Review: Birthdays of a Princess
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2013
Birthdays of a Princess is a fascinating yet very disturbing story of the traumatic manipulation and exploitation of a child. Author Helga Zeiner weaves an intense and gut wrenching psychological thriller that follows the traumatic and dysfunctional life of fifteen year old Tiara Brown.Written in alternating chapters in the first person narrative by Tiara aka Princess Tia, and the third person narrative by the police detectives and Tiara's mother Melissa, Tiara's horrific story of exploitation and sexual abuse unfolds from infancy through her early teenage years as she endured the Texas child beauty pageant circuit and later child pornography at the hands of her neglectful mother and manipulative aunt. Tiara commits a heinous stabbing attack upon an innocent woman at a Vancouver Starbucks. Through the help of Psychologist Dr. Stanley Eaton, Tiara goes on a journey of healing by documenting her traumatic and emotional life story in a journal by each birthday year. Through her journal entries, long repressed childhood memories surfaces and the truth about her childhood filled with unspeakable exploitation and pedophilia/pornography is revealed.Birthdays of a Princess is a riveting but emotionally intense and difficult story to digest. The author captivates the reader's attention from the beginning of the story, and takes them on a chilling roller coaster ride filled with tension and surprising twists and turns. This painful and shocking story documents the horrific and vivid accounts of unspeakable trauma that Tiara suffered throughout her childhood, you can't help but feel the full gamut of emotions for this teenage stabbing suspect, she is ultimately the real victim. Author Helga Zeiner has written a compelling and powerful story that provides much food for thought in regard to child beauty pageants and child pornography, and its potential for perpetrating the harmful manipulation and exploitation of innocent young children.Birthdays of a Princess is a heart wrenching and realistic story of child exploitation that will resonate with you long after the last word has been read.Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.