Review: Child C by Christopher Spry
You can check British Google News for more background information but some of the better articles and ones where comments are referred to in the book, are listed at the Daily Mail website below.
Essentially, those will tell you the story in a nutshell and at least one of the photos described in the book is on one of the reports. Child C expands upon the male victim’s story, which is a companion volume following the same history told from one of Christopher Spry’s foster sister’s perspectives.
Essentially this private fostering arrangement was made permanent by the foster mother’s manipulation of both parents and social services and Christopher Spry and his real sister were renamed and fostered alongside her existing children, one naturally hers and another of whom was facilitator/cheerleader for the abuse. Spry makes top 5 lists which pop up throughout the book between chapters, and these are at times banal, at other times as horrifying as the abuse suffered. Whilst there is the high point of a holiday in Florida, it is only a brief break in the abuse which continues into Spry’s mid-teens.
Whilst the abuse is horrific, in some places it simply defies belief in its scope, forcing children under ten into various house construction projects is something completely alien to most normal people, but Spry did it, including nearly 20 attempts to install a shower when renovating properties.
It’s quite realistic that once Spry stood up to his abuser, just the once, there was no celebration and his problems weren’t over – just like Charlie Mitchell in The Nipper – and nor was it the last time he would see her before court, but the sentence and writing of the book marks a new start for him.
For all of the foster mother’s incessant chanting about God and punishments, there was no such observation or connection made with her systematic abuse with the aid of one daughter, and the massive tragedy which strikes the family on their second holiday within the UK, where her abusive behaviour also comes under scrutiny. You wouldn’t have to be an expert on religious matters to see what went around for Eunice Spry, coming round. In fact that major tragedy starts to create the beginning of the end for the abusive regime.
Usefully there is description of the step-by-step police investigation and therapeutic steps taken to reconstruct Mr Spry’s life, are of benefit to other British survivors. The sentence is also certainly one of the longest handed down for child abuse in recent English history and especially for a female abuser, so this was a book worth reading, despite occasional repetition in some places. I suspect that Mr Spry’s wish to take on a child protection role won’t be available to him until he discloses and processes his CSA, which he alludes to several times and doesn’t elaborate on, but given the crimes that his foster mother was convicted for, it’s certainly easy to believe him.
Again, the American publishing schedule for this book is unknown, but definitely get this from the library if you want the background behind the linked headlines.
- CBG
Related posts:
- Review: Forgotten by Les Cummings
- Stop Child Abuse Rally 2009 Link List
- Review: Cry Myself To Sleep by Joe Peters
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i just finished “Child C” by Christopher Spry and i was deeply tounched.
Im only 15 but reading his book has made me realise how much people like us how have a roof over our head, a warm meal waiting for us everyday and have the love of both our parents or guardians take it all for granted thinking nothing of it, moaning if we dont get what we want.Well its clear my mind of always wanting the new high tech things the sames as my friends and the money i do get i give to a small private charity called “child abuse stop!”
Thank you Christopher for your amazing but truely sad book and rely sorry that Eunice couldn’t be a proper mohter to you, Lulu and Karen the way she did to Charlotte and Bradley bu dont worry cause she is locked away now and wont be able to hurt anyone else
Im Truly sorry.My heart breaks for you.
i am 18 , i havent autually finished the book yet and i cant put it down though. i think this book is good because it was written from personal experience which you dont get alot of i am reading book and i get upset and sometimes cry but i think you are so brave and you got through it so that something to be proud off and thanks for sharing your xperience might not be a good one but it still good to share thanks alot and take care xx
I am reading your book for the second time around. There is so much in the book that it will take a long time to comprehend the fact that one human being would want to do these horrible things to another. I truly wish that you had never had to go through this, and I am sure that for as long as you live, you will continue to have so many questions. Some things we never find answers for. Keep strong and one more thing, not all Christian beliefs are as warped as the one you had to endure. God is a God of love and anything other is not from Him ever…………. May you continue to heal and be set free………………………………….
I have just finished Child C by Christopher Spry and I cant believe the torture those poor kids had to deal with every single day. A mother is meant to love all her children, not put them through hell and leave them damaged for the rest of their lives. Eunice Spry should have been given a longer jail sentence. The 14 years that she was given is nothing compared to what those kids have to deal with. Plus she will most likely only serve about 7 years of her sentence. My heart goes out to those kids and I just hope that they can all move on with thier lives and learn to build trust with people. God Bless xx
hello chris i have only just finished your book 10mins ago and just had to write to you i think people like you are the prime example of how well children turn out when thay have,nt had a good life thay say you learn the hard way babes well iam truely moved and touched by how well you have told your heartbraking story it must have been a long and hard time going over the appalling way you was treated i could not evan come close to saying how sorry i feel for you but iam happy for you now because you are such a inspriing man to all young children out there and hope if thay are going though the same as you did thay turn for help and dont feel asamded cuz its nothink they have done (or you darling) i have 4 children iam 24yrs old and will tell my kidz how inportant it is to talk whatever the problem is i,ll always be here and now have your real loving mum and dad you too can find confidens to confied in them . all my best wishies 4eva cara xx
i have read child c and was sickened by it how any human being can subject someone to that cruelty let alone a child is beyond all the same the book has helped me
in a way becuase i was abused sexually physically and mentally from the age of seven by my stepmum and step brother so it has helpexc me a lot