Virginia Roberts Giuffre's memoir is a very important and disturbing read. This book is compelling and well written, but I needed to take frequent breaks while reading it. It is heartbreaking and triggering. I wept while reading the chapters dealing with her family life and horrific childhood. It should go without saying that no child should ever have to endure what she did. And yet no single adult in her life attempted to protect her.
Nobody's Girl gives us a deeper insight into a very young Jenna as she was known to her loved ones. She loved animals, especially horses and dreamed of growing up to be a vet. Jenna loved music and climbing trees and above all she loved her little brother. She had so many hopes and dreams, like we all did, until they were crushed, beginning with the extreme trauma induced by her own father. This abuse started when she was just eight years old leading to a difficult adolescence and a vulnerability which monsters like Maxwell and Epstein could easily manipulate. They specifically targeted vulnerable children from lower income circumstances.
Fuck all those who abused and enabled the cruel and violent treatment of Virginia Roberts Giuffre. We failed her and by we I mean a society that allows for the rich and powerful to live by a different set of rules than the rest of us. And a society that fails to believe and protect victims while forcing them to relive over and over their trauma in the hope that someone will believe them.
Epstein was not an anomaly as is clearly stated in Virginia's book. He was not an outlier in a world where the bulk of wealth and power is controlled by psychopaths. I say psychos because how else can one describe people who are heartless to the pain and suffering of children. How else can you describe a person who would inflict such cruelty on a child for their own disgusting pleasure.
In later chapters Virginia talks about her efforts to bring justice to her abusers. It was long and painful with her often being retraumatized on an International stage. I honestly don't know if I could have been so brave. Her life and the lives of her children were also threatened. And Epstein's death is very, very suspicious.
We as a society need to keep demanding the complete release of ALL the Epstein files and every single one of those people that he recorded engaging in his Lolita massages must face criminal charges. And then there are those who knew or suspected something. Epstein reportedly had nude or scantily dressed girls in his homes and in photographs even bragging about his conquests. How could anyone in his sphere not have known? I have no idea how these people can live with themselves. :(
Virginia Giuffre holds a photo of her younger self. By Emily Michot - Original publication: Miami Herald by November 8, 2022
The world lost Virginia in April 2025 to suicide. Of course I knew this going into her book, but throughout my reading I wanted to hug her and to say to her how sorry I am for everything she endured right up to the very end of her life. And that I believe her. I also wanted to tell her how much her bravery and courage has made a difference and will hopefully bring justice for other victims. So I lit a white candle in her honour and I did just that.
Rest in power Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
