Review: Dani's Story

12:24 11 October 2011

Title: Dani's Story

Author: Diane Lierow

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 272

ISBN: 978-0718158286

RRP: £6.99

Reviewed by Hayley Merrick

'Sometimes strangers can save a life', reads the cover of Dani's Story, and if there's one sentence that sums this book up, it's that.

A humbling tale of one girl's journey from neglect to love, Dani's Story follows the life of Dani - a little girl who had been so severely neglected that she grew up only knowing squalor.

There were a number of calls from worried members of the public and visits were made but no-one saw how she was suffering.

By the time something was actually done about the conditions Dani was living in, it was too late - the damage had been done and doctors believed that Dani would never recover from her terrible start in life.

Then she met Diane and Bernie Lierow. The couple had decided to adopt, but couldn't decide on a child that was right for both of them. As they were leaving, they spotted a photograph and instantly made a connection with the child in the picture. It was Dani.

Despite being warned that she was beyond hope of a normal life, they were instantly drawn to her and decided to adopt. Dani came to life for the first time and proved the experts wrong, following the amount of affection showered on her by the Lierows. 

Dani's heartwarming and remarkable story is not only inspiring, but humbling, and if it telling it means one more child is saved, then her suffering has not been in vain.

An elightening and much recommended read, Dani's Story opens the reader up to both the worst and best of human behaviour, and ultimately shows the power that unconditional love can have.