In her new book Not My Shame, T.O. Walker tells a story that I can really relate to. Published in the U.K. in 2017 by Singing Dragon, Not My Shame is a graphic memoir about assault, hard-earned survival, and the redemption of human connection. The non-linear narrative reflects the experiences of an assault survivor... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Oprah Winfrey by Joshua LaBello
In 1986, when I was 12 years old, Oprah Winfrey came out as a survivor of sexual abuse. Her candor was stunning. Her national talk show had been on the air for only one year, but she had already busted through the ratings set by talk show superstar Phil Donahue, a remarkable feat for a... Continue Reading →
Hush: “Some things are not meant to be talked about.”
Does anyone have a copy of Hush I could borrow? This graphic novella, by Pratheek Thomas (writer) and Rajiv Eipe (artist) was published in India by Manta Ray Comics in 2010. It looks like a fascinating comic -- a story with no words, in which a young girl is molested by her father, and someone... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Trauma is Really Strange by Haines & Standing
In Trauma is Really Strange, writer Steve Haines and artist Sophie Standing explain current and historic research on the human brain’s responses to trauma. This 32-page book is packed with information and reads like a “trauma for beginners” manual. The book starts with an explanation of the two different brain pathways that trauma can stimulate:... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Daddy’s Girl by Debbie Drechsler
From the beginning of Daddy’s Girl, Debbie Drechsler challenges the reader with explicit, hard-to-stomach images of father-daughter incest. About half of the 11 stories focus on episodes of incest or sexual assault, and the other half show us a girl navigating her family and school life in the shadow of her ongoing abuse. The author... Continue Reading →
Upcoming Book Review: Mel’s Story: Surviving Military Sexual Assault
Doonesbury's Gary Trudeau dedicates more than 100 pages to the story of one soldier who experienced sexual assault by a commanding officer. A book review will be posted soon.