Book Review – Baby Doll

Baby Doll tells the story of Lily, kidnapped at the age of sixteen, who has managed to escape from her captor eight years later.

The story begins the night of her escape when we are taken on a spiralling journey as she returns home and tries to pick up the pieces of her life. As she rediscovers herself and tries to regain her stolen youth, together with her child, Skye, she comes to terms with the severity of what happened. She realises that as much as she suffered, her disappearance affected a lot of people in ways even she never expected.

Written from the perspectives of Lily, her twin sister Abby, her mother, Eve as well as her captor, we experience first-hand the fear, determination and betrayal as they try to mend their lives and get past the ordeal. The story comes to life as Lily deals with the aftermath of her abduction, and as the family learns who her captor was.

As much as her return was a miracle, they all have to come to terms with what happened.

Alicia Sibanda
5/5