Seven year-old Jillian Maxwell’s life could not be better.  She had a new step-daddy that she adored and a new baby sister.  On the day her baby sister was born, Jillian’s life began to change.  Her dream daddy became her worst nightmare when he started to make secret visits to her bedroom. Jillian knew what they did during these visits was wrong, but her daddy told her not tell anyone about them because no one would believe her and she would have to leave home.  Therefore, Jillian endured years of being manipulated by her step-dad to do things she knew was not right.  Jillian successfully disguised her anguish, by putting on a happy face for her family, friends and teachers.  In this novella, A Deep Dark Secret, by Kimberla Lawson Roby, the plight of Jillian and other young ladies with her problems came to light.

Statistics show that one in five girls will be abused by a trusted family member by age 18.  As a former child protective services worker, I have witnessed most girls respond in one of two ways. They will either become sullen and withdrawn or they will become promiscuous at an early age.  It is usually when the perpetrator tries to take the abuse to another level that will make the child react, by either telling or fighting back.  In this novella, Ms Lawson Roby presents two opposite reactions to the abuse by the parents and by the girls.  I think this novella is a good book for mothers and daughters to read together and could open up an excellent dialogue between them on the perils of keeping secrets.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

CLICK HERE to pre-order a copy of A Deep Dark Secret.

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