Under a Pink Sky
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By Esther Ghey
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2 reviews
A MOTHER’S TRUE STORY OF LOVE, LOSS, THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS & THE FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURES IN THE DIGITAL AGE.
‘Remarkable’ Daily Mail
‘Remarkable…really honest’ Lorraine Kelly
‘A very powerful and very moving book’ Anita Rani, Woman’s Hour
‘One of the most unflinching, inspirational autobiographies I’ve read, a remarkable cry of hope from the depths of despair’ Guardian
On 11 February 2023, 16-year-old Brianna Ghey left home to meet her friend in a park local to her home in Warrington, Cheshire. Her mother, Esther, was relieved to see her go – a positive step after a difficult and increasingly isolated few years. What Esther didn’t know that day was that Brianna was being lured to the park where she would be tragically murdered.
There was at once an international outpouring of anguish and outrage for a young life brutally snatched away and a mother’s worst nightmare come true. Amidst global displays of support, the usually shy and private Esther began to reflect on how she could channel her own personal grief into campaigning to help others and to create a lasting legacy for her child.
This is the story of Brianna’s death, but it is also the story of her life and of a mother who had to find a way to survive without her. It is a story of transforming unimaginable tragedy into change, of the power of empathy, and a call for understanding and unity in the face of the threats our young people face in an increasingly unchecked digital world.
This is Esther’s fight for a safer, more hopeful future.
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This is a true story about a mother who lost her daughter who was murdered. Her son was growing up and decided to identify as a female when he was a teenager. The mother Esther talks about her life and the difficulties she faced when she grew. Although it was completely different to her children’s life. Esther had grown up with her mum who also took care of foster kids.
She highlights the issues that her daughter goes through with transitioning.
Esther highlights the dangers of social media platforms and how addicted her daughter Brianna (Trans) was when using her mobile phone. She illustrates the how her daughter followed a social media influencer and how she ended suffering eating disorders. She highlights how other followed her daughter on social media platform and how this had lead to her being murdered
She highlights all of the services that she had accessed. She also mentions lots of social media companies were not being very responsible. She mentions how much she goes through with the trial and even meets up with one of the killers parents. This book highlights the dangers and effects of social media can have on teenagers. She talks about her interview with the BBC and the work she undertakes in campaigning for mindfulness training within schools. She has done a lot of amazing things to raise funds for charity.
I would recommend this book to all parents to read. Also anyone who is studying Psychology, Counselling, Support Teaching and learning plus PGCE courses
Esther went into detail about her own upbringing and that of her two children. We learnt about the murder of Brianna in the press but the situation was far more complex, with Brianna’s eating disorder, her dyslexia and her inability to cope at school, and with people in general, apart from her sister with whom she had a loving relationship. The amazing thing is that Esther insisted that no excuses should be made, in terms of parenting, schooling or poverty etc. Her announcement after the trial that the young murderers and their families were victims, too, and in need of our compassion was amazing, in view of the turmoil she herself was suffering at the time.. Esther’s ability to channel her energy into finding practical ways of reducing the impact of the media on young lives is exemplary and we look forward to hearing more about her successes in this venture.
