Book Reviewed: My Story by Elizabeth Smart

A nightmare in the life of a fourteen-year-old girl The story of Elizabeth Smart’s abduction and captivity in Salt Lake City, Utah, as it unfolded in June 2002 drew significant public attention. In this book she explores what it means to be a survivalist. It is a powerful narrative of trauma, courage, and the will to survive. During her captivity, Elizabeth was subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Around 2 a.m., Brian David Mitchell entered Elizabeth's bedroom through an open window. He duct-taped her mouth and hands then dragged her out of the house to a secluded campsite. He claimed to be a prophet sent by God. She was physically restrained with duct tape and ropes, forced her to undergo "spiritual cleansing" rituals, made her wear a disguise to conceal her identity. Isolated her from the outside world and created a sense of fear and dependence using Bible to justify his actions. He threatened her throughout her captivity that he would seek revenge on her and her family members if she escaped. She was too afraid to escape. This is a powerful story of Elizabeth Smart who claims that her strong faith in her beliefs and bonds with her family helped her to cope with the trauma she endured at a tender age. This is a powerful story of a young woman who speaks about her experiences. Elizabeth Smart’s advocacy has helped raise awareness about child abduction, survival, and healing.