Teresa Cooper ~ Trust No One!

Teresa Cooper 

Trust No one

My Review of Her Book!

Teresa's book is a true story, a very true story that opens ones eye's about "Places" that Children get put when Parent's can't afford to take care of them. No one really likes to think about those places, but yes, they exist. 

You're also supposed to think that you're Children are safe in the hands of Children Services, as they are often referenced here in the States. They go by multiple names, HRS, CPS, whatever initials they want to use, they are suppose to the be here to protect the Children.  

Or um....

So we think....

England, apparently is no different from the United States of America, which leaves me to wonder about other Countries too. And I wont lie to you, I actually used to put England on a pedestal. However now I see that their Child Care system, just like America, is something left to be desired! 

Teresa Cooper 14 years while in Kendall House

This book is very eye opening, and as I am reading it, things start happening, and I am thinking to myself, as they are happening, "You know what- I bet she's being raped." But then I am like: "No, it can't be, it's gotta be something else. I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill." You know the routine, "I watch too much TV!" 

Teresa is the one with the BLUE DOT this is NOT in Kendall House!

Well low and behold, I was right, and Teresa wasn't dreaming it, she managed to wake up during one session and there they were not one, but two men! And of course, no one believes her! 

PLEASE NOTE: Teresa has NO mental disorder what-so-ever prior to going to KH

I end up hating "Kendall House" along with several characters in the book. I want to climb through my Computer screen and bash some skulls! I so very much hate bullying! Bridget and Nicole were such haters, thank God for Jules. 

All the drugs KH felt the need to put Teresa on

The reaction that Teresa ended up having, hating her own life, I imagine most of us would've had the same reaction. Persistent bullying, constant medications that make you unable to function, raped, unable to eat, Parents that couldn't afford to take her in. It seemed to her like no one loved her, and wanted her. To her, her life had no meaning what-so-ever.

Behind this door Teresa spent 163 days at one time, once with NO light bulb!

She started cutting herself, over and over again. She ran away many times, only to be unsuccessful. And yes. she managed to even run away once, to be with her Father, only to discover how he lived, stayed with him a day or two, tried to contact her Mother by Phone, and she couldn't even get to speak to her that time, because of one of her Mom's boy friends. She had no choice, but to go back, to the place she hated most, along with her friend.

Proof Teresa was sexually abused while under the care of KH

The details, are intense, she remembers so much, pain, agony, loss. It is so heart wrenching. You will cry, you will feel everything.

I laughed only in one place:

When her Father was beating her so badly, and screaming at her at the same time. While in doing so, his teeth flung across the room. Teresa, although in a lot of pain, couldn't help but laugh as his teeth landed across the room. At first her Father looked, then was stunned, but couldn't help but laugh too. They both ended up laughing together, and as luck would have it, this was the end of that beating! At least one good thing came out of that, well three actually. A place to laugh in her book, a stopped beating, and they laughed together!

All in all, you truly need to read this book, because it is a total exasperating book, that will open your eyes in so many ways, and leave you totally baffled! I am not kidding.

In the end, you want to join Teresa's fight and stop the drugging of Children whom are under the care of the Government. It is not the way to "Control" a Child, and or "Discipline" a Child, just because you don't want to "take care of them!"

I give this book:

 five stars

 it is a definite mood changing eye opener, that the World needs to read!

My Review Questions for the Beautiful:

 Teresa Cooper: 

1. Do you still have night mares about Kendall House?

Yes. I have regular nightmares about Kendall House although I dream a lot about various aspects of my life. I remember all my dreams on waking. They feel very real. I have never been able to shut them out.


2. Have you ever found any of the Children from your past, from Kendall house, since you have became an Adult?

Yes. I have had contact with twenty five Kendall House girls who were drugged and abused. I find it difficult because I feel responsible for each and everyone of them because I exposed the abuse. All their children have birth defects and all the KH girls are ill.


3. Have you done any interviews regarding Kendall House?

Yes. For UK media.


4. Have you done any book tours?

No I haven't done any tours as my publisher and agent do not arrange such events


5. Is Kendall House the only place drugging the Children in England that you are aware of?

The forced drugging of children is a widespread problem in England although UK media is very behind in exposing it. It is also a serious problem in the United States although there is a lot more media support in exposing the forced drugging. Many children's lives are destroyed because it such a traumatic experience physically, mentally and the side effects of the psychotropic drugs.


6. Since you have written your book, have any other people. or Children came forward telling you their stories about being drugged and/or raped while in the care of places "like" Kendall House?

Yes there have been many adult survivors contact me although mainly from the USA because it is widely publicized by the media and public. England is far behind in the exposure. It was first exposed in England 1979 and remained ignored to this day by the police and Government who felt it was not their problem despite the children being in corporate care. It continues to this day although behind closed doors. I continue to expose the abuse but until it is seen as abuse there will not be any change in the near future.


7. Did you use real names, or aliases in your book?

I used aliases to protect the Kendall House girls abused but also because the police requested the staffs names to be changed and their true descriptions to, in their opinion, avoid anyone fabricating any event or identity if/when making allegations of abuse.


8. Is your Mother still alive?

My mother is deceased many years now. We never regained the mother and daughter relationship. The English care system destroyed our relationship with lies when I was still a child. It is very hard to rekindle the bond once its broken to that extent.

9. Your Foster Father "Doug" were charges ever brought up on him? Or did he get away with his Crime(s)?

His real name is Brian. He was never charged as he was in at least one meeting with social services, at least two with Kendall House and the police failure to investigate also contributed to him avoiding prosecution at the time. It was re-opened in 1994 for that reason. He was arrested and despite being told not to contact witnesses, he contacted them. They let him get away with what he done to me a second time whilst the same police department were prosecuting him for similar crimes to another young person put in his care after me. He was put on the sex offenders register. I wasn't aware of it until after.

10. Do you "think" the people at Kendall house actually knew the Children were being raped & didn't care, or do you think they were actually oblivious to the fact? Be honest.

Yes they did know because they documented the injuries, took swabs in-house that came back as sexual infections and they ignored it as did social services who were also informed. They were also fully aware the drugging was a total misuse but they continued to do it anyway. Before I went to Kendall House it was exposed in the media after a small number of staff made complaints but it was ignored by the Government and was allowed to continue. It was first exposed in 1979 via a newspaper and TV LWT documentary as seen on youtube


11. Do you still have scars all over your arms?

From my wrists to shoulder on both arms there are hundreds of scars. Most don't show now unless in sunlight or if I get a sun tan as it tends to make them more visible. I am used to them and the bigger ones on the wrists I cover with bangles if I go out. Most people don't notice them unless they look for them. Jules name is visible on my left arm though.


12. How long did it take for you to return to your normal healthy weight and height?

I was very damaged when I left Kendall House physically and mentally. It took around two years to recover from the withdrawal symptoms. It was terrible. I grew to 5'10 (five foot ten UK height chart) by the time I was twenty one years old. I remained underweight for many years. 

Another beautiful picture of Teresa

 

13. Do you receive Counseling after all of this?

I did have counseling once when I was around twenty two and I only attended three sessions. The therapist cried on the 3rd session which upset me as she found it hard to hear. She also had a questionnaire I had to do every session. I was happy to answer the questions but I refused to change my answer to one question. I refused to accept my abusers were mentally ill and that I must feel sympathy for them. I did not feel sorry for them because abusing others is not a mental illness. They do it by choice and free will. The therapist didn't feel I could heal unless I accepted my abusers suffered from a mental illness and I should in some way feel a sense of sympathy for them. It wasn't going to happen so I stopped attending for that reason. 

I had therapy 2 years ago and I was on the waiting list nearly three years before I was seen. I didn't attend many throughout that year but the sessions I did attend, I found very helpful. Sadly therapy ends after one year where I live and I needed at least three years. I was with a bad partner so the sessions became about him because he was misusing my childhood abuse to control me in a very negative way. The therapy helped me understand a lot of things. I wish I was able to continue with the same therapist as I trusted him a lot but we are not allowed to see the same therapist a second time on NHS once the year is up. I have never trusted any psychotherapist or psychiatrist since Kendall House so it's a great pity I am unable to reconnect with him given the trust I developed with him. If I was given the chance to receive therapy I would grab it with both hands because I need it. Probably now more than ever.


14. Have you since been diagnosed with anything after all of this trauma? Like PTSD  or anything from all the hell you went through?

I was diagnosed with BPD and PTSD because of the abuse at Kendall House and forced drugging. Naturally I do not agree with the diagnoses as I do not appreciate the psychiatric system giving me a label for something they are responsible for. Yes it has affected me.

15. Does anything in your past, effect your life today, still? Like cause you to sometimes flip out for no reason, or sometimes just break down and cry, etc.

My past has often caused me problems that can't be avoided. There are too many to mention. It tends to be other people who use my past against me or judge me when they don't know me. Things I do for example... If I drink alcohol, sedated for any medical reason or anaesthetised for surgery my mind associates it with being in KH and I literally relive the abuse in my mind as if its happening. It's very traumatic. I am not sure how that can be changed. It's probably too deep for normal therapy. 

I am a very strong woman and I can take a lot more than most and get back up again but I do hide away and cry sometimes. More often than people think. I can tweet on twitter and all of a sudden my happiness turns to tears very fast. I deal with so much abuse on a daily basis, it's a lot for the human mind to cope with alone whilst trying to deal with my own abuse and behave the way others expect of me. Sometimes I just want to be myself and have timeout to do or say something that's not associated to abuse. I am a fun person and like laughing but it shocks people that I am able to laugh so I don't laugh as often as I would like to. I am a people pleaser. Then I feel miserable because I do worry what people think of me.


16. Can you share with us any pictures from your Childhood, if you have any?

There are a lot on twitpic (Twitter name is @TeresaCooper) & Deneale snagged a few photos for this interview and review from twitpic!


17. What are you doing today, to help enlighten the World to these issues?

I have been fighting and campaigning twenty years now and I have done so much I don't even know where to begin. I dedicated my adult life to campaigning. I don't tell people most of my achievements because I don't feel I need too. I support survivors who contact me, all the KH girls, legal fights which I tend to win, my book, publicity, research and the list is endless. I fight/campaign every day of the week 365 days a year and when most are asleep I am writing emails to the government and many others including survivors.


18. Please provide us with links to your book(s) your web site info, and any extra info you can give us about you, and your book:

www.no2abuse.com

amazon uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-No-One-Teresa-Cooper/dp/0752893300/ref=la_B0037QJE92_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361888992&sr=1-1

amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Trust-No-One-Teresa-Cooper/dp/0752893300/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366692693&sr=8-1&keywords=teresa+cooper

My book is available on all good online book stores and to order in book stores

I found THIS when I researched Kendall House Online! Simply Follow the Links to learn more:

 http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/03_04/2009_04_07_Kendall_Camber_GirlsDrugged.htm

Here they interviewed Teresa: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7982000/7982021.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7982000/7982021.stm 


Thank YOU Teresa! Obviously YOU were meant to do good things, and God has wonderful plans for you. I personally thank you for this opportunity to have read your book and interviewed you. Although I cried, and had one little laugh, I still feel close to you, and am honored that you have allowed me to do so. You are a wonderful woman, a strong woman, and a God send! May the Lord bless you, and may you keep doing His glorious work! Thank you again, and again!


 

 

Nitra Gipson Author of "The Real Verdict-My Quest For the Freedom I Never Had".

The Real Verdict

My Quest For the Freedom I Never Had

 Written by Nitra Gipson

My Review of her book:

I love that before each Chapter she gives you a little insight, some mindful advise as to how to look at things, and how to handle things. Its like as Nitra, who to her family and friends; prefers to go by Nene, is trying to Counsel the reader as she writes her words and opens up to us as the reader. This is something that right from the get go; I could tell that she feels compassion in her quest to heal others who are and have gone through similar ordeals such as herself! 

By the title of her book, I wasn't sure what I was in for, even when I spoke to her, and bought it for my Kindle. From her Twitter page, she suggests opening up about Child Abuse, and Speaking Out, but yet the Cover speaks about Law and the You Tube Trailer has a gavel. So I was anxious to get started. And believe it or not, I started on the book around noon and finished it around seven in the same evening. I couldn't put it down! 

From the start, you are reading, and you are following along and the most unbelievable part is that you are right there with Nene, she is so young. If you are anything like me, I use my imagination when I read. I become the character, and I can feel what they feel and even see my surroundings and honestly sometimes I get emotional, just as I would through a Movie. 

As I am reading, I love her relationship that she has with her Mother, and her older brother. I feel bad for Nene, she has Asthma, and is sick quite often, and feels like a burden sometimes. But she envelopes the protection of her older brother and Mother. 

Nene's sister and Mother, three beautiful women!

As the story goes she has a Grand Mother, her Mothers Mother and step Grand Father. Her Mother has several siblings, If I remember correctly a Sister and a Brother. The brother, Uncle Will spends a lot of time getting in trouble and in and out of the "System." However, he is honest, and always tells the truth, when he does do something wrong.

On the other hand, the Grand Parents, do not tell the truth. The Step Grand Father takes advantage of Nene, and because she is so young and innocent, mind you she is only three, she isn't even certain what exactly is happening. He threatens her afterwards, that if she tells anyone, he will have to hurt her Mother. Now mind you, the Grand Father and Grand Mother also run a business, therefore they have money, so when the time comes that anyone needs money, they want to, and make certain that they are the first to give it. They want to be known as the ones who help the family!

Nene's Mother, who is no longer with the Father of her and her Brother, does get together with another man and she does have more Children. Eventually Nene has a little Sister, and Nene takes care of her, and takes her under her wing, because she doesn't want anything happening to her.

Nene's sister, cousin & brother! Beautiful Smiles all around!

Nene hides all of her deep darkest secrets "under a blanket." At one point she did try to tell her Grand Mother what had happened, but her Grand Mother just told her she was dreaming, and then proceeded to call her a liar.

I don't want to reveal the whole story here. But I will tell you that I ended up hating her Grand Parents, especially the Step Grand Father.

Once the story leads you to the part of Uncle Will, I cried. I felt so much anger, so much pain. I know that Nene had to of been crying as she even wrote it. It is a very unfair section, and very heart felt.

The last photo Nene received from Will in his last letter to her.

Then once the story gets to the part where she sells her car, you will get angry. It is truly unbelievable. Reading between the lines of the book, I knew exactly why it happened, and I wanted so badly to climb through the pages and tell someone exactly how I felt! 

Nene, her Mom, Uncle, sister and her Brother! Again: Beautiful Smiles!

At the end, you will learn, the purpose in the title. And at that point, once you put everything together, all of your emotions, you too will understand and relate to everything Nitra went through, and why she is so head strong in telling others to speak out. 

Here are my Interview Questions to Nitra Gipson:

1. Did you use every one's real names in the book, or did you give them aliases? 

 To protect the privacy of all individuals, I used aliases and it made it much easier to write my truth.

2. Have you since been into that store, and if so, what if anything happened? 

 No, I've never ever been back to that store and don't plan to.

Nene & the love of her life, her Fiance!

3. Did your family ever find out where Uncle Will was buried?If you did, have you since visited his grave? If you haven't; do you intend to find his place of burial to at least make sure e was properly laid to rest?
With my mother's help, we found where he was buried, but we haven't visited his plot. We drove all the way there and didn't go look for it. It was a scary place, filled with crosses marked with numbers. They gave us a map of the place and circled his plot, but it wasn't there. We did manage to find some information about his actual resting place. We have the address, which is much closer to us. Unfortunately we haven't attempted to visit the place. We will at a better time.

4. I remember you mentioning Uncle Will had a Sister. Have you ever been in contact with her again?
He has a biological sister, he never was able to find. She was adopted with him but at some point shortly after the adoption process, she was taken away. He searched for her himself for as long as I can remember and was never able to find her. He told us that she was adopted into another family and her name was changed. He was never able find out her name. We've since had no more luck than he had.

5. Did you, or do you plan on marrying Colin?
Colin and I are still engaged. We haven't set a date yet but we plan to set one this year. My younger sister is getting married in June and we didn't want to have 2 weddings in the same year.

6. IF its possible, can you share with me a photo of your Mother & maybe even Colin and your brother and sister? If not, it's OK, I completely understand.
I would love to. I will send them to you in a different email.

7. Have you been on any book tours yet?
I haven't yet but I plan to after all the wedding plans for my sister are squared away. But very soon I will.

8. Are your Grand Mother and step Grand Father still alive, and if so, what did they think of the book? Did they go off on you, disown you, or what if anything happened?
Oh gosh! I don't know how to begin. Well they both are very much still alive and married. They haven't went off on me directly because they haven't had an opportunity to do so. However, they tried their manipulation games to make everyone hate me. My book brought up more secrets and lies about my family involving them, so everyone started to really see who they were and the things they've done to people. My grandmother first admitted to my mother and uncle that she remembered all of the events they recalled to her in the book and planned to leave him that night they confronted her. The next two days everything changed! Can you believe it! Of course not, that's typical of her. That's when she began to say I was lying, my sister was lying. My younger cousin revealed to me that he also molested her after he was confronted about my sister. My mom asked her after, are all of them lying on him? She said "yes", "he told me what happened and I believe him!" It never ends with them! I could seriously write another book about the aftermath of the first one.

9. Now that you have released your book, all of your friends and family, now that they know every detail of your life, what have some of them said to you? Give me a few references, feel free to change their names if you wish.
Everyone was sympathetic to what happened to me. My uncle told me he understood me a lot more. Especially the behaviors of mine he witnessed. I was always distant to them (grandmother). I would go months and months without talking to her and they would tell me, I should call her and check up on her. I always blew it off like "whatever". He never understood but he said it all makes sense now. All of my friends were shocked but they knew I didn't have the best relationship with them and they all said they understand now. One friend in particular told me, she always thought to herself, "why would she hate her own grandmother and treat her that way"? She says she completely understands and she would feel the same way if it happened to her.

10. Because of all the stress and turmoil you all went through, your siblings, and yourself, did any of you (this is up to you if you want to answer this!) become addicted to alcohol or drugs? Or do you only know what you went through?
We never became addicts, although we were predisposed to it. Each of us thank God we didn't stray too far away from the right things because we know how the outcome could have been. We've all been treated for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. We regularly see our psychologists and psychiatrists. We're still dealing with these issues but were trying to deal with them the right way. Even more since the book was published.

11. Is your family still close knit to this day, or have you became distant?

My mother, aunt, and uncle does not communicate with their mother anymore, which I think is hard for them.   I'm still very close to my mother, sister, brother and younger cousin. Most of us talk everyday, especially my sister. I still talk to my uncle as much as possible. I consider those relationships real family relationships, they were never artificial. 

12. Did the release of your truth to your Mother, complicate everything? Being honest here, did she ask you: "Why didn't you tell me this from the beginning, you told me everything else! Why did you keep this locked up inside?!" 

It only made it more complicated because my mother had her own issues that I didn't become aware of until later. She never asked me why I never told because I told her before she could even ask, that she took away my hope when she didn't handle it properly with my sister. I told her that was an opportunity for her to really save the both of us and a missed opportunity for me to tell her.  My siblings and I are now working on our relationship with our mother because we feel there are some underlying issues with her and her mother. Even after all that went on with us, she still longed for a relationship with her mother. We could never understand it. We later found out the reason for that and it change a lot. I wish I could say more but to respect my mother's privacy, I'd rather not say. What I can say is, my family abuse was generational and most are. I thought my grandmother was bad toward my sister and I but she was even worse to my mother and aunt. They are perfect examples of Stockholm's. 

13. Do you still have nightmares?
Yes I do but not as often as I used to.

14. Did you pay to have the record removed from your history?
They record was removed and no I didn't pay to have it removed. Some extra work for the attorneys.

15. How is your relationship with your Father now? (A pic of him too would be cool!)
My relationship with my dad became distant because of the things I learned about him during the course of my writing. I'm really trying to figure out what our relationship should be now. It's difficult to explain without telling the entire story and at some point when I'm more comfortable about it, I will talk more about it. It's just hard right now. 

16. Do you have any regrets?
In the beginning I felt like everyone blamed me for speaking out. I felt as though they thought that I was stirring the pot to cause problems, when actually it was therapeutic for me. I lifting a huge burden off my shoulders, so that I could actually live to be a better person. Then I could help others live to be better. Before I was trying to do that but I realized I couldn't do it the right way because I completely forgot about myself. I really was pushed into thinking I tore my family apart because I was being selfish. I regret those thoughts and feeling. I didn't tare apart anything, it was never really a real family. I had to do what I did or else it would have been another child's innocence, or anything else bad. Nothing positive would've came from me continuing to be silent. Being silent was selfish and speaking out was unselfish. I had to really define the two in my life and make a choice.  Everyone was so controlled by my grandmother and her husband, that they couldn't even see it themselves. 

17. Did you forget to put anything in the book that you wished you would have remembered, after you sent it to the Publisher?
Not really. My memory of things were very clear. I remembered more bad memories than good ones, which is better for me therapeutically. I can write away the bad ones and keep the good ones! That's how I think of it. So much more happened after I published the book and I could have included more of those stories but I plan to continue to write. I write everyday so I'm sure I will be publishing another book soon. 

18. Did you pay to have your book Published yourself, or did someone buy it and publish it for you? Yes I paid to self-publish.  

19. What do you recommend to Abused Children?
There's so much I could recommend to abused children. I still can remember being in their position. It's a feeling that will never go away. But the most important thing is to tell someone when you're being hurt. And if you're not sure if your being hurt, ask someone. Ask a teacher, a nurse, a friend, an aunt, or uncle, anyone. "Ask" and "tell "if you're being hurt. There is people in the world that can help protect you, but they will never know the level of protection you need or who you need protection from unless you "Ask" and "Tell". 

20. What do you recommend to Abused Children, that are now adults, who have never opened their Mouth about it?
I recommend them to speak out, like I did. Silence is painful. It's never to late to speak your truth. Being silent is holding yourself accountable for the actions of someone else. Your abuser must be held accountable for their actions. I had to figure that out, and now that I'm at this point in my life dealing with my abuse, I realize that if I've done that earlier, I may have saved some other children from abuse. I allowed this man to be around all these other children, without letting their parents know what this man was capable of doing. I didn't allow those parents to make informed decisions when protecting their own children. As adults we have a duty to protect our children because they can't protect themselves from adults. If no one was there to protect you, then be a protector. You will do more harm than good by staying silent.


21. There is a theory, this has been said over and over through out "The System" that "Children who grow up abused in any way shape or form, will be also grow up abusing their own Children!" I want to know your personal feelings on this "Statistic."
Well I don't totally agree with that statement because its biased. Although their are some abused children, who grow up and abuse their children, most of them don't. I think they are more predisposed to abusing their children but that doesn't mean that they will abuse their children. I see it this way, statistics are numbers based on reports, and if reports are not made then those statistics aren't as accurate. So for everyone unreported case of child abuse, that's another child that may become a parent and will never abuse their child. We would never know because it was never reported. Most child abuse victims may never report their abuse and no one would even know they were abused. However, I do feel that if an adult was abused as a child and never dealt with their own abuse are more likely than not to deal with their child abuse if their child was to be abused.

22. Do you have any Children as of yet, and do you plan or want to have any Children?
I don't have children yet, it's something I'm still struggling with. I'm sure I will one day, I have a few years to decide.

Please share with me all of your links to see your book, order your book, and contact you, so that the readers here can order your book, and reach you if they need to:

I have 2 websites dedicated to my book.

www.therealverdict.com

www.therealverdict.gbandrun.com 

All versions of my book can be purchased on either website. My book is available at all major book outlets online. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Real-Verdict-Quest-Freedom-ebook/dp/B009SI7TV8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365985345&sr=1-1&keywords=The+real+verdict

Barnes and noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-real-verdict-nitra-gipson/1113475336?ean=9781479721931 

 I can be best contacted through email or my website.

 Email: nenesw@yahoo.com nenesw03@gmail.com

Any additional information you would like to share:

I'm here for those who want or need help with issues like my own and aren't sure of where to turn. I'm open to all questions from anyone, good or bad. I hope that my story can help someone or many. I truly mean that from the heart. This is something I am very passionate about and I will never stop trying to change lives and/or save lives.

In closing from me:
I would like to add that I found Nene to be quite friendly, outgoing, and not here to make a name for herself. She is a wonderful woman. I feel that to be quite honest with you, she honestly would love to change the World. In my eyes, she feels that everything she went through has bettered her, and she has learned from it, and because of it, she can help others. And with all of it, she has made it her own personal goals in life.


Child Abuse Information:

National Child Abuse Help Line:
http://www.childhelp.org/pages/hotline-home
1-800-4-A-CHILD


Nene, personally I look forward to your next book! I also look forward to keeping in contact with you! You are a wonderful woman, and I thank you for your time! 

 

The Real Verdict: My Quest for the Freedom I Never Had by Nitra Gipson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love that before each Chapter she gives you a little insight, some mindful advise as to how to look at things, and how to handle things. Its like as Nitra, who to her family and friends; prefers to go by Nene, is trying to Counsel the reader as she writes her words and opens up to us as the reader. This is something that right from the get go; I could tell that she feels compassion in her quest to heal others who are and have gone through similar ordeals such as herself!

By the title of her book, I wasn't sure what I was in for, even when I spoke to her, and bought it for my Kindle. From her Twitter page, she suggests opening up about Child Abuse, and Speaking Out, but yet the Cover speaks about Law and the You Tube Trailer has a gavel. So I was anxious to get started. And believe it or not, I started on the book around noon and finished it around seven in the same evening. I couldn't put it down!

From the start, you are reading, and you are following along and the most unbelievable part is that you are right there with Nene, she is so young. If you are anything like me, I use my imagination when I read. I become the character, and I can feel what they feel and even see my surroundings and honestly sometimes I get emotional, just as I would through a Movie.

As I am reading, I love her relationship that she has with her Mother, and her older brother. I feel bad for Nene, she has Asthma, and is sick quite often, and feels like a burden sometimes. But she envelopes the protection of her older brother and Mother.

As the story goes she has a Grand Mother, her Mothers Mother and step Grand Father. Her Mother has several siblings, If I remember correctly a Sister and a Brother. The brother, Uncle Will spends a lot of time getting in trouble and in and out of the "System." However, he is honest, and always tells the truth, when he does do something wrong.

On the other hand, the Grand Parents, do not tell the truth. The Step Grand Father takes advantage of Nene, and because she is so young and innocent, mind you she is only three, she isn't even certain what exactly is happening. He threatens her afterwards, that if she tells anyone, he will have to hurt her Mother. Now mind you, the Grand Father and Grand Mother also run a business, therefore they have money, so when the time comes that anyone needs money, they want to, and make certain that they are the first to give it. They want to be known as the ones who help the family!

Nene's Mother, who is no longer with the Father of her and her Brother, does get together with another man and she does have more Children. Eventually Nene has a little Sister, and Nene takes care of her, and takes her under her wing, because she doesn't want anything happening to her.

Nene hides all of her deep darkest secrets "under a blanket." At one point she did try to tell her Grand Mother what had happened, but her Grand Mother just told her she was dreaming, and then proceeded to call her a liar.

I don't want to reveal the whole story here. But I will tell you that I ended up hating her Grand Parents, especially the Step Grand Father.

Once the story leads you to the part of Uncle Will, I cried. I felt so much anger, so much pain. I know that Nene had to of been crying as she even wrote it. It is a very unfair section, and very heart felt.

Then once the story gets to the part where she sells her car, you will get angry. It is truly unbelievable. Reading between the lines of the book, I knew exactly why it happened, and I wanted so badly to climb through the pages and tell someone exactly how I felt!

At the end, you will learn, the purpose in the title. And at that point, once you put everything together, all of your emotions, you too will understand and relate to everything Nitra went through, and why she is so head strong in telling others to speak out.




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