Courage in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum: Book Cover

    Courage in Patience: A Story of Hope for Those Who Have Endured Abuse by Beth Fehlbaum

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    (Paperback)

    • Pub. Date: September 2008
    • 352pp

      Reader Rating: (12 ratings)

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      Product Details

      • Pub. Date: September 2008
      • Publisher: Kunati Incorporated
      • Format: Paperback, 352pp

      Synopsis

      After six years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse from her stepfather, 14-year-old Ashley finally finds the courage to reveal the painful details of her experiences with her mother, who refuses to acknowledge the problem and turns her back on her daughter. After confiding in her teacher—the only adult whom Ashley can trust—she is removed from her home and sent to live with her father and his second wife, Beverly, an English teacher. Nurtured by Beverly, an extraordinarily positive influence in her life, Ashley and a summer school class of troubled teens learn to face their fears and discover who they really are.

      Publishers Weekly

      Fehlbaum's debut novel, set in a small Texas town, is overloaded with thorny issues and hindered by a "very special episode" tone, but features a genuine and empathetic lead. After enduring six years of sexual abuse from her step-father, 14-year-old Ashley Asher finally gathers the courage to confide in her mother; predictably, mom sides with step-dad. Soon, Ashley is sent to live with her estranged birth father, David, and his new wife and son. Though he's now a kind man who's put his life-long anger issues behind him, Ashley still struggles to trust her father. His wife, Bev, a high school English teacher, brings Ashley into her extended family of summer school students; a controversial reading assignment, Ironman by Chris Crutcher, provides the novel's other hot-button issues-racism, censorship, homophobia and religious extremism. An over-the-top scandal is followed by Bev's hokey, message-laden testimonial before the local school board. Throughout, Ashley's self-destructive tendencies, conflicted feelings and struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder read authentically; had Fehlbaum focused more on her recovery, rather than a raft of societal woes, this story would have been more powerful. (Sept.)

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      Biography

      Beth Fehlbaum is an English teacher. She lives in Piney Woods, Texas.  

      Customer Reviews

      An Eye Openerby HeatherR

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      July 18, 2009: First off, this book is a great read. It was hard to read at first because she was telling about what Ashley was going through. When the healing began with Ashley, is when everything changed. I cried, laughed, got really angry and sat on pins and needles at times when reading this book. It talks about loving people where they are at. Not hiding from the truth, but facing truth even when we are so fearful. Anyone who has been sexually abused or even if a person hasn't, should read this book. People need to know that this happens and what the victims face or have faced. This book covers every issue that kids face, not just sexual abuse.

      I am the type of reader that the author has to have my attention pretty much at the beginning of the book and Beth Fehlbaum had mine from the beginning all the way to the end. I couldn't wait to finish it and find out what happened. Beth is a very talented writer! Thank you for writing this book!

      After All These Yearsby Anonymous

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      May 27, 2009: I read this book because I thought it might help a friend, but it helped me to understand some of my own behaviors. I have many signs of having suffered some sexual abuse, but I have no memories. From time to time I seem to zone out and act less assertive than anyone who knows me now expects. Reading about Ash's recovery and her talks with Bev helped me to understand what apparently happens to me. It is a huge relief, it helps me to forgive myself, it affirms my courage, and it gives me hope that I will continue to heal.


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