Book Review: "Believe Like a Child" By Paige Dearth

 

First and foremost, "Thank You" to Paige Dearth and the publisher for providing this exclusive copy.

Secondly, I'm not normally a stalker but in this case I entered this goodreads giveaway for months to win a copy because I'm from Northeastern Pennsylvania and have friends with similar circumstances.

Abuse of any kind is wrong and should be enforced by the law but when it's a child by a family member or member of society that the child looks to for moral guidance and support then it's more than just criminal it's sickening and deserves not only justice but responsibility to be placed upon the guilty party.

In this case we have a situation in which Alessa isn't safe. Not at home with her uncle. Not in the streets. Not in the system designed to protect and serve. Nowhere is of comfort and I know this pain well because I too am a survivor of abuse.

While I won't get into too many details I can say the progression on this is one in which many young women make in a world set up for the success of men.

It's a world in which child rearing isn't acknowledged nor recognized. A world in which the victim blaming and shaming takes precadense over the facts. A world in which the #MeToo movement is seen as a way for women to get revenge or to harm men in question of sexual abuse rather than to process why it's happening and concentrate on prevention.

The story isn't for the faint of heart. It's not an easy topic. Having a neighbor in a double block home I once shared made me empathize with these girls now women who have hidden this abuse and were afraid to speak out or against their perps.
Sadly, this is becoming all too common in a world devoted to the "me, me, me" rulers in power and it's increasingly becoming more and more difficult to not only bring charges but to see them through fruition.

I know when I brought my case to court for civil hearings including divorce and child support I was informed to sit next to my abuser. I was told by his legal advisers that I deserved the abuse. Upon his initial arrest for PFA violation (ICC Offense w probation, alcohol and drug, and anger management courses) he told them he should be teaching the course not taking it.
The arrogance of these toxic individuals, the high case loads, the inability to fund these important shelters and or public county offices needs to be examined.

This story in which this young lady had to find ways to stay alive and subsequently came upon this broken legal system showcases how far we still have to go.

Alessa's childhood is fiction but plays out as nonfiction for many of us struggling to earn a living and hiding from our predators.

The Uncle who took advantage and abused this impressionable child and the strangers at the Dollar Store as well as those who came later were offensive and alarming but I know this is more reality based for us all.

Women continue to find themselves trying to walk the fine line between not being seen as 'bitchy' or 'whiny' while also getting assistance for sexual crimes and crimes of passion.
It's amazing the commentary I've found with this in mind but it doesn't surprise those of us who lived the nightmare.

Thank you to Paige, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle as I was once a model at John Casablancas Modeling School in my late teens and I never forgot Plymouth Meeting Mall and those cat calls we received walking to simply grab a bite to eat.

We need reform, we need indictments, we need change as women's rights are of utmost importance now more than ever before.