Indescribable: It's easy to keep a bad secret
Book Details
Author(s)Candice Derman
ISBN / ASINB01FJA8ASY
ISBN-13978B01FJA8AS5
Sales Rank422,005
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
"A starkly lit exposé of a dark childhood. Candice Derman's writing debut is harrowing ... and an object lesson in unflinching honesty." - Katy Chance, Business Day.
"Candice's words are spellbinding. It is not only the horrific story, but also her honest and eerily childlike words which evolve as she grows in the story, that spark fear for this child and a wanting to know she is going to be okay. This child's story is one readers should prepare to be shocked by." - Shanthini Naidoo, The Times.
"I had to stop and say a prayer for all those voiceless young girls. Candice is a brilliant narrator and throughout the book demonstrates an amazing inner strength." - Dorah Sitole, former editor: True Love magazine.
“I could not put it down. Sometimes I forgot to breathe. Disturbing, exposing, beautifully written. A book that was aching to be written.” - Melinda Ferguson, author: Smacked and Hooked.
"A deeply moving true story of pain, courage and love." - All4Women.co.za.
"My mom's getting remarried. I am so excited about my new dad. He gives me so much attention. The attention feels good when he's not touching me there. I am eight. I love my sisters, playing and puppies. I know it's wrong what he is doing. Tomorrow he will stop. I know it.
Some of the things I learned at eight: 1. Happiness comes and goes; 2. How to kiss with the tongue; 3. Sums; 4. Girls aren't allowed to go to cubs; 5. A man's thing can go hard; 6. I'm pretty and can get attention; 7. I can leave my body and be nowhere; 8. I know how to miss someone; 9. I can get on with life."
"Abuse is like an unnatural disaster: everything that is lost must be re-built."
Writing in the voice of an eight, then nine, and later 10-year-old, the child's thoughts detail the horrendous sexual abuse at the hands of her beloved stepfather, and her coping methods of hiding in bubblegum ice creams, family holidays and movies.
Then the 11-year-old tells how he began raping her, continuing into her teens.
The painfully and often detailed abuse is woven into the story of Derman's childhood: growing up in a leafy suburb with her wealthy family.
At 15, though, she is forced to admit the truth, tearing the happy family apart.
120 pages
"Candice's words are spellbinding. It is not only the horrific story, but also her honest and eerily childlike words which evolve as she grows in the story, that spark fear for this child and a wanting to know she is going to be okay. This child's story is one readers should prepare to be shocked by." - Shanthini Naidoo, The Times.
"I had to stop and say a prayer for all those voiceless young girls. Candice is a brilliant narrator and throughout the book demonstrates an amazing inner strength." - Dorah Sitole, former editor: True Love magazine.
“I could not put it down. Sometimes I forgot to breathe. Disturbing, exposing, beautifully written. A book that was aching to be written.” - Melinda Ferguson, author: Smacked and Hooked.
"A deeply moving true story of pain, courage and love." - All4Women.co.za.
"My mom's getting remarried. I am so excited about my new dad. He gives me so much attention. The attention feels good when he's not touching me there. I am eight. I love my sisters, playing and puppies. I know it's wrong what he is doing. Tomorrow he will stop. I know it.
Some of the things I learned at eight: 1. Happiness comes and goes; 2. How to kiss with the tongue; 3. Sums; 4. Girls aren't allowed to go to cubs; 5. A man's thing can go hard; 6. I'm pretty and can get attention; 7. I can leave my body and be nowhere; 8. I know how to miss someone; 9. I can get on with life."
"Abuse is like an unnatural disaster: everything that is lost must be re-built."
Writing in the voice of an eight, then nine, and later 10-year-old, the child's thoughts detail the horrendous sexual abuse at the hands of her beloved stepfather, and her coping methods of hiding in bubblegum ice creams, family holidays and movies.
Then the 11-year-old tells how he began raping her, continuing into her teens.
The painfully and often detailed abuse is woven into the story of Derman's childhood: growing up in a leafy suburb with her wealthy family.
At 15, though, she is forced to admit the truth, tearing the happy family apart.
120 pages
