Synopses & Reviews
Statistics say that as many as one in three girls will be sexually abused at some point in their childhood. Mandy Smith is one of those girls. Beginning at age three, Mandy's stepfather begins to molest her. When she finally breaks the family's code of silence at age fourteen, she is shunned — abandonment that leads her down a dark path. When she finds herself pregnant as the result of rape, the deep love she feels for her unborn baby surprises her — and gives her hope for the future. But just as she is in the midst of making plans for their new life together, her parents perform one final act of deception, a betrayal that sends her into an abyss of depression, disordered eating, and PTSD.
Review
"A woman's voice breaking the silence, telling her secrets, makes a powerful sound. And that's just what we hear in Smith's truth-telling memoir, Secrets in Big Sky Country. Smith provides compelling witness to the violence — and its tragic after-effects — that too many girls suffer. Smith, in her important memoir, sheds light on what can only be called crimes against humanity."
Sue William Silverman, author, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You
Review
"Mandy Smith's riveting account sheds new light on our understanding of the whole trajectory of childhood sexual abuse. With unflinching courage and candor, the author documents every aspect of this crime, from the grooming that takes place beforehand, the travesty of the abuse itself, the all too frequent family abandonment of the victim who 'tells', and the tragic legacy of emotional damage it leaves in its wake. And despite the horrors, this is a tale full of humanity, told by someone who chooses to love life however she can."
Sheila Munro, author, Lives of Mothers and Daughters: Growing up with Alice Munro
Review
"Mandy Smith's compelling, courageous and ever engaging voice will awaken you to the vulnerability of children, amaze you at the way even the most abused find keys to nurture inner strength and have you reinvesting in helping to guarantee all children receive the care and correct behavior they deserve from adults."
Sheila Bender, Founder, WritingItReal.com
Review
"Smith's courageous account of childhood sex abuse demonstrates not only the prevalence of this universal crime, but the resilience of a young girl to survive and become a warrior in the fight to eradicate the problem."
Marilyn Van Derbur, Author of Miss America By Day
Review
"Harrowing and heartbreaking, Smith's story brings to light the problem of childhood sexual abuse that is still happening across the globe today. Finding her voice as an adult, and becoming an advocate for prevention and awareness, will surely help others."
Kristie Kernal, OAASIS — Education and Outreach Director OAASIS: Oregon Abuse Advocates & Survivors in Service (Oregon Abuse Advocates & Survivors in Service)
Review
"Mandy Smith's story is a shattering account of a stolen childhood. By the end of her memoir, we see up close what true courage looks like — it is simply amazing that that little girl survived, healed, and ultimately chose love. That the reader comes away feeling hopeful is Smith's gift to us."
Valentina Gnup, poet (author of A Certain Piece of Sky and Sparrow Octaves)
Review
"A well-written intense account of childhood abuse, shame, and hurt. My heart goes out to the little girl (in the story) who finds peace and shows compassion and to the adults in her life..."
Elizabeth Reis, Professor of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Oregon. Author of Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex and Damned Women: Sinners and Witches in Puritan New England
Review
"Chills. They're what hit you in the opening paragraphs of Secrets in Big Sky Country, and then continue as you learn more of Mandy Smith's story. That she survives — even wanted to survive — is a testament to her strength and her courage. Her story reminds us, there is no cure for being a victim of childhood abuse; the effects never end — at least not for the victim. Smith's memoir brings home to readers the extent of the permanent damage done at the hands of abusers, and it will inspire you to say, as she has, NEVER AGAIN."
Lori Schafer, author of On Hearing of My Mother's Death Six Years After It Happened: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness
Review
"Mandy Smith has proven herself as a tireless advocate for abuse victims. Secrets in Big Sky Country is a heart-rending illustration of her own personal journey of healing and rising up to help others."
Bill Murray, Founder of National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (NAASCA)
Synopsis
A bold and unvarnished memoir about the shattering consequences of familial sexual abuse--and the strength it takes to overcome them.
About the Author
Mandy Smith is a writer, gardener, and animal lover who resides in Portland, OR with her husband and Labradoodle. She advocates for victims of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic abuse on her Wordpress blog Healing Beyond Survival. She was a finalist in She Writes Press's 2014 Memoir Discovery Contest. Secrets in Big Sky Country is her first book.