23-year-old Singaporean Jolene Goh was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child, and became a wayward teen as result. Instead of giving up on her life, she turned over a new leaf and decided to use her writing to help others.

The book, titled Jolene's Story, took her almost a year to complete, and she says she cried through most of the writing.

Jolene says she could not step out of her past lifestyle at first, but in 2008, her grandfather passed away. This was also the same year she was discharged from the Girls' Home.

She decided to change for the better and use her writing to help others.

Jolene wrote a few chapters and sent them out to publishers. Eventually, Marshall Cavendish agreed to publish her story.

The book was published in November last year and costs $19.90.

Jolene worked as an outdoor sales executive for 2 years, and will pursue a diploma in Media and Communications this year.

According to a report in The Straits Times, Jolene joined a notorious gang in Secondary 3, taking drugs, spending the day drinking at coffeeshops and acquiring tattoos.

She was often depressed and contemplated suicide.

She was eventually sent to a girls' home for 2 years for stealing. In the book, she writes about the colourful life at the home, with secret codes of behaviour and misbehaviour that goes on.

Her mother, Catherine Wee, 45, corroborates her account of events in the book and said she herself cried through most of it while reading it.

"I had been such a failed mother, a failed wife - my feelings were complicated while reading the book," said the helper at a hawker stall.

"I Whatsapped her to say 'I'm sorry'. She scolded me, 'Crazy ah, say sorry for what'," Ms Wee said.

In an email to Stomp, Jolene wrote:

"This is my story.

"I had the worst childhood ever. I was born an illegitimate child, and sexually and physically abused by my stepfather at age 11.

"Many times, I nearly gave up on life.

"To break free from the sexual abuse, I ran away from home, took drugs, sniffed glue, got into fights, started getting tattoos, stole and ended up in the Singapore Girls' home.

"I didn't charge my stepfather because mum begged me not to.

"My brothers were already 'mother-less' after their divorce, so she didn't want them losing their dad either.

"The book was published last year and I've changed into a better person than before.

"However, he still continues to make me and my mum's lives as miserable as possible."

The book, Jolene's Story, is retailing at Times, Popular, Kinokuniya and Prologue. There is a 20 per cent discount for the book at Times and Popular.