Hope in Patience

Publishers Weekly

Fehlbaum returns to the setting, characters, and events of her debut novel, Courage in Patience (Kunati, 2008) as 15-year-old Ashley Asher continues to cope with the sexual and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather. Still living in Patience, Tex., with her father and stepmother, Ashley is rebuilding her life through therapy, new friends, and the support of her family. But old scars run deep, and Ashley relives the abuse in her nightmares and cannot accept the fact that her mother has chosen her husband, the abuser, over Ashley. The story starts slowly, with multiple flashbacks; despite the emotional tension, whether Ashley will continue to heal is never in doubt. Fehlbaum, an abuse survivor herself, doesn't shy away from the brutality Ashley has suffered and the painful road she must walk. Her details are achingly real, though there's little subtlety in the delivery of her messages, and some scenes feel over the top, as when the school principal inexplicably starts shaking Ashley when she cries in his office. Still, sympathetic Ashley will have readers rooting for her. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)

VOYA - Alisa Billig

At first I thought this book was only for abuse victims, and that it was going to be another weepy story about how miserable life can be. I was astounded to find that anyone can relate to Ashley's story and that the book was remarkably optimistic and fun. It teaches many valuable lessons on overcoming problems in a captivating way. I strongly recommend others to read it. 5Q,4P. Reviewer: Alisa Billig, Teen Reviewer

VOYA - Jennifer Zhan

While this book was hard to put down, its defects unfortunately remain foremost in my mind. I feel for Ashley—her situation is awful—but the way she casually describes that situation makes me question its gravity. More importantly, the other characters are a bit hackneyed: the sassy best friend, the understanding and cool parent/teacher, the cute love interest, the mean girl. It should not be this easy to discern "good" and "evil" characters. 2Q,4P. Reviewer: Jennifer Zhan, Teen Reviewer

Children's Literature - Kris Sauer

This is not a light, easy teen book. It is, however, an important read. It covers some timely, but sometimes controversial topics in a way that is highly accessible to today's teens. After six years of sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather, Ashley Asher, fifteen, has just moved to tiny Patience, Texas. Her father, a recovering alcoholic whom she has not seen since she was three months old, has straightened out his life and become her refuge along with his new wife Bev, a high school English teacher. Patience is nothing like the suburbs of Dallas, but it is here that she begins to take the slow, painful steps necessary to deal with her past. Ashley's road to recovery is not pretty and is not easy. She sometimes resorts to cutting to deal with the pain. She sometimes, in dealing with traumatic flashbacks, finds herself hiding in the armoire. She also struggles to deal with the accusatory actions—and blatant inactions—of the mother she thought loved her. But recovering from sexual abuse is not the only topic touched on here. There is Z.Z., an African-American in a small, mostly-white southern town; K.C., whose parents will not accept her homosexuality; and Marcus, whose religion is the driving force in his life. Ashley's struggles to make friends in a new school, to fit in, to figure out who she is are normal teen issues even if her personal history is not. Even readers who have not been abused will connect with Ashley and her friends. Their voices are real. Their struggles are real. For those who have or are dealing with similar issues, this book speaks up where perhaps they cannot. A 2011 YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, this title deserves a place in every high school and community library. Reviewer: Kris Sauer

VOYA - Rebecca Moore

When fifteen-year-old Ashley's stepfather, who has molested her for years, finally rapes her, the abuse comes to light, and Ashley is sent to the father she has not seen since babyhood. There she begins the long process of trying to heal, both from the abuse and her mother's denial of the truth. Trying to help are her cut-no-slack therapist, her loving father and stepmother, and new friends at school. Pulling her back are the judicial system's failure to punish her stepfather, intentional and off-handed cruelty at school, her mother's continuing rejection, and her own uncontrollable terror reactions—including self-harm. Her therapist urges her to stop trying to change the past, to determine her own future, and to "just wait" before she reacts. But will Ashley ever be ready to do that? This challenging, painful book carries a strong message of healing for abuse survivors. Unfortunately, its first part is awkwardly written. The chronology is confusing, some information is revealed too soon and too clinically, and some is inexplicably withheld. All of this, combined with black-and-white characters, emotionally distances the reader. The book mostly redeems itself in the last three quarters, however, driving relentlessly through Ashley's agonizing recovery efforts and heart-breaking setbacks. As her emotions run the gamut of rage, terror, self-loathing, and despair, leavened with moments of hope and healing, readers will root for her on the edges of their seats. Try this with older girls who can handle the grim subject matter and the graphic descriptions. Reviewer: Rebecca Moore

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—Ashley Asher lives with her father and stepmother in a tiny town in East Texas. She wants what any 15-year-old might want: friends, a supportive family, a special relationship with a boy. But Ashley struggles to stop harming herself, to stop dissociating, to accept the support of the people around her. Before she came to Patience, Ashley spent most of her childhood with an indifferent mother and an abusive stepfather. Now she faces the huge challenge of healing from emotional neglect, as well as sexual and physical abuse. She tries, but trust is so hard to come by. And the challenges keep coming. There's a court date when she must face her abuser and the mother who rejects her for reporting the assaults. And a first date on Halloween turns into a disaster when an actor playing a ghoul triggers a posttraumatic reaction in Ashley. All this is tough stuff, but very real to anyone who has lived with abuse or suffered from PTSD. The author is to be applauded for her courageous and accurate portrayal of the many small steps that lead toward psychological healing. It is Ashley's friendships with other "misfits," as much as the support of her new family and her unconventional therapist, that help Ashley understand that she is not alone and that she, too, deserves love. Teens who are attracted by her honesty and her compelling story will come away with a deeper understanding of trauma and healing. This book will open hearts and might well save lives.—Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA