Abuse Books

A week before her thirteenth birthday, Kat loses her mother to cancer and becomes an orphan. You would think she would be relieved to have an aunt take her in. Especially a very rich aunt. You would think that, and you would be very wrong. Indeed, Kat's one wish is to see her aunt dead.

Kat's mother worked for meager earnings. She taught Kat how to sew, how to cook, and how to be frugal. She taught her how to love, and how to forgive even the most unforgivable as Kat sat at her mother's bedside after another of her father's beatings. Her mother said he couldn't help it. It was the orphanage's fault. It damaged him.

But her mother's death? That was her aunt's fault. Kat's mother worked in the school cafeteria until the cancer got so bad she couldn't bear it anymore. Because of Aunt Paulina, Kat's mother died in their tiny apartment, with only Kat to care for her, instead of in a hospital where drugs could have relieved her pain. Rich, stingy Aunt Paulina, the aunt who inherited all the family money after her mom was disowned, spent more money on the funeral than it would have cost to pay for her mother to have a life-saving operation.

There's nowhere else for Kat to go. Forced to live with her mother's sister, Kat promises to make her pay. She begins to make good on that promise when Aunt Paulina says, "I'd like you to call me Mother." Kat makes her feelings clear and sets the tone of their relationship by responding, "I'd rather be thrown off a cliff, burning alive, than to call you my mama's name."

If I leave you thinking that KAT'S PROMISE is just another book about a mother dying and the bitterness that follows, then I have done you, the reader, and Bonnie Shimko, the author, a grave disservice. This book is so much more. Kat discovers a history of family secrets that give her a deeper understanding of both the sisters, as well as her father. She bonds with Nettie, Aunt Paulina's harassed housekeeper. And she finds purpose in helping a neighbor regain his love for life.

Ms. Shimko uses Beamer, Kat's new best friend, and Johnny, the neighbor's grandson, to add light to the story. And there are many other sweet moments that I'll let you discover. The writing will delight you, especially the brilliant descriptions. I absolutely could not put this book down once I started it, and I was sad to say good-bye to Kat, especially when things were going so well. I do not doubt that the characters will stay with me and I'll want to read this book again. For that reason, I give KAT'S PROMISE a gold star.

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

Bonnie Shimko's KAT'S PROMISE will reach ages 12 and older, telling of a pre-teen whose mother ides, forcing her to live with a wealthy aunt whom Kat believes caused her mother's death. And she may have: the aunt is even crueler than thought, her house holds many mysteries, and Kat's life seems filled with only darkness and no future, until she discovers a new friend, some sympathetic ears, and some new hopes for positive changes in her life. A sensitive story teens will find compellingly different from the usual parental death account

Bonnie Shimko's KAT'S PROMISE will reach ages 12 and older, telling of a pre-teen whose mother ides, forcing her to live with a wealthy aunt whom Kat believes caused her mother's death. And she may have: the aunt is even crueler than thought, her house holds many mysteries, and Kat's life seems filled with only darkness and no future, until she discovers a new friend, some sympathetic ears, and some new hopes for positive changes in her life. A sensitive story teens will find compellingly different from the usual parental death account

What does a twelve year-old girl do when all her immediate family is gone?

There is nothing left in the town where Kat has grown up now that her mother has died. After the funeral, Paulina, her mother's sister, comes to whisk her away to the town where both girls grew up. Kat takes an immediate disliking to her aunt, who insists that she be called Mother and that Kat will be her daughter now, and does everything she can think of to stay away from the house and her aunt as much as possible.

The aunt's housekeeper befriends Kat, which is a blessing since she feels so out of place in her Aunt Paulina's presence. After telling her aunt that she will never call her "Mother," the war is on. Which will give in first?

When Kat starts school she makes an immediate connection with the girl who sort of just tries to be inconspicuous, but in doing so, really stands out. They are almost inseparable through thick and thin.

Kat has made a promise to herself, and will not break her promise. As we follow Kat through this tragic coming-of-age story, we find out all kinds of secrets about her mother, her aunt and the neighbors as well as the families involved.

This was an overall well-written story. I liked how we see this young, almost adult, girl comes full circle within the life-altering moments. From the tragedy of losing her mother to the first love, we see Kat grow up pretty much as normal as possible.

Armchair Interviews says: A well-written coming-of-age story that includes love and loss.

I bought this book mid-November, 1980 while waiting to buy my last cartoon of cigarettes. The directions were simple and easy to follow. I'm happy to see it available again.

This book could put all the non-smoking patches, pills, etc. companies out of business.

Three other women I know also became non-smokers because of this book.

I stumbled onto Dr. Geisinger's book while looking for something else. I had tried to quit three times before--unsuccessfully. I followed the book's instructions and read a chapter per week/followed the recommendations for four weeks and guess what?!?! I became a non-smoker in one month and have not smoked nor even had the desire to since then! Oh, did I mention--I bought Dr. G's original release of "Kicking It..." back in November of 1980...

An easy to read , step by step guide to end the addiction of cigarette smoking. The author provides the strategies and skills necessary to help you quit as well as a justifiable, scathing indictment of the tobacco industry.

I bought the first edition of this book thirteen years ago, and was able to stop smoking easily, despite being very discouraged by many false starts and failures before.

It's well laid-out, addresses the urge to smoke on many different levels. The author has obviously thought through so many facets of smoking addiction and has come up with ingenious strategies for dealing with them all.

This is a real thinking smoker's self-help book.

Once I began reading, I couldn't stop. I read the book cover to cover in four straight hours. Kevin's message is that all children are worth saving from abusive and dysfunctional homes, no matter what age they are.

When I read this book I was stunned, how can anyone do that to a little child?? People say that if your abused as a child you never really get over it and you aften become abusers yourself, this book proves that, thats not true!

Everyone that reads this will be touched by it.

The sort of family you land into when you get born is very much the luck of the draw. Each of us could have been born a king, or a pauper; could have been born into a good family or a bad family; could have been born into a starving African family or, wherever, whatever. Who you are - your background - the inputs and education you receive - it's all down to luck. Sperm and ovum combine: you gestate; you arrive. You are part of a family, good or bad.

This book is about a lad who was born into a crappy dysfunctional sort of a family: suffering a bad upbringing in a filthy house with the sort of people as parents who arguably ought not to be allowed to become parents in the first place; overlooked by the social services, who ought to have intervened and taken away; having to try to pick up the pieces; trying to recover in later life from all the disadvantages that one gets from a bad upbringing. He still carries the scars, deep in his mind.

We are all, in some ways, victims of circumstance, in where we find ourselves in life.
This book is well-written, simple to read, a quick read, and worth reading.

I wasn't clear why paperwork just arrived from social services in Chapter 29: was this just a convenient invention by the author, to further explain his background? Why were confidential papers sent? That was a point that left me puzzled as it wasn't explained.

Overall: 5/5 - Worth reading.

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"There's a brand new dance but I don't know its name
That people from bad homes do again and again
It's big and it's bland full of tension and fear
They do it over there but we don't do it here."
~ David Bowie - Fashion

It will bring tears to your eyes what this child went through, it will make you want to scream out at the parents of this boy. But, this child prevails. With Courage and Determination he writes about his life in this remarkable book. This is an absolute must read book that ranks up there at the top with Nightmares Echo, A Child Called It, Running With Scissors and Sickened.
My final words are: read the books,learn the signs and help stop this from happening around our silent ears

This is an amazing book that i would definatly recommend to ANYBODY! My teacher had originally told my to read it, telling me it was an irrisistable book! She told me i would love it, and would not be able to put it down. Just as she had said, that is exactly what happend. Many of my classmates also found the book to be the same way. My teacher even ended up buy another copy of Last Sam's Cage, because too many people wanted to read it, but there wasnt enough of it to go around! i ensure you that you will LOVE this book if you ever get around to reading it, and will want to read it over and over. it is truly a book that everyone can enjoy, and will be loved by all for many years to come!

This is an amazing book that i would definatly recommend to ANYBODY! My teacher had originally told my to read it, telling me it was an irrisistable book! She told me i would love it, and would not be able to put it down. Just as she had said, that is exactly what happend. Many of my classmates also found the book to be the same way. My teacher even ended up buy another copy of Last Sam's Cage, because too many people wanted to read it, but there wasnt enough of it to go around! i ensure you that you will LOVE this book if you ever get around to reading it, and will want to read it over and over. it is truly a book that everyone can enjoy, and will be loved by all for many years to come!

The basic premise makes it sound like an early reader's storybook: a boy, unhappy at home, runs away to live in the zoo.

Last Sam's Cage, however, is anything but a child's flight of fancy. It is, in fact, a realistic, gritty novel for teens. Eddie Slater, fifteen, is the victim of the kind of abuse at home that we know happens all too often. His father has died, and his mother has remarried to someone not so nice. The marriage quickly degenerates into a destructive co-dependent hell, with Eddie caught in the middle. As his life spirals out of control, Eddie finds himself on the street, running with a dangerous crowd and into trouble with the law. The abuse he suffers at his stepfather's hands, meanwhile, escalates to the point where his very life is in danger. Eddie has to escape, if only to save himself.

But to where? Remembering happier times spent at the zoo, Eddie heads in that direction. He soon finds the sprawling, extensive Calgary Zoo to be an ideal escape from it all. Using skills he learned on the street, Eddie evades security and moves right in. He finds a nook, a place to hide at night.

There are problems, of course: Eddie is not exactly on the feeding schedule. He must steal to survive, even to the point of breaking and entering. Then there is Jack, a grown man who hangs around the kids at zoo. Why does Jack seem to want to help? Eddie's natural sense of distrust puts him on guard. Could Jack be some kind of pervert?

Author David A. Poulsen expertly covers all the bases, leaving no loose ends. We learn much more about both Jack and Eddie, and how past experiences can shape a life. The reader is never allowed to lose track of the fact that Eddie is, at heart, a basically good kid. Nor does the author gloss over how Eddie's home life came to be the hell it is. At one point, we watch him confront his mother only to learn just how even adults can mess up their lives. The story's various threads weave together at the end to create a climax rich in drama and suspense.

In all, Last Sam's Cage is a realistic, satisfying novel that holds no punches. This is not Poulsen's first novel dealing with runaways; I found Billy and the Bearman a good read as well.

You'll be captivated from the first page when you read about Eddie sneaking out of the house to run away from his abusive step-dad. Eddie is 15 and now homeless, finding solace in the Calgary Zoo. While there he writes in his journal about his days and you get a great insight into this gentle and confused survivor. He befriends a middle-aged man who ends up saving his life in the end. I won't give the whole thing away but I read it before giving it to my 12 year old son and he read it in two days and loved it! Any book that can captivate a 12 year boy is a winner in my opinion. We're off to get more of David Poulsen's books and Last Sam's Cage is definately on a few of my Christmas lists to buy.

Being in debt is a lonely place to be, and I finally found a simple step forward to a permanent solution, this book. There is a short one small page topic for each day. This keeps me in the solution of becoming financially solvent, each day. The topics are simple and reaffirming, along with suggestions that most people perhaps do without thinking, but for those that have gotten into debt, the topics are the ladder out of our problem. Previously I bought "How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt & Live Prosperously" by Jerrold Mundis but this did not change my spending behavior even though I read it cover to cover.

This book has become part of my morning ritual. I read the meditation for the day each morning. It helps me to quit debting one day at a time. I've made some real strides in my debting behavior and this book helps keep me on track. A must read for anyone struggling with debt. It'll make you feel better and give you the strength and hope to make it one more day without debting.

The road out of the land of debt can be a lonely one. You feel shame and guilt over your debts, not to mention fear and anxiety.
And you feel alone with your "secret." How can you hope to find your way out of this desolate place?

This pocket-sized daily guide can help. Karen Casanova's book contains dated, daily meditations which also offer practical suggestions for reducing your debt and your stress.

This one is not a complicated "money-management" book. Rather, it is a combination of spiritual/self-help manual that you can carry with you for daily shots of inspiration.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by debt, it seems to me that this book will be helpful to you.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud

Daily meditations for those who swim through a stormy sea of debt encircled by sharks. The stress of debt is as fierce as any other addiction, affecting us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and even causing other addictive behaviors, all of which affects our relationships. In fact, we get so stressed about our debt that, for relief, we spend more. Debt is acquired a day at a time. Likewise, debt reduction and financial solvency are accomplished and maintained a day at a time. These meditations are a welcome adjunct to financial recovery programs or books.

I haven't read this book yet (their other books are excellent), but if you're looking for books on balancing your life, I cannot recommend Alan Loy McGinnis' book "The Balanced Life : Achieving Success in Work & Love" too highly.

I haven't read this book yet (their other books are excellent), but if you're looking for books on balancing your life, I cannot recommend Alan Loy McGinnis' book "The Balanced Life : Achieving Success in Work & Love" too highly.

This book is different than most "self help" books. It is realistic and applicable. It has helped me put my life in order and understand what is most important to me.

This book describes more than just how to manage time -- as the title suggests, it's a holistic approach to attaining balance in one's entire life. The ideas in it are practical without being overly simplistic. The authors have a clear writing style, so that it's easy to follow what they are saying. The book starts with two short quizzes to help the reader determine what areas of their life might require more balance. The authors use examples liberally to illustrate their points. These examples are clear and relevant.

My one complaint about the book was that the authors did, at times, seem to try to push readers into purchasing materials from them to implement the Lifebalance system. The only resources they mention at the end of the book are their own materials -- I would've liked a full bibliography/suggested readings section. It is only this complaint that is keeping me from giving the book 5 stars. Despite this caveat, I still think this book is worthwhile. It would be a help to anyone who is trying to live a more rewarding life that allows them to achieve succes at work without sacrificing family time.

Very realistic tips. Even on usually avoided subjects as the "biting testicles" option that I had to use last year when a man tried to force me to oral sex after getting the idea from a self defense class and praticing with my husband (not real force used). That seams obvious but it's not easy to performe. Real options for a real danger is what we need.

Lifelines: Women, Male Violence, and Personal Safety by Marcia E. Hall rates 5+ stars (*****) because it is the only comprehensive book available which includes all of the following: discussion of the types of violence against women, the aftermath of trauma, personal safety as a way to decrease the potential for personal violence, prevention ideas, self defense skills including practice drills and helpful illustrations, and a note-worthy chapter on self concept and boundaries. All that in an easy to read book that is appropriate AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for females of ALL ages. The author's writing style is easy to read, understandable, down-to-earth, personal and practical. This is the first book that includes ALL the basics of teaching women personal safety. I would recommend this book for individual readers as well as for use as a textbook in junior high schools, high schools, and colleges. I bought copies for all the women I know who do not already own Lifelines. PS - "Sailboat Rigging" (your recommended choice for a similar book) has nothing to do with Ms. Hall's Lifelines!!!
DO NOT LIST MY EMAIL ADDRESS ON YOUR WEB SITE.

Lifelines: Women, Male Violence, and Personal Safety by Marcia E. Hall rates 5+ stars (*****) because it is the only comprehensive book available which includes all of the following: discussion of the types of violence against women, the aftermath of trauma, personal safety as a way to decrease the potential for personal violence, prevention ideas, self defense skills including practice drills and helpful illustrations, and a note-worthy chapter on self concept and boundaries. All that in an easy to read book that is appropriate AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for females of ALL ages. The author's writing style is easy to read, understandable, down-to-earth, personal and practical. This is the first book that includes ALL the basics of teaching women personal safety. I would recommend this book for individual readers as well as for use as a textbook in junior high schools, high schools, and colleges. I bought copies for all the women I know who do not already own Lifelines. PS - "Sailboat Rigging" (your recommended choice for a similar book) has nothing to do with Ms. Hall's Lifelines!!!

An excellent book! Covers the entire topic of violence against women in a concise, well thought-out format. Full of (excuse the term) "hands-on" techniques, it is of immense practical value for all women. However, it also covers historical, psychosocial, and cultural aspects of violence against women. As a physician working in the field of Emergency Medicine, I am heartily recommending it to all women, any of whom, unfortunately, stands a significant risk of being a victim of violence during her life.

This book has everything you need to know about the signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse. It gives spicific reasons why you cannot kick these habits without professioal help. Not being well versed on these subjects it was very informative. It shows the author did extensive reserch on these subjects. I will pass this book on to my friends and family.

This book is appropriate for those who need a quick introduction to the problems of addiction. Its intent is not to go into depth on any one topic but to give the reader a brief synopsis of the issue so they can go and read further into the topic if necessary. This book might be good for family and friends entering an Alanon Family group to give them a rudimentary understanding of the disease of addiction.

EVERYONE IN EVERY FAMILY MUST HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS SUFFERING, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY, WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OF SOME SORT. THE QUESTION ALWAYS IS WHAT CAN WE DO? WELL THIS BOOK TELLS YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO. THIS BOOK GIVES YOU ALL THE OPTIONS YOU CAN TAKE IN EITHER HELPING YOURSELF OR GIVING IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF BEING SAVED.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR RESEARCH AND YOUR IMPORTANT MESSAGE. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

The Life Tips collection is a wonderful opportunity to be a 'catch all' type of reference book. Not claiming to be all encompassing, it IS a good tool for the user.

Blythe has a breezy, conversational writing style, and the tips she collected include those for the health care professional, counselor, and recovering person. It lends itself well as a starting point for research and discussion.

If another printing is done, I hope some of the simple typos can be corrected (Editor!), but they don't detract from the purpose or direction of the author's work.

Worthwhile.

I am amazed at the extent of God's sovereignty and the depths of His love for us. The author endured a great deal of abuse, in terms of number of events, variety of events, and intensity of events. But through it all, He was there -- allowing her to endure up to her limit, but no more. As one who was also victimized with emotional abuse, the author's story and love for God has been a true encouragement and comfort for me. And she has made one thing very clear to me: that God does indeed work all things for good for those who love Him. In spite of whatever ugliness and evil may come our way, God is always there for us, and He will never leave us or forsake us. And yet, He can turn our moments of despair into opportunities to reach out, encourage, and help others in their moments of despair by uniquely positioning us with a profound depth of understanding for the situations of others. Our God truly is a remarkable God, and T.C.Morton truly is a wonderful blessing and saint.

I kow the author personally and am in the book also. She has managed to come through this ordeal and have a "normal" life. This is a great book and I highly recommend it!

I have already finished your book and I found it to be very well written, very detailed (which I love), and as I read, my heart ached for the little girl and the life events that made for such a childhood, I even cried with you. We never know why one is chosen over another to have a certain life, and bare those kinds of burdens. But I rejoiced with you when you made that commitment to the Lord and you came forward at church, at such a young age, and how He always kept coming to your mind in times of trouble. I was touched how the Holy Spirit would come to you, protect you, and talk to your heart. And I rejoiced and praised the Lord when I read that you had been healed and He now walks with you every minute. Oh, I sing praises to His name for bringing you to a place of forgiveness and peace. I'm choaked up even now, just knowing you are in His care. I also feel like I know you in some way. Thank you for letting me into your life. Thank you for your honesty and sincerity. I feel like I know too much and yet I can't wait to meet you and hug you! Please know how blessed we will be to have you on the show and how we look forward to meeting you personally. <>< Leslie MN Reality Radio

Very powerful "in your face" honest, passionate, challenging, earthy, direct, thought-provoking, forceful and daring look at the author's life of abuse, and her ability to forgive. It will change people's lives. Teaches a great lesson about forgiveness. Should be made into a television mini-series.

Any of us who are aware of and/or concerned about domestic violence walks in with a set of perceptions, biases, opinions . . . but very few of us bring a solid foundation in research and analysis of the topic. The authors have done a great job of assembling the key pieces to help us better understand the issue, the reasons that our current best efforts may not be the right ones, and offer alternatives that could have far more impact. I'd say that this is the best book on the topic that I've read.

There are many books out there about intimate partner violence but none are as cutting edge as this one. This book is going to be helpful for all - from those who know little about the problem to those who are on the 'front lines' in the fight against violence against women. Goodman and Epstein are honest about the problems facing mental health providers, advocates, and those in the justice system, and they call for change on behalf of the women who need it the most - victims and survivors. The book provides an overview of the problem of IPV (its present and historical scope and impact), a comprehensive critique of each system's response within its own historical context, and future directions for us all to move in. It is full of important information and new ideas and most importantly, it's very readable. As a former domestic violence advocate, I see this as an important book for all of us in the field.

This book forced me to confront false perceptions I had about who the women being battered are and why they are being battered. These incidents are not occurring equally across all socio-economic groups. They are happening mainly to women of color at the lower end of the socio-econimic scale. While it once made sense to frame this issue as something that happens to all women everywhere, so that the moral and political will could be built to address it, that notion is now clearly hurting the effort to deliver services to those that need them the most.

This book proposes a radically new way of helping battered women: instead of requiring battered women to accept solutions that seem "right" to the experts but may not work for the women themselves, the women should be empowered to shape their own solutions. The book challenges advocates, prosecutors, and mental health workers to listen to battered women instead of dictating to them and to craft solutions that reflect the battered women's own needs and priorities.

The authors point out that many current policies meant to protect battered women from their abusers -- such as mandatory arrest, "no drop" prosecution, enforced separation from the batterer, and so on -- may not reflect the woman's own priorities. Of course, all battered women want to end the violence, but they also want to presreve outside sources of income, keep their families together, maintain community ties, and avoid immigration problems, among other things. Many existing policies to help battered women (often designed with white, middle-class women in mind) interfere with these priorities and can actually discourage battered women from seking help. It is time for the "experts" to realize that the woman herself is the best "expert" about her own needs.

The authors begin their book by reviewing how three different groups -- domestic violence advocates, mental health workers, and prosecutors -- have attempted to help battered women over time. They trace how a Feminist approach that emphasized empowering the battered woman gradually evolved into a system in which experts and professionals force rigid solutions onto victims. The experts and professionals mean well, of course, but they are primarily accountable to constiuences other than the women (e.g., government agencies, funding sources, professional societies) and therefore cannot be flexible even when the solutions they are forcing on women are not working for them. The authors' solution: return battered women to the center of the process and let their voices be heard the loudest.

This book represents the next generation of thinking about battered women and is a "must read" for anyone involved in helping domestic violence victims. I highly recommend it!