A Stolen Life: A Memoir

Written by Jaycee Dugard

Narrated by Jaycee Dugard

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller—Jaycee Dugard’s raw and powerful memoir, her own story of being kidnapped in 1991 and held captive for more than eighteen years.

In the summer of June of 1991, I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother that loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.

For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse. For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim, I simply survived an intolerable situation. A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jul 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781442344990

Jaycee Dugard

Jaycee Dugard is the author of the memoir A Stolen Life, which tells the story of her kidnapping and eighteen years of captivity. Her second book is Freedom: My Book of Firsts.

Reviews for A Stolen Life

[upcloseimage · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jaycee was insightful as a child and insightful as she grew into a woman. A personal account in to her captivity.

[Janiece Torghele · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was such a difficult thing to know about, but she told her story with no self pity & full of positive affirmations.. She is amazing!

[Karen van der Veen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read, what a brave, strong, articulate, beautiful young women Jaycee is. To have lived through what this wise young women went through and come through it with wisdom, dignity and grace is a credit to her.

[Christina ochoa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a sad story however definitely makes you appreciate life and the blessing of having your children next to you. Recalled every detail so vividly and gave honest prospective of her real accounts. I am glad I have come across this book

[bookworm247_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What can anyone say after reading a book like this? I'll do my best.This book is about the hell JAYCEE LEE DUGARD went through in a sick bastard's backyard for 18 years. She had to endure things that no child should ever go through. She was stolen, raped, humiliated, & abused. All these things could have been prevented had the court system done their job the first time this sicko did his sick things to an innocent female. But no, the court system fails to protect the little Jaycees' of America as they will continue to fail & protect innocent children.To JAYCEE: You are a remarkable young woman. You went through this because you had to, but you made it. You survived. You're strong, & unstoppable. Now, you help children & families going through the same thing you and you're family went through. You deserve the moon. You go girl, and you will. :)One last thought: I strongly believe in the death penalty.

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An amazing book. Jaycee tells the story from the day of her kidnapping up to her struggle to adjusting to real life, interspersed with memories of her childhood. It's told very matter-of-factly, not necessarily without emotion, but without pity. Jaycee doesn't want to be seen as a victim or a hero - she's just sharing her story because it's all she knew, and all she could do was live each day as it came to her. Still, it's very inspiring, especially when she shares optimistic journal entries she wrote when she was thirteen, then ones she wrote when she and her daughters were much older. It's a fascinating look at how someone can be trapped for so long, then exposed to the real world and not want to be in it. Jaycee says that she never wanted to go back to her captivity, but with the media in her face, she pretty much felt like she was still being kept from having her own life. Very sobering book.

[Emily Irion · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An incredibly moving and intimate look into Jaycee's story. I will say though, don't go into this expecting a true crime novel. This is her story, her perspective of her imprisonment. You don't hear about the search for her, or how her captures were punished. I don't mind this, because there is plenty of resources out there that covers the case in depth. Instead this is her retelling her experience and memories, what she did to survive, what she went through, and where she is now. Also her narration is excellent!

[Annie Crauwcamp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is very raw, very real and very authentic.
Thank you, Jaycee, for sharing your story with us.
It is unimaginable and I realize that the pages of one book cannot contain everything you suffered, but it does give us a glimpse into the depths of your heart.

[mellisabee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book! Couldn’t stop listening finished it in one day wow just wow listen to this book. That’s all I’ve gotta say.

[Sasha Young · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

She has amazing character and resilience. She's also an amazing Mother

[amazongjj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this unbelievable and gives a understanding of ha ha indoctrination shapes people I’ve I’ve always believed your face years of life shake the person you become and her mum must’ve done such a good job because that helped her through the 18 years

[Rebecca Decker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The beginning of the book was so hard to read that I almost gave up. Jaycee’s story deserves to be told by her. I’m glad I continued reading. I learned so much about reunification. I hope Jaycee is able to have a private and normal life.

[Eedge Eeva · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written and emotional story of girl who's life was taken

[Sarah Peachey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A sad book, but very well written. Makes me want to help victims.

[anthea lincoln · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book would have been such great therapy for the author.

[wiregrassmediasolutionsalabama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Jaycee for sharing your story... you are a wonderful writer.

[m · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

incredible. jaycee stays optimistic and hopeful the entire way through. hearing her read her own story is so beautiful.

[Amber Gravert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you for having the courage to share your story!

[Sabrina Ball · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

truly was amazing but heartbreaking to hear her story, it was well written considering she didn’t get educated past 5th grade, wow!! much love to her and her beautiful family.

[Paula Manley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

God bless this young lady. I would love to know how her life is now. I pray she is living a blessed life

[Aifa Santos · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was very disturbing. Don't read it if you are not willing to sacrifice your will. You'll have to be brave and not lose yourself for reading or listening to the audio.

[Olivia Clopein · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this was hard to read/listen too, i was in tears by the end. i fell in love with jaycee and her story, i wish her all the happiness and healing.

[phyllis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, for a little girl to have endured so much and still come out with a positive attitude and joy of life is amazing. My life seems ideal compared to this and it makes me realize I have nothing to complain about. I can now understand how Stockholm syndrome could develop in a kidnap victim. Mind manipulation is a powerful tool. This is truly an amazing story.

[Dennis Hooker II · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very brave little girl who learned how to servive. She was subjected to terrible circumstances and today she seems to be a happy, healthy young woman. Therapy has helped her to recover but it is so very sad to have lost all the years she did to this monster and his codependent wife.

[Joy Truax · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a heart wrenching tale. It is such a blessing to see Jaycee has had so much healing after such a terrible trial.

[Frank Rojas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely iconic. Thanks so much for sharing your story and helping inspire me and others.

[Sam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an incredibly emotional book some parts were hard to listen to but throughout the book you do see how even though this young girl had to go through all of this she was able to be happy and embrace her new found freedom. I highly recommend this book it is inspirational and touching.

[Janene Stephens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved that Jaycee did the audio for this book. It made you really feel what she felt. It’s a terrible story , but it is her story, and I loved the book.

[Hannah Weymouth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow Jaycee is an amazingly strong woman. I never followed this case. This book was fascinating and heartbreaking. I couldn’t stop listening

[Kyra Scott · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Heartbreaking story, but amazing how strong she stayed over the years. I will be reading her 2nd book.