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Book Review of Believe Like a Child

Believe Like a Child
Linda avatar reviewed on + 770 more book reviews


I felt compelled to read this, especially after researching the author and her life. I really wish I hadn't.

The book starts out with a 6 year old child being raped by her uncle and a mother who doesn't care as long as the uncle donates money to the household. This goes on for 10 years. Aleesa doesn't tell a teacher ... doesn't tell her best and only friend ...and doesn't tell her friend's mother until her friend is killed.

She decides at age 16 that she's had enough and runs to freedom from all the abuse. I was looking for the story to turn into something other than heart-wrenching and depressing . I was looking for hope ... for that light at the end of the tunnel for this child. It didn't come.

In no way do I not feel for the author's early life, and I hope that writing about her experiences in literary form have truly helped her ... but this is not expressed well with this book.

(received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)