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Tressa  By  cover art

Tressa

By: Tressa Middleton
Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart
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Publisher's Summary

Tressa Middleton made UK history when she became Britain's youngest mum in 2006 aged just 12 years and eight months. Her case provoked shock and outrage - but the truth behind the headlines was far sadder than anyone could ever have imagined. 

Born into a life of poverty and neglect, Tressa was forced to grow up fast when was she taken into care at just four years old. She was returned to her mother's chaotic world, but by the age of seven, she was being abused by her own brother and at 11 years old she fell pregnant with his child. For years she kept his dark secret in an attempt to hold her family together until the truth threatened to destroy her completely. 

In the years since the birth, Tressa has gone through more pain and turmoil than most adults experience in a lifetime - yet today she survives a brave, strong and compassionate young woman. Now, for the first time, Tressa Middleton tells her own harrowing yet poignant story - a story of hope, forgiveness and, above all, love.

©2015 Tressa Middleton (P)2018 W.F. Howes Ltd

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What listeners say about Tressa

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

truly amazing such a beautiful n strong Young wome

what an amazing n strong beautiful young woman a MUST READ!! her inner strength n character unbelievable

6 people found this helpful

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MUST READ!!

This book was beyond a good listen. The whole time listening I kept thinking things can't get worse for this child!! I wanted to hug her and tell her it's not your fault.

3 people found this helpful

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Sad Story, Hopeful Ending!

I recommend this book if you are interested in true stories of overcoming abuse! How hard it must be for Tressa to learn to lead a normal, healthy life after such dysfunction.

2 people found this helpful

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Great book

This was a great book! Brought tears to my eyes and inspired me. Tressa was so strong and brave from such a young age!

2 people found this helpful

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Heartbreaking and inspiring

Story is absolutely heartbreaking, but this young lady is inspiring as well. Her strength is undeniable!!

1 person found this helpful

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Fabulous Book!!!

Loved it!!! Narration is great and well written. TRESSA and her younger siblings are tough kiddos.

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    1 out of 5 stars

Couldn't understand the narrator's strong accent!

The story sounded so interesting, so it was VERY disappointing when I found that the narrator's incredibly strong (Scottish?) accent was far too difficult to understand. Sadly I couldn't even get through the first chapter.

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heart wrenching 💔

such a sad story. But what resilience this young girl showed to of survived such circumstances. She has an amazing grace- full heart to be able to forgive & still love after all she endured.

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beautifully intense

this was a definite struggle to listen to as I've been there too, but wonderful nonetheless.

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overall depressing

I struggled to finish this book. Just when things start getting better for Tressa things spiral down again. A very sad lifestyle for a child.

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  • Johanna
  • 08-24-18

Heartbreaking and genuine

This was not an easy listening. I usually cant 'put down' a good book once I've started however this particular story made me pause several times to be able to catch my mind. Her reflections on her life are simple but strikes you right in the chest, I found myself emerged in my own imagination, seeing the places, knowing the people, feeling the pain. It came alive in a way that only those special stories do. The ones you will have a hard time letting go of.

7 people found this helpful

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  • Jason Moore
  • 12-12-19

Excellent narration, too many questions

The overall story of Tressa life so far, is very very sad but I felt it left me with way too many questions. There were a few contradictions and the timeline of events didn't make sense. despite these issues it is beyond comprehension how anyway can allow their own children to grow up in such a dangerous environment. I wanted to rescue all the children in this story and show what a living home and family is really like.
I hope that Tressa manages to stay clean and goes on the lead a happy and healthy life full of the live she deserves.

4 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-07-18

Wonderfully told story and narration

I remember this story originally but not the truth. Glad I know the true events and Tressa has told her story. May her life hold a happier journey now. Thankyou for telling your story. Had me gripped from start to finish.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Vicky Phillips
  • 03-08-22

Heart rendering

Very honest account of truly troubled life… makes one realize how strong you have to be to effect any change….

1 person found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 02-06-22

Sad but this really happens to a lot kids

So sad that this happens to more kids than you can imagine! Great reading

1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Dominique B.
  • 08-14-21

Bit of a predictable sob story but....

sympathetically and appropriately performed.
All in all enjoyable although a bit deja vue.
Can't help but think tgat it's just further capitalization of the circumstances.

1 person found this helpful

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  • nicki
  • 07-13-21

A true account about overcoming adversity

I remember this story breaking and condemned the whole family for being scum. I shed a few tears through this book and regret my first impressions. Well worth a read.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Chihuahua Mummy 🐶
  • 07-07-21

Heartbreaking story 🥺

This is such a hard story to read, to see how this child had been so badly failed by those who were meant to look after her. The one place you’re meant to be safe - home, wasn’t safe. It’s very worthwhile though. It is the type of story that leaves an impact, long after you finish the book. 🥺

1 person found this helpful

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  • Debs
  • 03-11-23

Heartbreaking

A truly heartbreaking story. The narrator was perfectly chosen and I would recommend this book.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Flossy
  • 11-16-22

Tressa

loved it but sad as well poor children that have to go through this

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  • debbie
  • 05-16-18

strength and admiration

loved this although at times I found very difficult to listen to what Tressa endured. I remember hearing about this in the media and has opened my eyes more. thankyou for sharing.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Lisa Robson
  • 06-16-21

Wow

Trigger Warning - not for the feint hearted. Such courage and bravery. Very hard to listen to at times but worth getting all the way through. Good luck for the future Tressa.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Djp
  • 06-12-20

amazing book

wow. what strength she had. so brave to tell her story.
amazing. a must listen too.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 08-03-18

Raw, heart breaking, eye opening.

I loved this book. It was wonderfully written and beautifully read. Such an honest, raw, account written by Tressa. It was heart wrenching and the courage Tressa must have, to be through what she has and to share it with others is so incredible. An eye opening must read!

1 person found this helpful

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  • Christine S.
  • 12-26-22

Tressa. 12 and pregnant.

A most disturbing, heatbreaking story. Starting from a very young age through to puberty. I couldn’t finish the book. It was too harrowing for me. To think of what that poor girl went through. No. doubt she wanted her story told.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 12-23-22

Such a sad story

This was such an eye opener to what some kid’s experience within their home lives. This poor girl went through so much and experienced the lowest of the low that life could throw at her. Incredibly brave to tell her story and I hope she is happy and living her best life now.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Kristyn Begnell
  • 07-17-22

couldn't stop listening

This story made me feel sadness, anger, grief, disbelief and frustration. I could not stop listening and in the end, I feel amazed at the power of forgiveness and human resilience.

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  • Emily Ciravolo
  • 06-22-22

Couldn’t stop listening

What a heartbreaking true story.
I hope Tressa is doing ok today and that she is proud of the hurdles she overcame.
I will not stop thinking about Tressa for years to come.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-29-22

So sad

Poor Tressa, I hope she gets to be with her Annie again one day. Such demons to deal with.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-09-21

Tressa the 12 year old mum

Incredibly sad and hard to hear Tressa's story but what an amazing strong young woman.