Missing Sarah : A Vancouver Woman Remembers Her Vanished Sister
by Maggie De Vries
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Description
"On April 14, 1998, Sarah de Vries disappeared from her usual spot on the corner of Princess and Hastings in Vancouver. She became one of the many women who had vanished from the Downtown Eastside—women, most of them sex workers and drug addicts—whose DNA would later be found on the Pickton farm. Reflecting on her adopted sister’s story, through Sarah’s own poetry and journals and the recollections of those close to her at home and downtown, Maggie uncovers the portrait of a bright, show more charismatic woman who found herself trapped in a downward spiral of self-loathing, prostitution, drugs, and violence. In this achingly honest book, the reader is drawn into revelations and understanding just as Maggie was. Tragic though it was in many ways, Sarah’s life had meaning."-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This book was written by the sister of one of the women that was murdered by Robert Pickton on his pig farm. There were almost 70 missing women in Vancouver and through DNA testing police discovered that Pickton had murdered at least 27 of them. There were no bodies but their DNA was found on the farm. He had used grinding equipment to grind the bodies to tiny pieces and then fed the result to his pigs. He's one of the most dangerous and disgusting pieces of revolting trash on the face of the earth. He is currently on trial at the date of this review.
The writer reflects on her memories of her sister Sarah and their family life. She came from a loving home and had many wonderful people who cared deeply about her. She was a beautiful show more girl and so young to have had her life taken. She had troubled years with drug abuse and eventually became a prostitute which subsequently led to her being murdered. I can't think about her without almost breaking out in tears. This all happened too close to home for me as I live in Vancouver. I had always hoped they would find these women alive. It's all so tragic and horrible. show less
The writer reflects on her memories of her sister Sarah and their family life. She came from a loving home and had many wonderful people who cared deeply about her. She was a beautiful show more girl and so young to have had her life taken. She had troubled years with drug abuse and eventually became a prostitute which subsequently led to her being murdered. I can't think about her without almost breaking out in tears. This all happened too close to home for me as I live in Vancouver. I had always hoped they would find these women alive. It's all so tragic and horrible. show less
A very powerful read. A heartbreaking story, I cried nearly the whole time.
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Lists
CBC's 100 True Stories
100 works; 6 members
Author Information
12+ Works 434 Members
Awards and Honors
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2003
- Important places
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Canada
- Dedication
- To sex workers everywhere, in memory of Sarah Jean de Vries
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Sexuality and Gender Studies, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 364 — Society, Government, and Culture Social problems and social services Criminology
- LCC
- HQ150 .V36 .D4 — Social sciences The family. Marriage, Women and Sexuality The Family. Marriage. Women Sexual life Prostitution
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 62
- Popularity
- 497,471
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.14)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
