The Boy in the Cellar

by Stephen Smith, Veronica Clark

Stephen Smith is the boy who did not exist. Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar... for thirteen years.

Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just eight feet by ten with a single makeshift bed, bare light bulb, and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try and block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school, and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years. Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School. The Boy in the Cellar is a horrifying true story of torture and cruelty, that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Audiobook, Memoir, Crime, Biography, Autobiography

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2019

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For other authors of this name, see:

Stephen Smith - American Surgeon, Public Health
Stephen Smith - African Studies
Stephen Smith - Contemporary Non Fiction, Journalism

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Lord. So, obviously, I again decided that nerves are overrated anyway and decided to use them up.
A scary story. A very scary nightmarish story.
More to add at a later date.

PS. I just decided not to go on reviewing this terrible book. At any date whatsoever. Terrible stuff, what is there more to add to this?

[Jess☺️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy In The Cellar by Stephen Smith is a memoir about his life growing up, I've rated it 5 🌟 not for what his life was like but because of the bravery it took to write this down.
This is such a harrowing book with one extreme of being locked in a cellar untill he was 13 and being psychical and mentally abused by his father, to then being put into a mental hospital ( by the way his intelligence is through the roof,as learning was a must or it became a tool the father could use to beat him) but he wasn't mental, then for the drugging and sexual abuse to start to then be once again moved to boys school where as he labelled it a paedophile sweet shop.
There are many emotions you go through when reading this anger, shock, heartbreak and utter disbelief that nobody would do anything for these boys untill it was to late.
WHY??? Is all you can say 📖

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

These types of books are so hard to rate. I felt awful for everything Stephen went through and no one deserves to go through so much hell especially at a young age. Stephen is such a strong and inspirational man. I’ve read a previous book by Barbara O’Hare which was about her time in Aston hall so to read a similar experience was so heartbreaking. They are both so strong for writing a book as it must be so hard to relive it. I definitely recommend this book but it is a hard book to read at times.

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastatingly moving.

To this day it astounds me that we live in a world where one is required to get a licence to own an animal (many countries across the world) but humans can breed unchecked, unaccountable and without restrictions.

I applaud Mr Smith for telling his brutal account of life with dignity and passion. No child should ever experience one of these events, let alone an entire childhood.

May this story help others.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name]

I just cannot rate this book. To give it a star rating feels like I’m reveling in his pain. This is a story like a child called it or cockroach. I gasped so often my desk mate started worrying about me.

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy Stephen was kept down a cellar by his father for 13 years beaten, starved, abused so badly and not knowing anything of the world. Kept in such terrible conditions. How no one helped him even his own mother he never knew did not acknowledge him and knew he was there whilst 3 other children his siblings lived above him also aware the little boy was down in the cellar too. Then he gets sent to Aston Hall a psychiatric hospital where he was regularly abused sexually under medication. To then go on to St William's residential school where he was systematically sexually abused again, horrific, but this man survived.

[Kim Ebner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an utterly disturbing and deeply emotional read. 10 points to the author for reaching a stage in his life where he was emotionally prepared to share his story.

If you're a sensitive reader, then I don't recommend this read. The pages of this autobiography are filled with nothing but horrendous scenes of abuse after horrendous scenes of abuse, and done to a child, and later a teenager. I actually found it quite tough going at one stage because I just couldn't fathom how all these bad things could happen to one person, and how that person managed to survive. It seems impossible. This is indeed a story that will make you extremely skeptical about the true nature of human beings, and I dare say, it will make you question whether there is indeed a God.

Thank you for sharing your story with us Mr. Smith, and I'm extremely sorry that those things happened to you. You did nothing to deserve them.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read how a child and young man, had the strength to cope with such a horrendous amount of abuse, at the hands of his parents, and then only to get even more at the hands of the so called care system which should of protected him. All i can say is you,Mr steven smith were a brave child,teenager and man and even braver to let the world know your story.

[Claire Company · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad to read but couldn't put it down. Literally the worse childhood ever. I can't imagine what he's been through, but reading this definitely opens my eyes up to what happens behind closed doors. You never know... I hope this helps suffers in silence to come out and talk about what's happened /happening to them. There is help out there, just gotta be wary of who to trust

[Tina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Binge read in an afternoon. All my problems pale in comparison to what Steve went through. All social workers, safeguarding teams, doctors and nurses should read this. So many missed opportunities to get him to a place of safety. Hoping the survivors get the justice they deserve

[Heva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is horrific, but so well written you can't put it down. What happened to Stephen and the other children is the most heart wrenching thing to read. At the end you feel so proud of how he got through everything and survived...

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild psychological thriller, only it's a true story. What this kid went through is unimaginable. I can't believe how other "monsters" can do this to other people. Much of this would no longer be tolerated, if known about, in more current days, but it never should have happened in the first place. We were all stunned by the horrors that came out of the catholic churches a few years ago, and you know there had to be more victims who never came out. So many came out of these situations in a horrible state. Some survived, but have had to really fight for any sense of any decent life, yet all have serious lingering negative impacts on their lives. This is a story about one kid determined to survive who didn't keep quiet, even though no one believed him. It was all hush hush and not investigated in the 70's. Also the horrors of how certain kids were treated at psychiatric hospitals and the abuse that took place there, all starting the authors life of years of abuse living in a cellar with constant abuse from his father. He was abused from right after birth until he turned 17, and struggled his way into a better life and learning people can love and he could love others like he was never loved.

[Nicole Clouthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a harrowing tale… I commend Stephen for his incredible courage, and strength. To go through what he did… I really don’t have the words. Beyond heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing your story with the world. I’m so very glad you didn’t let those horrible years or hell, stop you from finding your path and life, and figuring out what you love. You deserve all of the happiness.

[Emmy D. Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure I have words that will do this book justice. It will absolutely stay with me. The really great ones do. Not only is it exceptionally written, but the author is open and vulnerable. This was in the "included" section of audible, but I absolutely would have given a credit for it. I would give a warning that it is not for the faint of heart, but I absolutely recommend it highly.

[Sophia Loves to read · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars 🌟
To hear the story of Stephen and how he survived through years of suffering, torture, incarceration and neglect is an inspiration.
To think your going to be be rescued to then have to suffer years of institutional abuse is just heart breaking to read.
But Stephen is a survivor and has been able to share his story, and there will be so many who have experienced this and may help the to understand.

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down! I finished it in just under two days. What a devastatingly dark story, of his real life. It was hard for me to imagine such hellish acts that went on. He had no escape , just when he thought he was saved from his cellar he was sent from place to place , suffering extensive abuse.

I applaud who he has become and this hook really gets you thinking 🥺 I’m happy that I decided to read this and listen to his story. It’s such a shame that the institutions had let him down. All children have a voice and should be listened to. No matter how wild their stories may be. You might just save a life along the way.

[Gean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a difficult read due to its subject matter, but one that I physically couldn't put down because it not only grabbed but rather lached onto you from its very first sentence.

First off, the writing style of this true crime, non-fiction biography, felt like you were reading a fictional story (this is notable from the first page as Stephen describes Peter and remains throughout). Because of this fact, you are constantly having to remind yourself that no, this is not a fictional tale but one that actually occurred. I found this extremely effective as it made this survivor's story all the more compelling for the reader as a way to get the message of such terrible abuse and its aftermath across.
Secondly, Stephen wrote his story for a reason, and I admire his bravery for not only himself but as a path way for those who suffered some of the same traumas he did to hopefully come forward and know that they are not alone.

I would definitely recommend this read, but be warned, it's filled with some very heavy physical, mental, and sexual abuse.

[Emily Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t rate this any lower than a 5, what an incredible incredible man. I have such admiration for Stephen and what he went through in his life. I just can’t fathom how he had the determination to carry on living after all the horrendous things people had done to him. I felt so many emotions reading this😢 I’m glad he has found a new passion for life and is living happy and free.

[Hantie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very glad for Steven Smith and I know facts can be stranger than fiction, and I have read plenty of this kind of stories. This book just felt like he had to write it because his fruend wrote one. I may be wrong, but that is what it translated like

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depressing

I wish I could say this was a success story but I don't feel like it is. I hope this guys kids can find some stability. This guys life seems to be one dumpster fire after another.

[Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so emotional and heartbreaking. This boy - this man - has gone through so much in his life and we should do our part by reading.

[Emelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vilken fruktansvärd barndom!

[Mo Rodz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hurt my heart so much 😭
Stephen had such a horrible childhood, poor kid just had one bad thing after another.

[Tracei Kristof · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sad and heartbreaking. I thought it was very good and recommend.

[Peter Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. Such a harrowing and heartbreaking (true) story. I'm sure I wasn't the only one but I wish i could climb right into this book and save this poor little boy 😢

[Chantelle Melia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so it was a bit upsetting at times but this was an amazing true story. This is what happened back in the olden days and it needed to be told. I listened to this via audio book and to be honest it was presented rather well!

I would definitly recommend this book ❤️🥰💯

[Paul Sating · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf. Just not my jam. Could be good for those who can get into it. I couldn't. Not the fault of the author. Very good narrator.

[Gemma Dallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody needs to read this at some point in their lives.

It's absolutely horrendous.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horrifying true story of torture and cruelty that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope. A terrible upbringing that should never happen.

[Ashley Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is heavy. While I wanted to rate it higher because it was well written, and frankly an act of courage for Stephen Smith to write about in the first place, in the end I based my rating on whether or not I would recommend this book to others to read.

Honestly? I do not recommend it.

No human should have ever endured what Smith endured. Especially as a child. This book left me with more anguish towards humanity than hope. For that reason alone, I implore potential readers to skip this one.