Shattering Silence: : A Story of Survival, Justice, and the Power of Telling the Truth

by Darlene Lekowski, Jess Greenwood

At just seven years old, Darlene’s world changed forever.

Growing up in what appeared to be a loving, upper-middle-class Midwestern family, she was the youngest of five safe, protected, and cared for. But behind closed doors, that reality was shattered when her two oldest brothers began abusing her, trapping her in silence through fear, shame, and manipulation.

For decades, Darlene carried this secret until the truth could no longer stay hidden. When one of her brothers filed a lawsuit against her, she was forced to make an impossible choice: remain silent or finally speak the truth.

*Shattering Silence* is the powerful true story of a child who sacrificed her voice to protect her family and the woman who reclaimed it to stand for truth, justice, and healing. It is a deeply moving testament to resilience, courage, and the life-changing power of speaking out.

For anyone who has ever felt silenced, this story will remind you: your voice matters.

207 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2026

About the author

Darlene Lekowski is an Amazon bestselling author, speaker, and advocate who transformed decades of silence into a powerful message of truth, healing, and personal agency.

After fifty years of silence surrounding the sibling sexual trauma she endured as a child, Darlene made the life-changing decision to reclaim her voice. Her journey from surviving in silence to standing in her truth, even in the face of a civil lawsuit brought against her, became the foundation of her memoir, Shattering Silence: A Story of Survival, Justice, and the Power of Telling the Truth.

Through her writing and speaking, Darlene inspires others to confront their truth, release what no longer serves them, and step into a life of courage, freedom, and possibility. Her work resonates deeply with survivors, leaders, and anyone seeking to live more fully and authentically.

Darlene lives in North Carolina with her husband and is the proud mother of three adult children.

Reviews

[Maria Socolof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brave Voice

Darlene shows incredible strength and fortitude in sharing her story and getting justice for the abuse she suffered at the hands of her own siblings. She helps bring to light this common but under-recognized and under-researched form of abuse and trauma. She found her voice and is using it to help others who may be suffering in silence. The book kept my rapt attention throughout. While some of it is difficult to hear, it is important to understand how this type of abuse can affect a child and the adult they become, and how healing is possible when our stories are taken out of the darkness and brought into the light. Thank you, Darlene, for being another brave voice in this movement.
~Maria Socolof, President and Cofounder of 5WAVES, Inc. and Author of The Invisible Key: Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain

[Kandice Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆☆
A truly important and courageous book.
Shattering Silence is a powerful, emotional, and deeply moving book. Darlene Lekowski’s story is not just one of survival, but of courage, truth, justice, and healing. It takes incredible strength to speak openly about trauma, and the way this book shares that journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

What impacted me most was how deeply I related to parts of the story. It made me feel less alone in my own experiences and reminded me that healing does not always happen all at once. Sometimes peace comes slowly, through honesty, reflection, and the decision to stop carrying shame that was never ours to carry.

This book encouraged me to look at my own trauma with more compassion and to believe that peace is possible, even after pain. It is raw, honest, and meaningful, and I believe it could help many others who are trying to find their voice or make sense of what they have survived.

[Amy McKenzie Crumbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story That’s Hard to Face—But Impossible to Ignore
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2026
Format: Kindle
For those who have been abused by a sibling, this story will test your limits. I love to read and hate to vacuum, and I found myself vacuuming instead of reading! It stirred the demons...but I am grateful that I found the courage to continue reading, as this story is so similar to my own in my early years and my first marriage.
I had to force myself to sit in the hard parts, though not easy; I did find healing.
The shame and embarrassment that come with being a victim of sibling sexual assault/abuse never really dissipates. As we age, it is no longer the driver of all things, and is less at the forefront of your mind, but it remains. The feeling of not being disserving of love, and all the good that the world has to offer is something that I still fight for daily.
So read on, allow this story of resilience and fortitude help you to heal and find grace and peace in your life! You deserve it, just as Darlene does, as well as all victims do!

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerhouse of a memoir. Darlene Lekowski’s “Shattering Silence” is a raw, unflinching look at the long-term repercussions of childhood abuse and the legal battle that finally set the truth free. After fifty years of silence, Lekowski’s victory in court wasn't just a legal win; it was a profound moment of validation that transforms her pain into hope for others. It’s a difficult read at times because of its honesty, but it is an essential one for anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome the unthinkable. Highly recommended.

[Miley Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not easy, but it is meaningful. It gives voice to experiences many people struggle to speak about. The emotional honesty is what makes it resonate. I appreciated how it focuses on truth and accountability rather than sensationalism. It feels like a story that needed to be told.

[Alfred Martial · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meaningful and well developed piece that shows real care and effort behind it.

[Darlene Lekowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Shattering Silence” is not an easy book, but it is an important one. Darlene Lekowski writes with courage, clarity, and deep honesty. What stayed with me most was the resilience it took to keep going—and the strength it takes to finally tell the truth. This book deepened my understanding of what people carry in silence and reminded me how powerful healing can be when truth is brought into the light. A meaningful and impactful read.

[Heidi Yewman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating. Brave, Unflinchingly honest.

In Shattering Silence, Darlene Lekowski shares her powerful story of surviving sexual abuse by two of her brothers and the long shadow it cast over her life. She sheds light on the lasting impact of sibling sexual abuse and the courage it takes to break decades of silence and seek justice. I related so much to this book and it made me think about my experience in an unexpected way.

I applaud Darlene’s bravery, persistence, and willingness to speak out when silence would have been so much easier. This is an important, deeply moving book that helps survivors feel seen and understood.

I highly recommend it.