CARPENTER ROAD : SENTENCED TO SILENCE

by MORGAN SCAFE

"Carpenter Road is a blistering read, powerful in its unflinching honesty and bravery, poignant and heart-wrenching. You will be absolutely riveted."
Lisa Regan
USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

What happens to a child when no one is paying attention? Evil comes calling. A harrowing true story of a little girl caught in the perfect storm. After years of sickening abuse perpetrated by her best friend's father, the 14-year-old learns that some silences are meant to be broken. But who can she turn to? If she tells, he will kill her. Desperate for help that she cannot summon, she writes an anonymous note to her teacher.

So begins a seven-year agonizing journey to save herself and those she left behind. She quickly learns she will be alone. The others... too terrified to speak. Once the floodgates of pain pour from her fragile state, she must find the strength to follow through on what she started; A trial she never wanted. Follow the dramatic courtroom trial until the epic verdict. Carpenter Road is so terrifying, yet so triumphant.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2023

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not look back fondly at my high school experience. It was not the best time of my life, however, my feelings of not fitting in & being alone are NOTHING compared to what Morgan went through. This book catapulted me right back to the hallways of LMPCHS and provided an insight into the atrocities experienced by the quiet little blond girl who had a locker a few feet from the one I shared with my best friend. The quiet girl who I believed did not care about school, and who was rumored to be on drugs and a behavioral issue. Now 34 years later I am finding out the truth as to why Morgan was that way. I have spent the last few days in abject horror & shock with what happened to Morgan and in complete awe of her strength. The fortitude shown in writing this book is amazing and I applaud Morgan for healing herself to the point she could put this out in the world. As far as books go, the writing isn’t the greatest and the book could use some editing, however, I give it 5 stars for sheer perseverance alone. This book is written by Morgan, in her words, and is utterly amazing. Morgan is a truly beautiful soul and I regret not getting to know her better back when I was young and self absorbed. Thank you Morgan for sharing this piece of yourself.

[Barry Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best memoir I have ever read and the best book i read all year. You won’t be able to put it down. It is validating and healing and such an important book for people to read. It will help you understand survivors and what to look for in a child who is being abused. Thank you to the author for sharing her story to help others.

[RTgoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful true story. Morgan Scafe is a survivor and an inspiration.

[Tammy Brubaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down! Heartbreaking true story of sexual, mental, emotional and physical abuse. Makes me once again question our justice system. A sick, perverted pedophile should not, in my opinion, EVER be allowed to step foot out of jail! Once a pedophile, ALWAYS a pedophile. Not to mention his need to have ultimate control over everyone in his life! So unjust!!! Makes me sick!!!

[Jamie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

This book is raw, real, and hard to read but yet so hard to put down. It is the most taboo subject most people won't speak on. I am thankful this lady had the strength to speak out and tell her story.

[Debora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding courage.

To be able to bring this evil to light was nothing short of a miracle. Morgan used this platform to encourage those who are also living in darkness. I hope one day she will find peace and healing. Prayers for her and her family.

[Brent Young]

More, please

I would have liked the author to include information as to why his wife wasn't also indicted, as she was complicit. Overall, yes, this is raw but helpful to realize and recognize the issue. Who knew this could happen in my town.

[Rachel Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing account of survival and strength. For eight years of her childhood, Morgan Scafe endured sexual, physical and emotional abuse that no one should have to experience. Carpenter Road details her quest to use her voice to save others from the same fate and bring her abuser to justice. The author seamlessly blends the deeply personal with the procedural, alternating chapters between her own narrative and court transcripts. This contrast between her feelings—sometimes sorrowful, sometimes panicked —and the dispassionate, staid legal proceedings can be jarring, but carries the reader on the journey, with both tracks eventually arriving at one single outcome.

I am in awe of Morgan Scafe’s bravery, both in her trial and her commitment to telling her story for the reader. I would love to see her write a follow up detailing how she has continued to survive since the conclusion of the legal case.

[Tiffany Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually write book reviews, most of the things I have to say have already been said by someone else so I don’t bother. However, in this case, I must say I was rather disappointed with the book. I know it’s a memoir and true story, but the way the book was written I think it made it hard to get through. Adding the trial to the book made it somewhat confusing, had it drag on and became quite repetitive. I also thought that the way it alluded to other people being involved but then never went into more detail about was disappointing. I completely sympathize with the victim and what she went through, just wish the book was a little better.

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a horrific experience this young lady endured. She has written a book to enlighten others as to the horrors she and her friends suffered at the hands of an adult who was supposed to be a protector. It included court transcripts, which I appreciated. Men like this should never receive parole. He did not receive the maximum sentence due to his age (50 years old), which is crap!!! He abused this little girl from 8 years to 16 years old which attributed to ruining her life. Sometimes I had to put the book down because it sickened me so much.

[Lee Husemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when this trial was taking place because I lived in an area nearby and I was shocked at what had happened to this young girl by a family friend. I am so glad this author found the courage to write her story even though it was difficult to read at times. Hopefully, this book will help others who has suffered from the same or similar abuse. This is a very well written account of what happened and I wish her the best.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this as the victim, perpetrator and location took place in Michigan. This is a devastating true story of a child’s lost innocence and basically ruined life due to sexual, physical and emotional abuse. To say it is a difficult read is an understatement. The guilty party has already been released from prison after a mere 20 years. He should be doing life. I feel his crimes are equal to murder in that he damaged several lives to a point from which they cannot return.

[Tracy Lahde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story happened while I lived the next town over & was the same age as this girl. It’s a very sad story about sexual, physical, emotional & mental abuse. But every parent should read it & take heed about letting their kids spend the night at friends houses. Especially if you have never met the friends parents.

[Tara Wright]

I’m not going to put a rating on this book due to the subject matter. How horrific that this happened.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the format…the bouncing between trial transcripts and Morgan telling her story.

[Elaine Crego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to home

This story takes place in a neighboring town from me. The victim was so brave to write this to help people understand why someone might react the way they do when being physically and mentally abused. I wish the best for the author at having a fulfilled happy life.

[Susan Bullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a way it is difficult to give it four stars just because it is so heart wrenching. The author is just an amazing woman. And it makes me feel so relieved that my children never wanted to spend the night anywhere but home or grandma and grandpa’s house.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing story from my hometown. Morgan's resilience is awe-inspiring.

[Jeanette Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled to get into it. After 100 pages, I gave up.

[Gwen]

I won’t rate this book only because it’s an autobiography. What this girl went through during her childhood is absolutely horrific. Gathering up the courage to step forward and take action…heroic.

[Claire Tauscher Daidone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strength, surviving. Despite the content of this book, I couldn’t put it down. My heart went out to Morgan.
I do wish there was more information on some of the other characters in the books.

[Sarah]

Truly heartbreaking. I won't be forgetting this.
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The story is well written but this book needs to be professionally edited. There are many misspellings and misuse of punctuation, etc.

[Cheryl Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into it but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a sad, true story but well written.

[Heather King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be careful with this one. It was one trigger after another for me. I felt every page.

[Nancy Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good memoir. The story of an abused child and the court case. Trial was in Flint Michigan and the victim grew up in Flushing Mi, on Carpenter Rd.

[Lisa Montes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad but how courageous

Terrible that someone has to go through this but so thankful she was able to get help and wrote about it!

[Nicole Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing page turner. I literally had to stop reading it for a few days because of the terrible recounting of this girls life. My parents live in the town where this happened and it’s scary to think that there are people like this right under our noses.

[Shelia C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

[Moriah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent book, incredibly sad and heartbreaking. But somewhat hard to read because it was full of typos and the thoughts were scattered. It wasn't super well written either.

[Rebecca Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastating Story but SO well written

This story had me in tears, but I couldn't put it down.

Good for you Morgan for letting your voice be heard.

[Kelli Stojic · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unflinchingly honest account of the torture one child endured at the hands of a monster, and that child's search for justice once she became a woman. This book was hard to read and harder to put down.