Synopses & Reviews
This book is an absolute gift to the world.” Jacqueline WoodsonEvery year more than half a million young people are sexually abused or assaulted in North America. This groundbreaking book brings readers face-to-face with nine survivors who speak with candor and courage about the abuse they experienced, how they have healed, and how they are moving forward with their lives. White, black, Latino, and Native American, these everyday heroes come from a wide range of communities and have found different ways to cope with and overcome sexual trauma. Through moving personal stories and striking photographs they take readers into their lives, offering insight and hope for anyone affected by this all-too-common childhood experience.In this book about healing, young readers and their families will find additional information in the resource section, a comprehensive guide to the best help lines, books, films, and Web sites on healing and resilience.
Carolyn Lehman is the author of the Christopher Awardwinning novel
Promise Not to Tell. She teaches childrens literature, writes extensively for children and adults, and is active in survivor advocacy. She lives in Arcata, California. Every year more than half a million young people are sexually abused or assaulted in North America. This book brings readers face-to-face with nine survivors who speak with candor and courage about the abuse they experienced, how they have healed, and how they are moving forward with their lives. White, black, Latino, and Native American, these everyday heroes come from a wide range of communities and have found different ways to cope with and overcome sexual childhood traumas: molestation, acquaintance rape, incest, clergy abuse, abduction and rape by a stranger. Through moving personal stories and striking photographs they take readers into their lives, offering insight and hope for anyone affected by these all-too-common childhood experiences.
In this book about healing, young readers and their families will find additional information in the resource section, a comprehensive guide to the best help lines, books, films, and web sites on healing and resilience. "Strong at the Heart is an absolute gift to the world. Each person inside this book is whispering, 'Listen, learn, love, forgivesee this new greatness in me.'"Jacqueline Woodson, author of I Hadn't Meant to Tell You "Powerful and right on the money. Every student will want to read it and every teacher should. This is the kind of book that will help our culture understand itself."Chris Crutcher, family therapist and author of Chinese Handcuffs "By sharing the individual stories of young women and men who have had the courage to speak out, Lehman givesto all who have been abusedfaces, hope, and the healing knowledge that they are not alone. Strong at the Heart is essentialand inspiringreading."Michael Cart "Without sensationalizing, the first-person narratives each convey the particulars of an individual experience that will encourage readers' empathy."The Horn Book "Excellently balanced. Over and over, the interviewees each say how much it helped to hear that someone else shared their experiencesthat they were not alone. One hopes that this book will be that voice for readers."Kirkus Reviews "Lehman's powerful collection . . . packs a strong emotional punch. The strength of this sensitive, evenhanded book comes from its increasing awareness about something teens may be silently suffering."Booklist "Clearly and candidly written. The clear message to other victims is that they are not alone and that recovery is possible."School Library Journal
Review
"
Strong at the Heart is an absolute gift to the world. Each person inside this book is whispering, 'Listen, learn, love, forgive - see this new greatness in me." -- Jacqueline Woodson, author of
I Hadn't Meant to Tell You"Powerful and right on the money. Every student will want to read it and every teacher should. This is the kind of book that will help our culture understand itself." --Chris Crutcher, family therapist and author of Chinese Handcuffs
"By sharing the individual stories of young women and men who have had the courage to speak out, Lehman gives - to all who have been abused - faces, hope, and the healing knowledge that they are not alone. Strong at the Heart is essential - and inspiring - reading." --Michael Cart
"Lehman's powerful collection...packs a strong emotional punch. The strength of this sensitive, evenhanded book comes from its increasing awareness about something teens may be silently suffering." -- Booklist
"The stories here are compelling, each with its individual winding path to healing. The essays reflect the individuality of the survivor. This collection...will undoubtedly touch a nerve, offering insight and hope for many." -- VOYA
"Without sensationalizing, the first-person narratives each convey the particulars of an individual experience that will encourage readers' empathy." -- The Horn Book
"Excellently balanced. Over and over, the interviewees each say how much it helped to hear that someone else shared their experiences - that they were not alone. One hopes that this book will be that voice for readers." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Clearly and candidly written. The clear message to other victims is that they are not alone and that recovery is possible." -- School Library Journal
"This is an important addition to the limited young-adult survivor selection." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"May well give teens who have had similar experiences the courage to come forward and to begin to heal from them." --Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
“This book is an absolute gift to the world.” - Jacqueline WoodsonEvery year more than half a million young people are sexually abused or assaulted in North America. This groundbreaking book brings readers face-to-face with nine survivors who speak with candor and courage about the abuse they experienced, how they have healed, and how they are moving forward with their lives. White, black, Latino, and Native American, these everyday heroes come from a wide range of communities and have found different ways to cope with and overcome sexual trauma. Through moving personal stories and striking photographs they take readers into their lives, offering insight and hope for anyone affected by this all-too-common childhood experience.
In this book about healing, young readers and their families will find additional information in the resource section, a comprehensive guide to the best help lines, books, films, and Web sites on healing and resilience.
About the Author
Carolyn Lehman is the author of the Christopher Award-winning novel
Promise Not to Tell. She teaches childrens literature, writes extensively for children and adults, and is active in survivor advocacy. She lives in Arcata, California.