Best Books On Child Abuse: Top 10 [True Stories] [2024 Update]

What books on domestic violence and child abuse should you read? Here you will find our best (true) recommendations around this cruel and sad subject. Read along…

The top 10 most read books on child abuse

Read these top books about how child abuse develops and can be treated, or personal stories of victims that describe their childhood in detail. We start our recommendations with the top 10 best books about Child Abuse of all time. This list has been updated this year, including all the recent titles.

Best Books On Child Abuse	Author
Spilled Milk	K. L Randis
God Made All of Me	Lindsey A. Holcomb
A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive	Dave Pelzer
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog	Bruce D. Perry
The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity	Nadine Burke Harris
The Pale-Faced Lie: A True Story	David Crow
The Courage to Heal: A Guide	Ellen Bass
Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life	Susan Forward, Craig Buck
The Lost Boy: A Foster Child’s Search	Dave Pelzer
Fire Shut Up in My Bones	Charles M. Blow

The updated top 10 list: the best books about child abuse & domestic violence

Daddy’s Wicked Parties: The Most Shocking True Story of Child Abuse Ever Told: Skylark Child Abuse True Stories, Volume 2

A child should always be able to trust its parents, no? Not in the case of Lucy Gilbert. She is only 10 years old when her father starts abusing her. The story will show you how trust is built and abused, little by little and one step at a time.

The Child Abuse Story of the Decade – based on a Shocking, but true Story

Scarred by his own terrible experience at an early age, Christian, part of a large family in Belgium, starts abusing his wife and children. One child even dies. The story then follows the rest of the family.

Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Kids Safe

When you decide to have children, this is not the first book on your nightstand. It should though, at some point, because the world is not always a safe place for children. Teach your child how to handle sex predators and other situations where sexual violence could occur.

Please Tell: A Child’s Story About Sexual Abuse (Early Steps)

We like this book, because it is written from the perspective of a child who has been through child abuse herself. The message is clear: even if your abuser tells you it is a secret, you should always tell an adult and ask for help.

Cupboard Boy: A Shockingly True Story of Horrific Child Abuse: The PT Saunders Story, Book 1

This true story takes place in Britain in the years 1963 to 1980. When a mother is left by her husband, she ends up in a new relationship soon after it happened. Then both adults start to abuse the child.

Broken: Becoming Whole: One Woman’s Story About Recovering from Child Abuse

Danielle Thompson shows her readers that it is possible to have a good life after being abused as a child. She speaks from experience, and emphasizes the moments that were key to her now positive outlook on life.

Dirty Little Dog: A Horrifying True Story of Child Abuse, and the Little Girl Who Couldn’t Tell a Soul (Skylark Child Abuse True Stories, Volume 1

Sophie’s life takes a wrong turn when she meets Martin. She managed to come from that dark place she ended up in, and is now stronger than ever before. Can she face the one that abused her?

It’s Okay to Tell: A story to help kids understand it is okay to talk about sexual abuse

In our opinion this book should be read by everyone who is involved with children personally or professionally. It helps you explain to each child how it can prevent sexual abuse.

Tears of the Silenced: An Amish True Crime Memoir of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Brutal Betrayal, and Ultimate Survival

Misty never dared to escape her Amish life, because her father kept a gun by the door. But after more abuse than she could handle, she flees the secluded community and finds a small police station to report her abuser. We think this story is special, because it focuses on a positive outcome for Misty.

The Horrible Door Closed: Family Of The Trauma, Sex And Abuse: Adults Lying To Parents

Have you been part of a toxic environment? Then this book might be just what you need. It shares the story of a child that was abused in many ways, and ends with a program to help you recover.