Some books change the way we see the world. And others change the world itself. The thirteen titles featured in this collection do both. They all serve to give a voice to those who have suffered, survived and spoken out, exposing devastating truths about abuse, injustice and systemic failure. Some of them lived to tell the tale. Others not. But they have powerful advocates who have fought their fight on their behalf. From individual memoirs of trauma and survival to landmark investigations that have shaken legal and political foundations, each book stands as a powerful testament to courage, resilience, and the enduring need for truth and accountability. Whether recounting childhood trauma, wrongful convictions or institutional neglect, these are the stories that demand to be heard. And remembered.
Educated by Tara Westover
One of the most acclaimed books of our time: Educated is an unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. It blew me away when I first read it in 2018, and has stuck with me to this day. I urge you to read it. It’s a brave and bold awe-inspiring story of courage and escape from radicalism and abuse.
The Great Post Office Scandal by Nick Wallis
A fascinatingly detailed and devastating account of the one of the largest miscarriages of justice the UK has seen. This vitally important book blows open the details of the Post Office Scandal. Between 2000 and 2015 more than 700 people were given criminal convictions using electronic data from a computer system called Horizon. This woefully inadequate system produced information about crimes that didn’t exist, and when the Post Office realised, there was an off the scale cover-up. Innocent people were sent to prison and lives were ruined.
The author Nick Wallis is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, and over the last ten years he has investigated the scandal and describes the book as: “an attempt to unravel exactly what went wrong, and determine who is to blame. It also documents the heroics of those who fought long and hard against a powerful and well-resourced opponent to get the truth into the public domain. It’s quite a story”.
Error of Judgement The Birmingham Bombings and the Scandal That Shook Britain by Chris Mullin
A unique book that lit a fire under the UK legal establishment when first published. Shattered the prosecution case against six Irishmen wrongly charged with the Birmingham Bombings and went on to change the course of British legal history.
This Isn't Love by Hope Daniels, Ann Cusack
A compelling and movingly honest memoir of childhood abuse and recovery. Moving from harrowing childhood abuse and agonising self-blame, to clarity and healing, Hope Daniels’ graciously written This Isn’t Love story begins against a backdrop of growing up in a children’s home in the eighties and is underpinned by a desire to support fellow victims of abuse through her personal journey of hope and healing.
Ash + Salt by Sarah Grace
Sarah Grace is a sexual assault survivor. On 17 July 2019, she fell asleep like any other night. A burglar broke into her apartment and attacked her as she slept. What followed was a fight for her life. That violent assault blew apart her world, reducing everything in it to ashes. Ash + Salt is a raw and powerful account of healing and thriving after sexual assault. Armed with courage and brazen candour, Sarah takes you through her own story to reveal the experience of a survivor. She offers the tools to survive the assault, its aftermath and the trial, and charts the path back to recovery. Because while ash marks the place of devastation, it is also the fertile soil from which new life can grow.
This is a book for everyone - not just survivors, but their families, friends and colleagues too. Sexual assault affects us all, regardless of background or gender. It is one woman's personal testimony, but it is also a call to arms. The time to speak up is now.
A Thousand Miles from Care by Steve Johnson
Coming soon to the big screen, this is a gripping and heartbreaking story, of the 30-year quest Steve Johnson undertook to uncover the truth about his brilliant brother's death. At the entrance of Sydney Harbour, the cliffs rise fourteen stories above the Pacific; it's an unforgiving place to lose your footing. This is Steve’s 32-year fight for answers to solve the mystery of Scott's alleged suicide. It’s a love story between two brothers but shared by everyone who worked so long for truth and justice for Scott.
Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X Kendi, Keisha N Blain
This is an epoch-defining history of African America, the first to appear in a generation, told by ninety leading Black voices -- co-curated by Ibram X. Kendi, author of the million-copy bestseller How To Be an Antiracist, and Keisha N. Blain, author of Set the World on Fire.
In chronological chapters, each by a different author and spanning five years, the book charts the four-hundred-year journey of African Americans to the present - a journey defined by inhuman oppression, visionary struggles and stunning achievements.
Groomed By A Gang by Christina O'Connor, Ann Cusack
A powerful, devastating voice bravely tells of the Huddersfield Child Sexual Exploitation gangs. At only 11 years old Christina O’Connor experienced bullying at the start of high school which led to truancy and put her within the grasp of a sinister world of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and sexual exploitation - conducted in broad daylight, with little to nothing done by those who could. A chilling yet important read, where Christina shares “I would like to tell every child that your most powerful weapon is your voice, and you must use it always.” Groomed by a Gang is a powerful amplification of her voice. It's an important story that very much needs to be told.
The Women Are Not Fine by Hope Reese
This extraordinary account of a mass poisoning phenomenon in early 20th-century Hungary explores why women kill through the lens of neglect, abuse and the desperate need to escape. Powerfully evocative and shot-through with humanity, The Women Are Not Fine remains astonishingly relevant in the present-day: “The women of Nagyrév lived in another time, under different conditions. Yet their stories – of poverty, isolation, lack of autonomy, abuse – will resonate with many women today.”
An Innocent Child by Toni Maguire
After sharing her own stories of childhood trauma and survival in her bestselling Don't Tell Mummy and When Daddy Comes Home memoirs, Toni Maguire now writes to give voice to others who’ve been through comparable experiences, with An Innocent Child relating Georgia Turner’s story of surviving a childhood lived in the shadow of addiction and escaping marital abuse. Movingly related in Georgia’s warm, honest voice, An Innocent Child follows her journey to finding the courage to leave, leaving readers with the empowering hope-filled message that “it’s never too late to make a change…If you feel you’re at rock bottom, my message to you is that I’ve been there and there’s only so far down you can go until you have to come back up”.
In Black and White by Alexandra Wilson
A truly thought provoking memoir by a young barrister who has overcome sexist and racist obstacles aplenty to become a clarion voice for change. Equally riveting and inspirational, Wilson’s book clearly outlines the changes that the system needs and shows that she has the intelligence and commitment to make it happen.
No Ordinary Day by Matt Johnson
Eye-opening and thought-provoking throughout, read the shocking history and ongoing fight for justice after the murder of Police Constable Yvonne Fletcher in 1984. A challenging and compelling read as the stolen life and promise of justice haunts the pages of this book. While on duty, Yvonne Fletcher was murdered as a demonstration took place outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in London. No Ordinary Day doesn’t just focus on what happened on the 17 April 1984, but also the events leading up to the murder, the subsequent policing investigation, the political background surrounding the incident, and the tireless hunt for justice. Provocative and gripping No Ordinary Day is such an important read it comes as highly recommended by our team.
The Unthinkable by David Challen
The heartbreaking yet vitally important story of the overturning of a murder conviction, where the accused was a victim of years of abuse and coercive control. This is such a necessary and significant story, the impact and consequences of coercive control are devastating to the victims, their family and friends. In The Unthinkable, David Challen tells the story of his family life, the years of abuse, how his mother Sally killed his father, was jailed for his murder, and how David, his brother James and others then campaigned for her release. Painful yes, yet The Unthinkable is a compelling and absorbing story that deserves to be heard.
Reading these books isn’t always easy. And it shouldn’t be. They exist to challenge us to confront painful realities, but they also offer something vital. Hope. Hope in the power of truth. Of advocacy. Of the written word to drive change. These authors and subjects have endured the unimaginable and chosen to speak up, to educate, and to fight for justice. Not just for themselves, but for others too. Their stories matter. Their voices matter. And as readers, bearing witness is the very least we can do.
Check out some of our other collections here:
50 Fabulous Biographies & Autobiographies For Those Who Love a Book About a True Story
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LavillticHE L - 20th August 2025
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ozbiathLP o - 19th August 2025
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