Cry Silent Tears: The heartbreaking survival story of a small mute boy who overcame unbearable suffering and found his voice again

Joe Peters

Jan 2009 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this eBook

Joe knew his mother was cruel and violent, but he trusted his beloved father to protect him from her. When a freak accident saw his father burn to death in front of him, Joe was left at the mercy of his mother. Without the love of his friend and brother, he wouldn't have survived. With them, he went on to spend his life fighting child abuse.

Joe was just five years old and the horrific scene literally struck him dumb. He didn't speak for four and a half years, which meant he was unable to ask anyone for help as his life turned into a living hell.

His schizophrenic mother and two of his older brothers spent the following years beating him, raping him and locking him in the cellar at the family home. Fed on scraps that he was forced to lick from the floor, he was sometimes left naked in the dark for three days without human contact.

Unable to read or write, all Joe could do to communicate his suffering was draw pictures.

The violence and sexual abuse grew in severity as more people, including his stepfather, were invited to use him in any way they chose.

The only thing that saved Joe was the kindness of his elder brother and his only school friend, both of whom showed him that love was possible even in the darkest of situations.

At fourteen he finally found the courage to run away, hiding in a hut by a railway line, fed on scraps by some local children who found him.

Joe's is the ultimate insider's story, casting light into the darkest of hidden worlds, and a truly inspirational account of how one small boy found the strength to overcome almost impossible odds and become a remarkable man. Now that he has found his voice again, Joe speaks out against child abuse and helps support and protect other children whose lives have been blighted by it.

Ratings and reviews

What a heartbreaking story to read, how anyone survived the things Joe had to endure is a miracle. It makes me sad to think those horrid rotten people got away with what they did.... So glad he finally found happiness, if not justice.

I often wonder how some people seem to get all the terrible things in life happen to them. Poor joe was just a kid how anyone could treat another so inhumanely ill never know. What a shame. No one should have to endure what this poor boy did. You should bring charges because the social services and all concerned, failed you badly. The fact your mother had a clean house probably made there minds up. Its disgusting and they need t be brought to trial because they cud be doing it to someone else .

So many horrible things have happened to this boy named Joe. A man/father/husband has overcome such a frightening past and although I wish he would have had the courage to tell someone before he got so angry about it but I also know that fear overpowers courage most of the time. I'm glad he finally got what he so desperately needed and wanted, to get away and live a real life. I've seen tv shows depict this type of abuse but you can never really want to imagine that it's actually happening.

About the author

Now thirty-four years old, Joe Peters survived a horrific childhood to bring up five children of his own, some of whom had special needs. He has set up a service on the internet to help children like himself to find assistance and is a spokesman on behalf of all abused children, particularly those who fall into the hands of the organised criminals who create internet pornography.