole situation. Numerous laws are being broken on a daily basis, not to mention one of their cloaked goals is to undermine the government. What keeps this from being as dangerous as any other instance when someone is trying to destroy our government, other than it is a much quieter, slower way to accomplish their purpose?
Overall, the book was a very good read and evidently, according to other people's comments, has also opened many people's eyes as to what is really going on. It needs to be stopped--the kids can't protect themselves.

I cannot get enough of the subject of the FLDS nad polygamy and have been reading everything I can get my hands on, Elissa's story should give hope to all the women and girls who are stuck in the FLDS.
On a side note, it is a very fast, easy read.

It is unimaginable how a child could go through what she did and become a 'stable' adult.

With the recent situation in Texas concerning the FLDS community and the state of Texas intervention, this book provides a valuable and interesting backstory. There is obviously no easy answer to the question of religious freedom. I suppose "plural marriage" if entered into by two (and/or more) willing partners is as viable as any other sort of relationship, however, how willing are women who have no other options? Where does social isolation, and a seemingly second class role of women in that society, fit with tolerance of one group's desire to pursue their religious beliefs? I am glad I was reading this book while the Texas situation was going on. It balanced my view that it is more detrimental to children/infants to be taken from loving mothers, than a concern about future/potential "child abuse." Clearly the author was a victim of abuse.

This is an incredible telling of a story. While on the television news we only get a little peek into the inner sanctum of these cults, this book gives terrific details. Even though the book is generally about how Warren Jeffs was brought to justice, I never felt like the author took advantage of the opportunity to whine or complain 'why me?' She was very matter-of-fact. Anyone who has read V. C. Andrews may notice a similar tone; I know I did. I think that was purely coincidental, and likely that it's due to it being written by someone so young.

My one complaint is all the errors; typos, time-line issues, etc. Editors and proof readers - please be more careful!!!

This book was riviting! Definitely a GREAT read, I couldn't put the book down until I was done. This book pulls on your heart strings and to think that this type of abuse and brainwashing goes on in a country such as the United States of America is uncomprehensible.