Book Review of ‘Hidden Truths’

Hidden Truths,
Written By: Brenda Youngerman
Published By: Eloquent Books, an Imprint of AEG Publishing Group, New York, 2008, First Edition, 255 pages, softcover
ISBN 978-1-60693-125-7

“Hidden Truths skilfully takes you into the murky depths of child abuse, misery and despair.”

Wayne and six year old Billy Foster were born into an affluent family.
They have a loving mother and a less then attentive father. Though the relationship between the boy and their dad is strained, their doting mother Pat makes up for it with all her love and affection.
As Pat and Stan are about to leave for a party, Billy’s fear of lightning overwhelms him. His older brother Wayne tries to calm him, but Billy’s distraught mother wants to stay home and comfort her youngest son. When the bad-tempered Stan won’t have it, he and his wife leave for the party.
That same evening, Stan returns home in anger because there has been a car accident that has critically injured Pat. Three days later, their mother dies from her injuries and a grief-stricken Stan, rages at Billy and blames him for his mother’s death.
When Billy goes missing, no one can find any sign of the scared little boy or what has happened to him and Wayne grows up wondering where his younger brother is and suffers abuse at the hands of his father and school bullies.

Gwen Nelson seemed to be the cause of all the problems in her family.
When Jack and Alice got married and had their first child Grace, their family was the picture of serenity and love. As their second child Gwen arrives, everything begins to spiral downhill in a hurry.
When Alice doesn’t bounce back after the birth of their second daughter, their family falls apart.
Jack decides to move and only takes Grace with him. Gwen is left behind with her alcoholic mother.
As time passes, Alice falls deeper into depression, becomes addicted to drugs and immersed in prostitution. Gwen suffers abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother but far worse awaits her. When one of her mother’s “John’s” notices pretty little Gwen, he barters her innocence for a few dollars given to Gwen’s drugged-out mother.
As Grace matures she also starts looking for her younger sister.
These four children grow up; two of them in abusive and disgraceful conditions and the other two in love-filled, nurturing homes.

Hidden Truths was a very high-quality and enjoyable read. The plight of each of child was very moving and made me thankful for the protection that I had as I was growing up.
If the reader has suffered emotional or sexual abuse as a child, I believe that this book would offer hope and comfort. Perhaps, help them to see that there can be a ‘happy ending’, even when it seems unlikely.
This book also strongly reminded me that each one of us must take great care in the decisions we make for those around us, for those who depend on us for support and love.
It was difficult to read about the sexual abuse suffered by little Gwen but the writer should be commended for keeping it as clinical as possible for such a sickening abuse scene.
The writing style was easy to read, the story flowed smoothly and the plot was very thought provoking.
The characters are realistic and were described well.
Their stories intertwine and conclude in a tender moment of love and redemption.
I highly recommend this book!

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (9 out of 10 Diamonds) – Loved it!

 

Link to the Author’s Website:
http://www.brendayoungerman.com/
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/

A special thanks to Bostick Communications and Brenda Youngerman.