A Brother's Journey

Such a great book

Opens your eyes to the terrible things people do to kids. Very well written

This book is good I read almost all of his and his brothers

Great book! As human beings, we are all "obligated reporters"! That means that you don't have to work in child protective services or in a field that deals with children to step in. Yes, a lot has changed, but children are still suffering and dying! If you see something suspicious, make the phone call! Intervene somehow. I will. If you see a child being abused, and you are an adult, you must do something, or you are equally culpable. If your a child and you witness your friend being abused, tell an adult! I loved the book. I hate what happened to the little boy, but it's real. And my awareness has been heightened, for sure!

Reading this book makes me feel like I'm reading an exert from my past. Rather than it being my mother,as it was with with Richard,it was my brother and grandfather. I not only endured years of physical assault from my brother but sexual assault as well. I,like Richard,learned to walk on eggshells and learned to gage my brothers moods and force myself to be able to wake up to the slightest sounds or changes in the environment I was in. Growing up I felt like my parents had failed me. Neither of them noticed or chose not to notice the things that were going on. I remember spending nights crying myself to sleep trying to get up the courage to tell someone what was going on. I never could though. I was too afraid. Sometimes I am still afraid. After getting away from my family I was still a fragile frightened girl who was to afraid to say no and stand up for herself. Because of this I was hurt many times more. I will not tell those stories now.they are for another time. I have changed so much in the last few years. I have become more confident but I'm realizing that I am still holding on to that scared little girl. I don't know how to get rid of her. And I'm afraid that if I let her go that I will lose a huge part of myself. An important part of myself. I had my innocence stolen from me a long time ago but I don't want to lose my identity as well. It took everything I had in me to not give up. To survive. How did you do it Richard? How did you get passed it? How did you let go? Britney Orr

I think it is so brave and awesome of this book to have been written. Having gone through similar circumstances, I was able to relate and understand the manipulation and fear and guilt towards the parent. I also keep a diary that I write an email to a friend to get the story out and still have a fear that my parents would find out and come and get me at 36 yrs old and a mother of two. People have no idea the impact of abuse and the control it has over your entire existence. The only way to brin awareness to this is for it to be told! Thumbs up for your honesty and courage I do not yet have.