[Beyond the Open Well] [Author: Hebert, Jean M.] [April, 2008]

by Jean M. Hebert

Beyond the Open Well by Jean M. Hebert

Paperback

First published April 25, 2008

Reviews

[Taylor Skibba]

I can’t rate this book. Really makes you question yourself when judging others behaviors. Be kind. You never know what others have had to endure.

[Amy Winsand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most honest and heartbreaking true stories I've come across. Sharon, Shirley and Alan Colburn were three of the unluckiest children, sadly born to alcoholic parents who wished they had never been born, to the point of actually trying to kill them on different occasions. Both daughters survived attempted drownings at different times, only thwarted by intervening neighbors or other distractions. All three hid under an overturned galvanized washtub in the yard when their father came after them with a gun! It is so horrific, it's hard to believe these parents weren't hauled off to jail! But it was the 1940's, long before teachers would have immediately called in the authorities, as thankfully, they would today. The fact that the children walked to school without shoes in cold Wisconsin winters wearing dirty, ragged clothing over their unwashed bodies amazingly didn't bring immediate intervention! But then, they rarely attended school, never celebrated birthdays or holidays, and divided up scraps of food when their drunken mother sat at the nearest bar, and their drunken father was passed out on the floor. Obviously, he couldn't keep a job, so money was scarce and eviction was constant.

One would think that when FINALLY, a teacher DID notify authorities, their situation would HAVE to improve! Their older brother Alan, their protector, was sent to live and work at a nearby farm, and this left the two sisters on their own, moved in with a foster family. The first placement barely lasted a year after the mother decided she'd prefer a baby, so they were moved to live with Ted and Hazel Buck in Cornell, Wisconsin, a strict, religious, "morally upright" husband and wife who, for the first year, treated them very well. They were finally clean, had nice clothes, were well fed, and attended school, though several grades below their ages due to their earlier lack of schooling. But after a year, the couple went through with an adoption and everything changed. The girls were legally "theirs" and they could treat them any way they wanted. Shirley and Sharon were about 8 and 10 years old, and their "hell" had just begun. They even had to change their names to Joyce and Jane Buck. No friends, no music (other than hymns), no dancing, no fun.

When Ted sexually molests, then outright rapes first the oldest, then the younger sister, the reader waits and hopes for retribution. The damage he inflicts both physically and mentally lasts a lifetime for both girls - how could it not? They tell their story with such honesty and incredible insight into the people around them. Their struggles are too real and challenging.

Even after moving out, future schooling, jobs, husbands - everything is damaged by their past, which has tainted their future. Through it all, the sisters rely on each other to help them survive all of their struggles. Alan is also the reliable brother who often comes to their aid once they've escaped Ted and Hazel, but their lives are never easy and rarely happy.

Once Ted and Hazel are both dead, they decide to tell their story. I wish they could have told it while the SOB was alive so all of his fellow church members and lodge members and admiring citizens of Cornell and nearby Chippewa Falls could have shunned him and known the truth. He deserved jail time, and worse, for him, looks of hatred and condemnation from everyone he knew. But he had instilled long-lasting fear into them, and he had to be dead before they were brave enough to contact their friend Jean Hebert to tell their tale. I'm glad that they did. People need to bring depravity into the light of day - if only it could have happened much, much sooner!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is seriously so sad! A friend lent me this book because it's a true story that starts and ultimately ends in Cornell, WI. They reference so many towns in WI that I know so that aspect was neat to know where they were living. Child abuse, child molestation and domination are so cruel it makes me want to cry for these two girls. I did like to learn about their lives and always hoped they could overcome and succeed, sadly that did not happen. Parts of the book I felt could've elaborated a bit more and other parts of drug on. Overall, I am glad that I read this book, but it's just sad to see how some people live their lives.

[Mindy Quinn]

DNF’d. Choppy writing. The child abuse is hard to read about. What made it more difficult was that this was a true story which happened locally. Recognizing landmarks and towns near my home just made it too real for me.

[Rhonda Ruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this book a few years back

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting in that it spoke of unspeakable abuse in past years when there was no intervention. Either people were naive or it seems they turned a blind eye. This book took place near and in my hometown of Chippewa Falls. Seems sad to me that I recognized familiar landmarks but, as a child during some of this time period of the book, I was completely unaware of circumstances such as these 3 children endured. Their entire lives were affected and hopefully, as they wished, this book makes others more aware of what can be happening just next door or down the block.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tragic story of two girls and brother. Lots of neglect and abuse. It makes you realize how you really don't know what goes on in a child's life. Heartbreaking story......I enjoyed reading it. Takes place in the EC, Chippewa, Stanley, Cornell area.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opens the eyes to child physical and sexual abuse in a time when no one spoke about it

[Jean Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A must read