Rating: 
Summary: Miraculous
Review: I am a college student at the University of South Florida, and I have never really enjoyed reading anything besides books for school. However, I bought this book the day it came out and was finished with it two days later. It was a great story of faith and love. After seeing the wonderful reunion of Elizabeth and her family in March 2003 I knew right then what I want to do with my life, I want to become an FBI agent so I can bring kids back to their parents. I want to do this because I believe there is nothing more precious in this world then the love shared between parents and their children. This book shows that fact to a great extent and I reccomend this book to anyone even if they don't enjoy reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Smart? He was not!
Review: I have learned little new from this book as I have been following this story from the news. Thousands of children go missing every year and no mention is made of them. Had this happened in inner city Chicago or New York, it might have gotten a cursery mention on the nightly news and quickly forgotten. Elizabeth is very lucky to have survived her nine month ordeal. How many others are so fortunate? And Ed Smart had transient people work on his million dollar estate? He has six beautiful children and loving wife. Why would he bring in transients in to work on his house rather than hire contractors with licenses? Smart? He was not. I wish the book would address these issues rather than bash the police for not doing their job.
Rating:
Summary: cynical worldview
Review: It never ceases to amaze me how cynical people can be. The Smart family is criticized in these reviews because they chose not to focus on the dark side of this tragedy. They chose not to provide the gritty details of Elizabeth's experience thus depriving the insatiable curiousity of the public and they are condemned for it. Called mercinary for telling their story the way they experienced it. If you bought the book, I really don't understand how you can criticize the Smarts for publishing it. If you are disappointed because of the lack of details I suggest that you wait for the inevitable exposes that will surely follow in print. Maybe your cash will be better spent there. If you didn't read the book, what are you doing reviewing it here? Using this forum to air your grievances about inequality is unfair and petty. The book is a nice tribute to the faith of this fine family. I fail to see why their race and economic situation should be a consideration in the telling of their experience. We all, regardless of our station, suffer when we are injured. The Smart family's story in no way demeans the suffering of others. It is simply their story. The fact is that Ed Smart has been very instrumental in getting the missing child media system alert in place. And it is very possible that Elizabeth's story has raised the conscience of America in regards to the safety of children. That and the faith of this remarkable family should be the legacy of this tragedy.
Rating:
Summary: Turning tragedy into cash
Review: When I saw this book in the bookstore recently I picked it up just to take a gander at it. Upon opening the book I heard a loud "Cha-Ching!" Everytime I turned a page I heard sound effects of carribean cruises, Elizabeth's first Lexus reving up, and the sound of Ed (her father) jumping into a pool of money just like Scrooge McDuck. Gee, I'd kidnapp myself if I thought it would mean my family would become millionaires. Guess what? Everyday a child is kidnaped and families go through similar torment. Guess what else? Most of the time these parents never see their kids again, unless its at a funeral. Having Elizabeth back should be reward enough. But no, they have to do the "Christian thing": which means exploit their tragedy and convert it into cold hard cash. First Utah loses Karl Malone, and now dignity.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing/Learned nothing new
Review: It saddens me as to how much of a disappointment this book really was. As an avid follower of Elizabeth's case, I looked forward to learning more than we have already heard on the news. Even the casual observer of her story in the news already has as much info as this book gives. No one in their right mind expects details of her physical abuse by Mitchell & Barzee, but many are interested to learn what she went through in terms of her thoughts and places they took her...even "close calls" with people who could have recognized her. This book offered none of this and less. The choice in author was unfortunate, as the book is littered with errors. The book separates back and forth between Lois' and Ed's point of view (as if they were telling the story), yet throughout the author can not seem to remember if she is writing in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd person! If the impending trial is reason that this book has to be the non-event that it is, then the Smarts should have waited until later, and just issued a press release that states "Prayers are answered," as that is all the book repeats over & over. I admire and agree with the message, and feel all the compassion in the world for this family, however, reading this book in the inexperienced unenlightened manner that it was written, was simply a chore. The message is a great one, but the book was missing its soul...
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for everyone in law enforcement
Review: Ed and Lois tell their story during their daughter's abduction from June 2002 to March 2003. Its not a comprehensive telling of the story due to the fact the trial has yet to take place. But there is enough here to satisfy the curious as to what went on in the Smart house during those harrowing months. Ed and Lois talk of their darkest moments including whether to have a memorial service or a funeral, their concern for the other children, their breakdowns and their anguish. They also go into some detail about the police investigation which certainly could have been handled better. To me, its as if the Keystone Cops left Hollywood and made their new residence in the Salt Lake City Police Department. To be fair, they conducted their investigation based on statistically what was most probable. The problem was this case defied all statistics and the Salt Lake City Police Department took too long to realize that. This is why I recommend this book be read by everyone in law enforcement. I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to read a true story of horrible circumstances but has a happy ending.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant and very real
Review: I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Not only does it faithfully tell the painful story of Elizabeth's disappearance and the family's efforts to cope with such an event, it also succeeds in portraying the parents as real individuals forced to deal with a horrific trial. I also respect the fact that the book respects and protects Elizabeth's privacy - the poor girl has been through enough already without us knowing every detail of what happened to her during those 9 months! Overall, a very touching, heartfelt book with rays of hope throughout.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Tears, Lots of Joy
Review: I found myself alternating between crying from sadness, crying from the powerful emtions that went through the family during the search, and crying from the shear joy of Elizabeth's homecoming. It wasn't the book I thought it would be. I'm sory of a news junkie and followed the case from start to finished when it happened and I was hoping that this would flesh out the story with some interesting inside details of Elizabeth's captivity and rescue. But I'm giving it 5 stars anyway, not for the intrigue, but because the parents story comes across so powerfully. I felt like I really could see what happened more from their perspective and that through the book I was able to share their pain and happiness. Not what I expected, but I think that's probably a good thing. The book seemed a little short, it could have done with a longer ending, I'm not sure that it really detracted from my enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: despicable on many levels
Review: First, and most obviously, this book is the result of parents capitalizing on their daughter's ordeal. Why? Because they're tired of not being in the spotlight anymore? It's hard to raise that many children on an ordinary income? Second, this book only furthers the perception that only cute white girls are abducted. The truth is that many children are abducted everyday, but we never hear about them because they are not the children of perfect, upper-middle class white families. Yes, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart was tragic, and must have been a horrifying ordeal for her family. But is this book even remotely an appropriate response to that??!!
Rating:
Summary: Give them a break
Review: After all is said and done I fail to see why some people are so venomous towards Mr. and Mrs. Smart. I received a copy of this book as a gift the other day and I must admit I was skeptical about the parent's motive for writing it, but I was pleasantly surprised at how understandble and sympathetic they come across. It is impossible for me to understand what they went through, the pain of losing their daughter, the insane, callous, and stupid accusations against them that have gotten hurled around. Having just finished the book I understand where they are coming from in wanting to have their version of their story out there for the public. I encourage you to read and decide for yourself.
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