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Growing Wishbones
"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be." ~Clementine Paddleford
It's 1973 and ten year-old Jodi Keane is beginning to ask questions about a father she's never known, a man whom she believes died in the Vietnam War. The only clue she has to his identity is a first name: Tony. But is it enough to help her find the father she longs to know?
Meanwhile, 800 miles away, Melanie Byron has the perfect family: a mother, father, a younger brother and a nice home in Jacksonville, Florida. No one suspects what goes on behind closed doors where Melanie endures years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her father. As soon as she graduates from high school she escapes by marrying a good-natured young businessman, but the consequences of her abuse have taken their toll and she plunges into a downward spiral.
Growing Wishbones is the story of two young women, living separate lives, overcoming their own obstacles of growing up female during the 1970s and 1980s. It was a time when polite people didn’t talk about sexual abuse, sexual orientation, and unwed mothers, but as secrets begin to unravel, Melanie and Jodi discover things about themselves and each other.
In the United States, 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18. More than 90% are abused by people they know, love and trust. Most never tell their story. This book is dedicated to those survivors and for those who could no longer endure the pain.
It's 1973 and ten year-old Jodi Keane is beginning to ask questions about a father she's never known, a man whom she believes died in the Vietnam War. The only clue she has to his identity is a first name: Tony. But is it enough to help her find the father she longs to know?
Meanwhile, 800 miles away, Melanie Byron has the perfect family: a mother, father, a younger brother and a nice home in Jacksonville, Florida. No one suspects what goes on behind closed doors where Melanie endures years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her father. As soon as she graduates from high school she escapes by marrying a good-natured young businessman, but the consequences of her abuse have taken their toll and she plunges into a downward spiral.
Growing Wishbones is the story of two young women, living separate lives, overcoming their own obstacles of growing up female during the 1970s and 1980s. It was a time when polite people didn’t talk about sexual abuse, sexual orientation, and unwed mothers, but as secrets begin to unravel, Melanie and Jodi discover things about themselves and each other.
In the United States, 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18. More than 90% are abused by people they know, love and trust. Most never tell their story. This book is dedicated to those survivors and for those who could no longer endure the pain.
336 pages, ebook
First published July 22, 2012
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Askren
4 books4 followersTJ Askren drinks too much coffee, obsessively collects notebooks and pens and is happiest when she is cruising a long winding road on her motorcycle.
She was raised in Cincinnati, OH and graduated with a Bachelors of Nursing from the Ohio State University. She has been a critical care/emergency RN for 27 years. She has published short stories in "Frighten the Horses" and "Common Lives."
TJ can be found writing in coffeehouses in Ashland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 1, 2012
Loved it. This is a moving and emotional life journey of two women. The characters are well developed and the author did a great job interweaving and introducing new characters throughout the book. Every reader will be able to relate to one issue or another that the women face. This tale is about the simple yet important things in life; family, love, trust, and truth. You too will love this book.
July 28, 2012
Unfortunately, I really cannot find much good to say. This book is a complete mess. The author attempted to show us the differences in the lives of the two main characters, but the story got sidetracked by so many peripheral characters and issues that it was just too much. In addition, there were several grammatical errors and typos. Sorry, but this one only gets 1 star.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews