What Big Girls Do: A true crime biography of childhood sexual abuse, survival, forgiveness, and healing

by K.D. Kinz, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

How can Danielle understand "normal" if she has never experienced it? She was moved from town to town, kept hidden from society, and always felt like an outsider.

Her innocence was brutally taken by someone she least expected. She harbored a dark secret that could devastate her family—a secret she fiercely protected. Would the burden of shame be too much to bear if the truth were revealed?

As secrets are uncovered, Danielle plunges into a tumultuous descent with nothing to stop her fall.

Audible Audio

Published March 26, 2025

About the author

K. D. Kinz writes stories that reveal hidden truths, inspire hope, and remind readers of the strength found in understanding.

Drawing on years of research and a lifelong interest in human behavior, K. D. Kinz explores the hidden patterns that shape relationships, families, grief, healing, and personal growth. Whether writing fiction inspired by real events or sharing true stories of extraordinary courage, each book serves one purpose:

To help readers recognize what they may be facing, find hope in difficult circumstances, and discover that healing is possible.

Years spent as a registered nurse taught K. D. Kinz that some of life's greatest lessons come from others' experiences. That belief continues to shape every book she writes.

Sometimes the hardest stories to tell are the ones that matter most.

Reviews

[Kathleen Riggs]

What big girls do by K.D. Kinz’s.
What Big Girls Do is a powerful true story of survival, resilience, and healing. With honesty and compassion, Kinz confronts the lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse while offering a message of hope through forgiveness and self-empowerment. Her clear, heartfelt writing draws readers into a journey that is both painful and inspiring. It is a courageous and necessary read for anyone seeking to understand the strength it takes to overcome deep trauma. Kind speaks straight from the heart

[C. Sinclair]

K.D. Kinz’s *What Big Girls Do* is a deeply personal and thoughtfully structured memoir that examines childhood sexual abuse, survival, forgiveness, and healing with remarkable candor. As a survivor of abuse with experiences similar to the author’s, I found this book especially powerful and relatable. Kinz demonstrates impressive vulnerability in recounting her trauma, yet she avoids dwelling on graphic or triggering details, allowing the emotional impact of her story to resonate without becoming overwhelming. The narrative’s unconventional structure adds depth and momentum, gradually revealing connections between past experiences and lifelong patterns of resilience.

What stayed with me most was the book’s underlying message of hope. Rather than focusing solely on suffering, Kinz explores the difficult process of healing and the possibility of finding peace after profound adversity. Her reflections are insightful, compassionate, and ultimately empowering. While some sections felt slightly under-developed with a tendency for phrasing that felt rather abrupt, the strength of the story and the authenticity of the author’s voice made this a compelling and worthwhile read. I would readily recommend this book to anyone interested in memoirs of survival, recovery, and personal transformation.

[Lori]

From Victims To Survivors

This is yet another devastating instance of a father who betrays his children's trust in the worst way possible. In fact, having gone through abuse myself, I believe it is on the level of the crime of murder. Once a parent abuses their child, the child's world can never be the same! Like the author, Danielle, I am a Christian and I believe that God wants us to forgive. But I have a hard time with the concept of forgiving someone who inflicts such damage on a child. God Himself tells us in the Bible that if you harm a child, it would be better to have hung a "millstone" around the neck... To me, a person who harms their child must ADMIT AND APOLOGIZE , and ASK for forgiveness. Turn from that evil and make AMENDS. The girls father did not do this so it is merciful that Danielle forgives him.
Both Danielle and her sister Karole are strong women -- and have always been strong -- even if they didn't know it or feel it as children. This book describes their journey from very young children through adulthood. This family like many others would be considered dysfunctional. Neither parent was a good parent. Good parents LOVE their children, and put the children's needs ahead of their own. I saw no real evidence of that in the mother either. She almost gave one of her daughters up for adoption as a three year old. She put her girls in a position many times to be alone with their father. She allowed their father to purposely force them to eat food that made them ill. She was afraid to stand up to him no matter what he did and turned a blind eye to it. She participated in denying her children an education, forming a solid identity and even a last name based on truth. Denied them family connections and opportunities to build friendships and socialize. I believe Karole's weight problem was a direct result of the abuse as well as the lack of love. Emotional needs were not met, not filled. When mommy didn't comfort her, food did! And of course, the father was in large part to blame for these things as well.
Larry, the boss who offered Danielle and her first husband Jesse so much help and support was a good man. Gracious to allow Danielle the opportunity to pay back the money Jesse stole (unbeknownst to his wife) without calling the police. But I feel Danielle was wrong to ask that of him. The message to Jesse was "I can do whatever I want, I am not accountable so next time I just need to be more careful." What he did was a crime and Larry had every right to call the police! I also think he'd have respected Danielle again if she had allowed it. Not doing so basically said to Larry "She's not who you thought she was. She must think it's okay too..."
I felt the book held my attention, was fairly easy to follow and edited pretty well. However I have no idea who K.D. Kinz is and how she or he is connected. And I found the ending of the book somewhat less compelling compared to the rest of it.

[Skye Arroyo]

Speechless.
As a survivor of CSA and incest, this book hit home. I went into it, hoping to feel less alone, this did so much more than just that. These experiences are all too common, I desperately which it was given more awareness. Seeing how Danielle navigated becoming a mother, while living with her traumatic past and working through her healing, is inspiring as a young woman who has fear of raising her own children. If being able to keep them safe.
I have always struggled with the idea of forgiveness and I am also currently beginning my journey into RCIA to convert to the catholic faith. So putting my faith in God, and hearing about someone else’s experience with forgiveness against an abuser, is really important to me to hear as I walk with God through my own journey of healing.
Thank you for sharing your story. I heard you and I admire your resilience.

[Kaylee Couchman]

This book was a hard one read. I often found myself reading and having to step away. I found this book on tik tok and the author had such an inspiring story. Her and her sister had such horrible experiences in life, but never sought to get revenge. They sought to have a life they could be proud of and healing from the past. The part it mentioned you either continue the cycle or stop the cycle is such a true statement. We can never truly forget what happens but we can make sure we heal and never allow ourselves to become something that hurt us. Often people suffer too much allowing them to never fully heal. Rating this a 4 star is so sad due to what it is about, but the author did such a wonderful job writing. I do believe this helped heal parts of her past.

[Hunter Pond]

Very powerful story of childhood abuse and the effects that has on someone throughout their entire life. I appreciated that the author portrayed her sister’s experience in this as well in a respectful manner, really highlighting how siblings can grow up in the same home but have a vastly different experience. I would love to know if her mother’s side of the family ever explained why they gave her and her sister the cold shoulder and didn’t allow them to come before their mother passed nor to her funeral after.

[Amy Dakes]

I never really know how to properly rate a book like this or if I should even rate it. This is definitely a difficult topic to hear about, but I think it was told in a really honest way. It touches on the abuse and acknowledges it without getting overly graphic. It also really takes the time to both show and explain how childhood trauma like this can really follow a person throughout life with their decision making and mindset towards certain things.

[sherribond]

I loved this story so much. It brought up some of the issues I faced as a young girl. The sexual abuse brought on , by my father at around four. My mother never believed me. I felt it was my fault too. In my thirties I went in for depression. Had dome good counciling. Still my mom was in denial.In my later years I found out he abused my dsughter and niece. Still to this day, I have some resentment towards my mother. I know ,I'm a good person, and have to put my self first.

[Sarah]

Powerful

Sometimes being reminded that you can come through anything life throws at you is important and this book does that and more.
I am appreciative of the bravery it takes to tell such a tragic story.

[Deeds]

PHENOMENAL Story

This story was sooooo moving, heartfelt and sad on so many levels!!. How these 2 girls survived everything that they lived through was a true miracle in its self. It leads you to believe and know in your heart that it was higher power that took care of them🤗.

[marilyn]

Throughly enjoyed this book

These girls endured so much in their young lives, yet persevered. Though not all questions were answered for Danielle, she eventually found peace through forgiveness. It is an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[art norton]

Emotional book

Danielle's story is an inspiring! To go through a traumatic childhood like hers is one of survival. She is an inspiration to all who ever went through he'll and back, and came out stronger for it. I applaud you for your well written story!

[Jasmine]

It was an interesting read, well written. I would read this author again! Sad story.

[allother]

I don't usually read true crime, but a friend recommended this book. It was hard to read at times, but it was worth it.

[Linda]

it says this is true crime, but I can't find anything about it.

[blondie]

Amazing

Wow! This book is like nothing I've read before. I've read countless books from survivors of mental and sexual abuse. But they don't come near the depth of this.

[Katie]

2.5 ⭐️ I do believe this is one that Audible has ruined because they did it with electronic voice and there was no emotion while reading so I don’t know just was just something in the background

[Tammy Kelly]

I felt this book in my soul

This is one of the best books I have ever read! It felt like the blueprint of my life. Thank you Danielle for your story of strength.

[Marilyn White]

Heartbreakingly Inspiring

The strength and resilience of the author is incredible. I will never forget her story and use it to heal from my own childhood trauma.

[Heather Marie]

4.6 ⭐️ Powerful memoir brutal at times but beautiful.

[Jayne Spry]

Good read about a family with a hidden secret

[Holly Jones]

I couldn’t put this book down.
I fell in love with Danielle and her determination to survive at all costs.

[Marty]

I read this book for a Book Club and found the story fascinating, but, as is often the case, the discussion revealed more detail, aspects I had missed and deeply enhanced my appreciation of the book. And as icing on the cake, we had the great fortune to have the author attend our discussion!!! Deeply interesting story and some of the personal details the author was able to share made it all the more so. Now I have to go read the author's other books as well!