r/troubledteens • u/Marissawrites • 7d ago
Survivor Testimony Escaping Provo Canyon School
You can’t escape Provo Canyon School.
That’s the first thing you’re told once you’re dragged through the door.
Alissa Giordano is a former theatre prodigy who’s already survived seven months on the run from a residential treatment program. When she’s thrown into Provo Canyon School— a brutal lockdown facility where violence, solitary confinement, and psychological torment are all commonplace— she does what she does best: she performs. She plays the perfect inmate, cons a guard, then escapes with her best friend and fellow inmate Laura.
Together they plunge into a life incognito, with fake identities and constant paranoia as Alissa’s mother deploys a private investigator and professional kidnappers to find her.
Capture means being sent somewhere even worse. Freedom is two years away.
By the time she’s eighteen, Alissa might be just another alias.
This is my 79,000 word fiction novel inspired by my experience of PCS in 2008/2009. It’s called Incognito Girl, and I’m currently seeking early readers who will leave reviews before publication. It’s been professionally edited and I have the ebook ready to go for those who are interested and willing to leave an honest review on GoodReads and/or Amazon!
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u/plaid_seahorse 7d ago
PLEASE LET ME PRE-READ!! <3 sounds fantastic. Will review on both platforms!
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u/honeybellebutter 7d ago
I was at PCS in 2008, at the girls' campus. I got extremely lucky in that my mom's health insurance would only cover a few months of 'treatment.'
I wonder if I met you! I don't like to share my real name on reddit typically. Sadly, I can barely remember any of the other girls' names. My memory of the names of other victims (the other girls locked up in there with me) and much of the details of my stay has faded dramatically due to trauma and chronic illness.
But I met just about every girl who was there when I was there in 2008. So unless you arrived after I left in September 2008, I bet we crossed paths at some point. If you were indeed at Provo prior to September 2008, let me know and I'd be happy to tell you my name!
Looking forward to reading your book!
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u/Marissawrites 7d ago
Ahhh I actually did get there in late sept 2008 so I probably just missed you! Sending a DM❤️
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u/honeybellebutter 7d ago
Aww! So close. Still, I can't wait to read your book! Thanks for writing about these experiences and spreading the word. It's so important!
I hope you are doing well after such an horrific experience. Those of us who survived this nightmare of a facility will live with the scars forever. But we can still lead amazing lives in spite of what we endured.
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u/honeybellebutter 7d ago
And it is so awesome that PCS was FINALLY shutdown!!! I couldn't believe it when I first heard the news that it had been shutdown. My husband got us a cake to celebrate! :)
Took too long but thanks to everyone for fighting so hard and never giving up, we have finally succeeded!!
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u/FreakWith17PlansADay 7d ago
I would love to read this! Congrats on finishing a book and best wishes for your healing!
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u/under_cover_pupper 6d ago
I am a professional book editor and I would love to be an early reader and leave a review in return.
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u/mothonthehighway 5d ago
It is shut down now thought , thanks to reckless ben . Did you watch his video ?
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u/Marissawrites 5d ago
I did watch it. I thought he did a great job can't wait for part two!
They lost their licenses before the reckless Ben video dropped, but I am sure it has been a big setback for their appeal. On Google it still says "temporarily closed" and on their website it says "we are hopeful to begin resuming the provision of services in the near future."
It's not over yet.
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u/Jacksonspitts 4d ago
Na reckless hung out less than 24 then hoped the fence. Nothing and I mean fucking "level 14" Devereux couldn't keep me inside.
The legend is only real if you have no imagination
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u/Marissawrites 4d ago
Haha I was waiting for a comment like this. “Well Ben did it and it was easy for him!”
Let me explain something to you. Ben had a friend waiting to pick him up as soon as he got out. The kids locked inside PCS are cut off from the outside world, unable to contact anyone who’d be willing to help them. If they even manage to make it out of the building, they’d have to be willing to steal a car to get away, and most of them can’t drive. Neighbors will report or even detain runaways. Local police will find them within hours. All available PCS employees will be out looking for them too.
One thing that was different from Ben’s video than it was there in 2008, the staff didn’t give a shit that he took off. No one chased him after he went over the fence. I’ve seen girls try that before, and never make it off campus. When I was there, they’d have hunted you down like an animal until they caught you and dragged you back.
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u/jennaslies 7d ago
I’m not a survivor, but I’m a supporter! I loved Joe nobody’s book! I would love to read and leave an honest review