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Believe Like A Child (2011)

by Paige Dearth(Favorite Author)

4.07 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1461105676 (ISBN13: 9781461105671)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Createspace

review 1: What a tragic book! This is the second book I've read by Paige Dearth. I recommend this book for those of a mature level due to the subject matter of rape, drug use, sex, and language.I enjoyed this book but did not expect the book to end the way it did. The language and sex, I would have preferred to have been left out, but overall, this book was incredibly written.Alessa is 7 years old when her uncle begins to rape her. She tells her mom and realizes that her mom does not care. At the age of 16, she is able to escape: however she is forced into prostitution by Marlin, the man who saved her life from a gang attack. Finally, she is able to escape from him, and find peace with her life by helping those who have been in similar situations. She takes in a little girl named Lu... morecy, whom, she meets after having to live on the streets. Eventually, she finds happiness after meeting Marlin. Marlin accepts Lucy as his own and marries Alessa. Together they help the homeless and build a homeless shelter. Just when life can't get any better, someone from Alessa's past returns and wants to destroy her once more.
review 2: I just finished this book and honestly, felt let down. Then, I start reading all the raving reviews and it makes me cringe. I'm not saying this isn't a powerful story. It is. It is a subject that should be brought to light because there are so many children out there like Alessa, who suffer in silence. The beginning is very powerful. Alessa's story draws you in. How could someone suffer through such a horrific childhood? How will she come out of this? Will she come out of this? Those are all the things that were going through my head as I began her story. As I got further along, I really struggled to continue. The dialogue felt so silly and contrived. The writing was not nearly as strong as the story being told and that made it very difficult to read. I felt no connection to the characters because they were so poorly written. I had to force myself to finish it. Once I did, it felt very empty. I like the twist at the end but it wasn't enough to redeem the rest of the book. Not for me anyway. This could have been such a powerful book. If the author had invested more into the characterization and the writing, it would have been an excellent read. I know most people will hate me for saying she didn't invest herself in this story. I realize she used her own personal experiences and I don't discount that. It takes a lot of courage to talk about that kind of abuse and to put it out there so honestly. I commend her for that. I just wish, for her sake and for the sake of all the victims out there who deserve a voice, that this had been a stronger work. I am moving on to her other book in the hopes that it will be more impressive. less

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