My Dark Vanessa

My Dark Vanessa is a 16 hour long audio book written by Kate Elizabeth Russell. The author started writing the book when she was 17 and finished the book when she was in her 30's. That was useful because Vanessa is 14 when the story starts and 25 when it ends. The child Vanessa's voice is different than the adult Vanessa's voice. At 14 Vanessa is sent to a boarding school near her home in the year 200. There she meets a 46 year old English teacher named Frank Strane. Strane flatters Vanessa. He gives her special attention. She meets him in his office. He grooms her and eventually has a sexual relationship with Vanessa. The next year their secret is out. Strane convinces Vanessa to admit she made the whole thing up which she does. She ends up getting kicked out of the boarding school after being made to public confess her lie to the entire student body. Despite all that Vanessa believes she is in love. She welcomed his advances. Even into adulthood she continues to believe she is not a victim but a willing participant in a great love story. Other girls report Strane as a sexual predator. Vanessa is asked to testify against him but she refuses. Even as an adult, seeking treatment for her PTSD episodes she refuses to believe her therapist when she is told she was a victim and he was a pedophile. The story is disturbing yet riveting.