The Bad Room

Held Captive and Abused by My Evil Carer. A True Story of Survival.

By: Jade Kelly

Narrated by: Caro Clarke

After years of physical and mental abuse, Jade thought her kindly foster mother would be the answer to her prayers. She was wrong … this is her staggering true story.

‘This must be what prison is like,’ I thought as another hour crawled by. In fact, prison would be better … at least you knew your sentence. You could tick off the days until you got out. In the Bad Room we had no idea how long we’d serve.

After years of constant abuse, Jade thought her foster mother Linda Black would be the answer to her prayers. Loving and nurturing, she offered ten-year-old Jade a life free of fear.

But once the regular social-worker checks stopped, Linda turned and over the next six years Jade and three other girls were kept prisoner in a bedroom they called the ‘bad room’.

Shut away for 16 hours at a time, they were starved, violently beaten, forbidden from speaking or using the toilet and routinely humiliated. Jade was left feeling broken and suicidal.

This is the powerful true story of how one woman banished the ghosts of her past by taking dramatic action to protect the life of every vulnerable child in care.

©2020 Jade Kelly (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Sad story well written

This book was sad in so many ways. I found myself invested in the story despite wanting to turn away.

Very moving story

Of course, it’s always nice to know someone has made it out of such a dark, and harrowing, life situation.

The systems truth!

So sad but wonderful to hear the positive that came out of her horrific past & trials.

Great autobiography from start to finish.

I loved the detail in the book, I coughs feel the pain of all the girls affected. I could understand why there weren't more intervention in the early days but I was happy about the epilogue, to have some closure on the healing. Great book, really enjoyed the content, but not the harm that was done to these girls.

Beautifully told tragic tale of abuse by an inspiring woman who survived.

It’s unfortunate that a book like this needs to be written. I am so sorry that the author of this book had to go through this experience. I respect and appreciate how beautifully written this was because sometimes we need to understand somebody else’s struggle to help come to peace with our own struggles. I appreciate the strength of character it took to write this book after living through it and I admire you as a person. As a social worker, we often seek out real life stories of abuse and subjects that touch on what we have experienced in our own lives, and this was one of the best I’ve read. This book touched me and I feel like everybody should read it. Thank you for writing it. -Heather Smith 🧜🏻‍♀️

All emotions... fantastic book!

My heart broke while reading this book.... my heart was full of anger while reading this book.... My heart celebrated while reading this book. So many emotions. I literally wanted to punch Linda so many times.... I wanted to hold and protect Jade.... I wanted to scream at all of the child protective service officers who failed these children! Such a great read. I listen to this on Audible but I will also be buying the book!

Very good

Sad but grabbed me. Shame on people. Glad they got a settlement at the very least.

Her ability to be a over comer

Very sad situation all the way around. But very encouraging to hear and see her succeed despite her circumstances

Real

She did a great job allowing you to experience the horrors without glorifying them. You felt the pain and terror she had to endure.

Incredible story!

I just can’t believe this woman got away with so much for years. I thought they had to look at the rooms in the home. Just heartbreaking that this will be with her for life. I am happy she got to tell her story and hope that this never happens again. The system failed her. Well written! Thank you for sharing your story 💜