Telling Teddy

Dear Teddy #2

by J.D. Stockholm

Mr. Ted holds the hand of his six-year-old friend as they share more of his deepest secrets. Poignant and bold, the boy’s courageous words are detailed and real. He takes you farther into his abusive life and broken mind as he survives the tangled deceit and lies of his everydays. Sit alongside him. Hear his voice and listen with your heart as he opens it up once more.His story continues…Mr. Ted. I love you very much. I love my Mr. Ted. He is all mine and he is magic. He keeps me safe from the bad man. I hug him all tight. We sit on the floor by the fire. I don't be allowed to sit on the chairs. I am too evil. Me and Mr. Ted like to write stories. He tells me what to write. Then I draw the pictures about it and we make it all nice. I put it in my scrap book. My Nan bought me the scrap book. It is big and has lots of pages. It has a car on the front and my name.

Genres: Memoir

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Cynthia]

I am one of those people who loves to read books. I also love to write reviews on them if I have enjoyed them. I take pleasure in doing so and the words I choose to write just kind of tumble right out as I go. I have, however, never before found myself staring at the screen of my computer for so long, wondering what the best way to word myself is. I struggled this way after reading both J.D. Stockholm's first book, Dear Teddy and then this book, Telling Teddy. How do you write about how much you enjoyed a book that is a grievously true story all about child abuse in its worst form? Is it right or appropriate to even use the word "enjoy"? Probably not. So, let me simply explain what it is about this book that I... was affected by.

Just as in the first book, the events in Telling Teddy shock, horrify and unhinge you. You just can not come to terms with the fact that there are parents who could do these things to their children. Who could be so cold-blooded and heartless. In so many different ways. Starving, neglecting, molesting, verbally and physically abusing their own son. Indubitably, there is something intrinsically wrong with these people's make-up.

You constantly feel your anger warring with the dismay and anguish you feel for the young boy. Where are these people's natural inclination to feel compassion and humaneness, not for a stranger, but for their own flesh and blood?

How can you sit and watch a little boy cry in fear or pain and feel nothing? How can you allow others to hurt and abuse him instead of being overwhelmed by a parent's constitutionally profound need to protect and fight for their child's safety? How can you ignore his terrified screams and desperate pleas for help? How can you do what you did to your son?

While reading, you are appalled by so many countless events that take place that you do not know which to be more nauseated or angry about. Your hatred for the child's parents threatens to consume you on more than one occasion. The father's repeated maltreatment and abuse of his child is sickening and enraging. This is an absolutely callous and degenerate human being. However, although you constantly find yourself angered by his father, it is his mother's actions that literally make you gasp in horror. Not only did she allow what was happening, but the horrendous fact is that she encouraged it too. You reach a point where you are completely overcome with contempt and resentment for her. In my eyes, the part she played in this is almost worse. She could have protected her child. She could have saved him from a life of untold horror and despair. She could have saved him from her depraved husband. She could have saved him from sick, debauched men. She could have been a good mother.

The sense of helplessness you feel when you see this story through the boy's eyes, when he uses a child's words and perception to try and explain what is happening to him, is crushing. You know what is coming, yet you cannot protect him. His innocence is endearing and disarming, and his continuous hope and struggle to win his parents' love is heartbreaking. Despite all he endures, he loves his family and dreads the thought of being parted from them. One of the most tragic scenes in the book is where he runs after his parents' car when they are leaving him behind, begging them to take him with. While you may feel a sense of relief and joy at this parting, you cannot but feel sorrow for the small child's sense of despair and abandonment.

Another part of the book that completely shocked me was the child's encounter with yet another abuser, Graham. What shocked me, however, was not the actual event in itself, but my feelings towards it. I was appalled to find myself feeling thankful when the young boy got to stay with the man at the weekends. After trying to figure out why I could possibly feel this way - after all, he was still being abused - I realised that out of the two evils, I felt this was the less of the two. The child was being fed there, he felt safe and warm, maybe even loved, and to my mind, that was infinitely preferable to what he felt at home. I was racked with guilt and shame, though, for thinking and feeling this way. What does this say about me as a person? It revealed a part of myself that I did not recognise, and that scared me. We all believe we have our limits, but when have we truly been tried to see how much we would adhere to them? This book was an eye-opener in more than one way.

A lot of people have told me that they cannot read this book because they cannot bear to read about an innocent, helpless child's suffering. It would be too upsetting and unsettling. While I can understand their reasoning, I can not help but think how much this reflects society's deep-rooted attitude and reaction to the problem of child abuse. Out of sight, out of my mind. If we cannot see it, we do not have to deal with it. We do not want to believe that this goes on. We do not want to be upset by that which we feel we have no control over. We might not like to admit it, but we are good at avoidance.

The author has once again done a brilliant job of getting his story across. Telling Teddy is well-written and insightful. Yes, it will make you cry and sob, and leave you with a feeling of deep sadness and helplessness, but it is absolutely worth reading. This story will touch you and stay with you forever.

[Steph Barton-Beattie]

This book was even more emotional than the first one. Touches my heart and makes me sad to know that things like this are an every day occurrence for some children. Such a sad, yet beautifully written book.

[Ethan Martin]

i love how the author writes as if it really was a 6/7 year old boy writing it. That plus the story, I think I might feel more for this series than I did for the child called it.

[Lea Cornell]

Again, moving and heartbreaking at the same time. This one a bit more graphic of the abuse but it makes you open your eyes and understand that this did happen and still does to so many other silent children. It begins to make someone understand what childhood abuse does to a person mentally. Warning again, if you have experienced childhood abuse in any way, this is a trigger. Read with caution

[Brian Sondey]

Telling teddy...

I felt the story was too long just talking about how bad the child was. I'm going to read the next book,but hope it has a better narrator and story. I think that the narrator needs to learn to let the words flow better. Also I hope this child comes out of this a sane and well - adjusted person.

[Dom Perry]

Same opinions as last time. Extremely heart-wrenching, but the child's POV just doesn't do it for me. The constant repetition of phrase and words is understandable because that's how children talk, but it doesn't read well for me.

Nonetheless, J.D.'s parents are dicks.

It seems we're also starting to see childhood-OCD. I'm intrigued to see how he explores this.

[Sally]

TellingTeddy

How do I even write anything? This about a time in years past. We all know that do to all of the firm's of social media unfortunately these behaviors are not so uncommon. But surprise they were not all that uncommon before either. Obviously!😞

[Crystal Mohlsick]

Great books

This was definitely one of the most horrific cases of child abuse I've ever read. As dark as it was I could not put the book down. I read all 5 Series in less than 11 days. The fact that this little boy survived all this is amazing

[Sandra K. Rodriguez]

Excellent!

I really liked this book because I feel like I can get in the mind of the child and find out his reasoning for being "bad.". He is continually being raped by his dad with the knowledge of his mother, who does nothing to help him. It is a really sad book.

[Colette]

Child abuse told through the eyes of the child, very graphic and extremely detailed especially as such a young child.

[SHERRY]

I read all of Dear Teddy, or should I say I struggled through it. I don't know why I thought this book would be any better. I gave up on it about 1/4 of the way through and did not finish it.

[MaryAnn Hall]

Cry for this poor child

My heart breaks from this abused child's journey. Sadly, he has no rescuers. He only knows the world of abuse. I cried and cried.

[Teresa]

The story continues. A world filled with opposites. Hope and despair. Loyalty and betrayal. Love and hate. You may say, that everyone's world has these factors - but not like this little boy's.

A child who was tormented, terrorized and tortured by those who did not take the time to understand him, support him, or love him. What makes this all the more heartbreaking, is that most of the acts inflicted upon this little boy, were done by those who should've loved him the most... his parents. His life was one of abuse, exploitation, and pain... physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As with the #1 ranked prequel to this book, (Dear Teddy: A Journal of a Boy; Volume One), I know this part of his story is bound to help anyone who has experienced such atrocities, to both know and feel they are not alone in the world of abuse.

The repercussions of a survivor's past are many. Their journeys are far from over. But with books like this one, one might have a bit of hope that they will someday be a little easier to travel.

I applaud this author's courage to continue to tell a story that I know still so adversely affects him today, and is not an easy one to share.

Thank you again, James, for trusting me enough to take me into your confidence, for sharing your wisdom, your light, and your unbreakable spirit.

[Tonya]

After reading the first book, I immediately had to start on this one. I couldn't help but feel so connected with that little boy that I had to follow his torturous journey in hopes that he would soon find the salvation he desperately needed. The story is heartbreaking but yet in the back of my mind I find hope that this boy will soon find a tolerable sort of peace and would have the happy & safe life he deserved. No child should ever suffer what this little boy suffered. Every twisted aspect of abuse he had to endure, and this abuse was freely given by those who were to protect him from such evils. I will never understand how someone could do something like this, but I am glad that I can't. What type of person would I be if I could relate to such sickness & hatred?

[Vicky]

I am amazed at the kind of people that are out there! How can anyone do that to their child? I am so angry after reading this book! I hope to God these people have paid for what they did to this sweet boy. This book broke my heart again just like the first one. This series definitely creates greater awareness of child abuse and I believe makes us so much more sensitive to the subject. I look at my own young sons now and think of the trauma this boy went through and my heart cries. The author should be praised for his courage to tell his story. May the angels keep him safe...

[Mabel Mumbles]

A very well written account of a very difficult subject

As life for Jamie spirals on, events turn darker, it is heart stopping. As you sit there reading, watching through his eyes, it is agony not being able to halt his pain and suffering. He is strong and brave to keep facing each day and this gives me hope.

You see the side effects that all the trauma has overloaded on him leaking out in his counting and checks as he struggles on to deal with everyday life.

I feel compelled to read on to find out more, wanting to know he has found a certain peace.

[richwire]

I wanted to like this book more than the first installment because I feel guilty criticizing an author when the subject is the terrible abuse he endured. Like the first book, it's written in "child speak" or approximately a first grade reading level. It makes for some terribly repetitive passages and tedious reading at times. Nonetheless, I plan to get the author's third book. Since he's growing up, I'm hopeful for a more mature writing style and more importantly, happier times.

[Lizzie Winns]

This book was the continuation of the first book (Dear Teddy). It was very hard to read, same as the first book, but I have to read it just to see if this boys life will get any better, and so far it hasn't... So I will continue to read the series to find out.... On to the next book called (Stupid boy).

[Rin]

FROM A CHILD'S POV

There were new revelations in this 2nd book. I literally shook because I was so furious for this little boy. I remember as a child, no matter how awful a parent can be, that were always wanting good things for them. We don't complain because we know nothing else. Some people should never breed. Ever!!!

[Julie Dalglish]

ive only given this book a 4 star review due to the fact i couldn't finish it due to the heart breaking content. brilliantly written and would highly recommend.

[Jodie Horton]

A heartwrenching read

[Vashista]

to write a paragraph

[Kelly]

Totally heartbreaking

This is almost too sad to read. I truly hate his parents. They are beyond evil. My heart aches for this kid.