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birdloveranne's review against another edition
3.0
What a tragic story. So heart breaking.
I really didn't care for the author's style, however.
I really didn't care for the author's style, however.
alexandrabree's review against another edition
5.0
Touching, detailed, and well-written. My heart went out to the whole family for both Steven's ordeal and Cary's. It was infuriating to discover that 86+ counts of sexual assault were left uninvestigated by the county in which Parnell was arrested and that there were a whole host of other victims left without recourse. Terrible choice.
I also really liked the last couple pages where the author looked into pedophile acceptance groups NAMBLA who have more recently been in the news reels for there increased activity levels trying to piggy back on the LGB+ movement
I also really liked the last couple pages where the author looked into pedophile acceptance groups NAMBLA who have more recently been in the news reels for there increased activity levels trying to piggy back on the LGB+ movement
momo1129's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
4.0
The story of Steven Stayner, one of the first well-known long-term kidnapped children that returned home.
While Mr. Echols book has some flaws, overall, I think it's a pretty good book. Obviously it deals with some heavy subject matter, but it's still an excellent read, even if it can be a bit... 'info dumpy' in a few spots.
While Mr. Echols book has some flaws, overall, I think it's a pretty good book. Obviously it deals with some heavy subject matter, but it's still an excellent read, even if it can be a bit... 'info dumpy' in a few spots.
rroberta's review against another edition
5.0
Content warning: kidnapping, sexual assault (of a child), rape (of a child)
It’s taken me a few days to put my thoughts about I Know My First Name Is Steven into words. I briefly heard of this book on a podcast and immediately went to purchase it, only to learn it’s out of print. Some stores were selling it for upwards of $50. Thrift books came to me rescue however.
Anyway, getting to the book. This is a true telling of the kidnapping of 7 year old Steven Stayner in the 1972. Steven was abducted by convicted sex offender Kenneth Parnell and held captive for seven years. Parnell took the boy on a ruse of being a pastor and that Steven’s parents no longer wanted him. Parnell told Steven that his new name was Dennis Parnell and that Kenneth was now his dad.
For seven years Dennis (Steven) was sexually assaulted and raped. Steven says his relationship with Kenneth flipped between the abuse and being an absolutely spoiled, doted upon son. He went to school, had friends, got expensive gifts.
As Steven got older, Parnell’s sexual interest in the boy dwindled and he wanted Steven to help him abduct a new “son”. Steven refused but Kenneth found help elsewhere and soon abducted five year old Timmy White.
Steven did not want Timmy to have the same fate he did and in 1980 he and Timmy escaped and hitchhiked back to the town Timmy was abducted from, ending both of their captures.
The book itself had some challenges. The subject matter was difficult to read, being such a delicate subject. The writing style was full of adjectives and adverbs and proved to be a bit more wordy than necessary. Other than that this was a very interesting read and I highly recommend it.
It’s taken me a few days to put my thoughts about I Know My First Name Is Steven into words. I briefly heard of this book on a podcast and immediately went to purchase it, only to learn it’s out of print. Some stores were selling it for upwards of $50. Thrift books came to me rescue however.
Anyway, getting to the book. This is a true telling of the kidnapping of 7 year old Steven Stayner in the 1972. Steven was abducted by convicted sex offender Kenneth Parnell and held captive for seven years. Parnell took the boy on a ruse of being a pastor and that Steven’s parents no longer wanted him. Parnell told Steven that his new name was Dennis Parnell and that Kenneth was now his dad.
For seven years Dennis (Steven) was sexually assaulted and raped. Steven says his relationship with Kenneth flipped between the abuse and being an absolutely spoiled, doted upon son. He went to school, had friends, got expensive gifts.
As Steven got older, Parnell’s sexual interest in the boy dwindled and he wanted Steven to help him abduct a new “son”. Steven refused but Kenneth found help elsewhere and soon abducted five year old Timmy White.
Steven did not want Timmy to have the same fate he did and in 1980 he and Timmy escaped and hitchhiked back to the town Timmy was abducted from, ending both of their captures.
The book itself had some challenges. The subject matter was difficult to read, being such a delicate subject. The writing style was full of adjectives and adverbs and proved to be a bit more wordy than necessary. Other than that this was a very interesting read and I highly recommend it.
angie_nee's review against another edition
5.0
***TW:SA***
This book provides a never seen/talked about before look at the life of 'little Stevie' while he was in captivity, hence the trigger warning. While it provides descriptive details which will be hard to read for some viewers, it truly paints a vivid, disgustingly traumatic picture of Steven Stayner's life with his "dad" (aka kidnapper) Parnell.
As this book was published in 1991, it does not provide many updates, such as Parnell's death in prison.
This book provides a never seen/talked about before look at the life of 'little Stevie' while he was in captivity, hence the trigger warning. While it provides descriptive details which will be hard to read for some viewers, it truly paints a vivid, disgustingly traumatic picture of Steven Stayner's life with his "dad" (aka kidnapper) Parnell.
As this book was published in 1991, it does not provide many updates, such as Parnell's death in prison.