Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Raising Awareness and Taking Action to Prevent Childhood Sexual Abuse

by Daniel Pearse

The latest statistics tell us that one out of three girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused before the age of eighteen, destroying their lives in ways we can’t even imagine. We also know that 90 percent of the time, victims know their abuser.Daniel Pearse is living proof of both these statistics. He and his brother were sent to live with a pedophile after their mother died. For nine years, Daniel suffered sexual, physical, emotional, mental, and verbal abuse at the hands of his tormentor.Like many abused children, Daniel then suffered in silence for decades as an adult. Now, he’s committed to stopping the cycle of abuse that causes so much pain.Breaking the Cycle of Silence proposes age-appropriate sexual abuse training and education in schools. It teaches children what is appropriate, shows adults the signs of abuse to look for, and offers sources of support for victims. With such training and education, we can identify and stop abusers, preventing them from claiming victim after victim for years.

Genres: Nonfiction

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2020

Reviews

[MochaLatte's Book Hut · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All we need to do is take one small step at a time. Together, through our stories, we can begin to heal, open the world's eyes, and help prevent child sexual abuse."

Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Raising Awareness and Taking Action to Prevent Childhood Sexual Abuse is written by Daniel Pearse, a sexual abuse survivor who wants to make a change and to prevent child sexual abuse. Consisted of 5 chapters with the first 3 chapters is more to Daniel's personal experience during his childhood until he managed to survive from it. And the 2 last chapters are more about some guides and a 'to-do' list to prevent it.

As the author had stated in this book,
-1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday
-30% of children are abused by family members
-As many as 60% are abused by people the family trusts
-About 35% of victims are 11 years old or younger.
-Nearly 40% are abused by older or larger children.

The statistics given are solid proof that child sexual abuse has become more rampant and if action is not taken, this issue will become more serious. As a survivor himself, Daniel develops this wonderful book in order to erase the stigma and shame that come with sexual abuse. It also aims to help survivors continue to heal and the most important is to raise awareness about sexual abuse and what should do to prevent it.

I like how the author using reflectional approaches to shared his own experiences when he was sexually abused during his childhood and the struggles. I adore his courage to tells it in this book and how he managed to escape from it. Since this issue is some kind of a heavy topic and not everyone who faced the same experience can narrate it the same way as him. But it can be understandable since many of them are still struggling with the psychological trauma because of it. However, with this book, the author expressed hope that it will inspire them to heal and lives a normal life like most people. As saying goes, sharing is caring.

Besides, the author also stressed the active role that needs to be taken by parents in their children's lives as stated in Chapter 4. A good and honest relationship is needed but one day they will live their own life. But with the educations and tools that they need, they can deal with an abusive situations. They also should be able to explore and form their own personalities. Not the others form the child's personality. The educators and teachers play an important role too since them is like second parents to the children's in school and they also responsible to create a healthy surrounding for the children to learn and explore the world. Because of that, the educators should be equipped with the tools they need to recognize the signs of warning of potential child sexual abuse. Daniel also believes that an age-appropriate educational program will be helping.

I can say that this book really opens my mind and makes me more understand about this issue. It is a universal issue that occurs in many places or surroundings regardless of the cultural or socioeconomic background. With the author's experience too, we can understand their struggles and horrible feelings, and it can grow some empathy to them. It doesn't mean that they need to be pitied as the author had stated in the introduction but to inspire others to take some actions to prevents the same pattern occurs again in the future.

Finally, I am really impressed with this book. Many things that I learned from it. It also provided several resources and references about child sexual abuse and what we need to know about it. Most of it refers to abuses that occur in Canada or the United States but whether we live in Canada or in the most remote places like Tristan da Cunha or in a most highly developed city like Tokyo or New York City, as I said earlier, this issue is universal and society must aware about it. I really recommended this book for anyone who managed to survives it or anybody who is concerned or interested in the issue. Because of it, I am not hesitant to give my 5-star to this book and a great appreciation for the author for his efforts to deliver his message through this book.

[Hendrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

//Review Copy by Booktasters//

I found the book really good. This is mainly due to the description of the sexual abuse of the author. The hard, shattering story of his abuse moved me to tears, which made me as a youth group leader think even more about these circumstances and how affected people behave after such an event.
The book was written in an understandable way and led me through the author's story with a common thread. The only shortcoming for me is the statistical composition at the end, which is interesting to compare, but in this case is not applicable to other countries and therefore other reader groups.
The book is therefore a 4 out of 5 stars

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just accessed the book and can already tell I'm gonna love this and it's going to break my heart 3:17 pm
"But the real question was why now?"
I was sexually assaulted as a child by my dad and this book has definitely resonated with me
"I justified the abuse to myself by saying" "someone always has it worse" hit me so hard I used to tell myself this all the time when I'd have breakdowns due to the trauma
"A pedophiles playground"
The switch in Edith reminded me of my own mom Edith seemed more like a mom making and scooping ice cream just like my mom when she cooked
"I didnt realize yet what he was doing was wrong as that's how he groomed me"
Wooden spoons to metal spoons hit hard for me (no pun intended) I hate to see someone else had to go through this
"If you've ever been hit like that, you'll understand"
Around page 52 I was really hoping Peter would somehow just die he didn't deserve to be a parent
Fred came into the story I had a suspicion he wasn't a good guy and boom you guessed it he wasn't what the actual fuck
Perverts run in packs has got to be the truest sentence I've ever heard
I punched the air once Daniel got away from the abuse got a job a girlfriend and a car I'm so proud.
Steve was the lifesaver in this story I absolutely adore this
The police officers who invesgated this situation are sad excuses of police

If you think you're in love with someone you owe it to eachother to at least try
The impact statements were somewhat healing to read I wish I got that chance.

I rate it a 5/5 100% for how touching this was

Thank you so much to Daniel and Booktasters for letting me be apart of this

[tristinrose]

First and foremost, I'd like to applaud Daniel Pearse for sharing his story with us. As mentioned in the book, it isn't an easy thing to tell your story (but the stigma around that should be changed).

I don't feel super comfortable adding a star/number rating to this book since it is a true story and educational. But I would definitely recommend everyone read this, especially if you have any children in your life.

I really appreciate hearing Daniel's survival story and his strength in writing this book and fighting to educate the future to lessen the affects of sexual abuse for children.

The formatting and timeline was a bit confusing and hard to follow, but I understand this subject could be hard to write about chronologically and also memories don't always happen linearly.

If there was a revised edition, I think it would be helpful for the reference section to be organized better and for the story to be a little more linear as there were a lot of dates and names to try to remember and understand what was happening. Also, if there is ever a future updated version, it would be great to have

All that being said, I highly recommend this book. It is a fairly quick read with a lot of important information. Education is a great first step to protect our children and prevent future abuse.

[thank you to Daniel Pearse & Booktasters for providing me a copy of this book]

[Diana Park]

I think it is important to point out the cleverness of the design in this book, which globally attacks the subject of child sexual abuse dividing it in two main sections: One in which the author tells his painful experience of a young life torn by abuse - immerse in denial and shame - and how it was possible to overcome it, and a last section that is very, very important because it is full of information: statistics, reports, recovery measures and tips for both parents and children specially in recognising the early signs of abuse and pedophiles...

Personally, I felt that the testimony part was a bit difficult to read. However, I think this book is imperative in our society - as every book of the sort that addresses this matter. There is so much to do. The author's goal, to advocate for awareness and stop child abuse, makes him create a piece that could become a helpful and powerful tool to society... creating awareness, removing prejudice and taboo and also giving the importance that such a crucial matter must have.

I would recommend this book to everyone so that we all as a society will make a step forward in stopping child abuse or, at least, preventing it, to be ready to recognising, detecting early signs... I think this book makes it clear: child sexual abuse is not something of a private matter but a public, social one, a problem we have to solve as a whole.

After reading this book I am truly confident that we must rise awareness every time we can and do something about it now.

Thank you.

[Books I · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so hard to read, but also needed to be read and it is so good, but heartbreaking, which is not weird considering the theme of the book.

This story of abuse brought me to tears and broke my heart. Obviously this books talks about sexual abuse of children, so trigger warning for that but I would definietly recommend this book. It was eye opening and a reality check.

It is heartbreaking to realize that so many children are victims of sexual abuse, even nowadays.

Once again, recommend this book to everyone

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it opened my eyes to a serious issue that affects many people. The author shares his own personal story of abuse and recovery, as well as the stories of other survivors, in an honest, courageous, and compassionate way. He also provides practical advice and resources for parents, educators, and professionals on preventing, detecting, and responding to child sexual abuse. This book is not only informative but also inspiring and empowering. It shows how breaking the cycle of silence can lead to healing, justice, and hope for a better future.

[Prashanth Bhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like blunt force hit to gut. Straightforward. Childhood abuse is very rarely discussed topic. In my country it almost goes unnoticed. But the trauma. That's real. Liked the book.

[Nicole Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review of Breaking the Cycle of Silence by Nicole Harmon Kurtz

Title: Breaking the Cycle of Silence raising awareness and taking action to prevent childhood sexual abuse
Author: Daniel L. Pearse
Publication Date: 2020
Publisher: Houndstooth Press



Rating: 5 stars
Warning: This book review may have triggers for the persons who have been or are being sexually abused. If that happens please contact the following number and/or email for assistance: RAINN 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). www.rainn.org.
Book blurb: "The abuse was well established by the time I was seven. I know this because when I was in grade two, some friends and I were talking, saying things that grade two boys say, "I saw my aunt kiss my uncle," or, "I saw my mom kiss my dad on the lips." …Wanting to one-up them and not be left out, I said, "Well, my – "but then I caught myself. I paused for a brief moment, and again I repeated, "Well, my---" I caught myself again; that's all I could get out." P33 Chapter 2
From a very young age, the author Daniel Pearse learned that some things were taboo in action and discussion. But he feels now as an older man that idea of thinking was wrong. And he feels that way based on his upbringing.
He and his twin Thomas were orphaned at the age of 4 and went to live with family members on his mother's side. That was the beginning of his abuse. The uncle was a pedophile and to his way of thinking a pedophile certified by the province of British Columbia in Canada. Over the years Thomas, Daniel, and other family members were abused by the uncle. And his aunt had her way of abusing them. What the two got out of it was an education that almost didn't happen had they stayed at the school they were subsequently taken out of after an incident where another family member was accused of wrongdoing. The two twins paid with their education.
By the time he was an adult and married, he knew that there were certain parts of him that Daniel couldn't show to his then-wife who is now his ex-wife. But for the time that they lived together, they raised two children along with his current wife.
At the end of the novel, you can glimpse what it is to live under the fear rule and what it means to keep a secret of such magnitude. You the reader can also glimpse what their life has been affected as an adult living with the secret. Does he do it to his children? He doesn't mention that he does. He probably goes out of his way to do it to his children. Most little girls don't like the daddy's hand between their legs when they carry them in one hand. They cry.
My analysis of this novel is short. I gave this book five stars because it takes a lot to admit this happened when you held it in for years. I also thank his family for coming forward to him and saying I did report it but nothing changed because they did not charge him. The book is written well with no misunderstood words and no misunderstood connotations—just plain and simple text. I also like the way he arranged it and how he ended it using his current relationships with his wife and daughters.
Do I think that this book is worth a read? Yes. Do I think it will have an influence? Yes, but a small one. I hope that the small difference ends up being a big difference.
Thanks to Daniel L. Pearse and Booktasters for gifting me this book to read. I had to write the review as written because to do it differently would not have been me.

[Iamlindseyel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Breaking the Cycle of Silence" by Daniel Pearse is a powerful and necessary book that addresses the urgent issue of childhood sexual abuse with a focus on raising awareness and promoting proactive measures to prevent such abuse.

In this insightful and comprehensive work, Pearse delves into the sensitive and often difficult-to-discuss topic of childhood sexual abuse. Drawing from his extensive experience as a therapist and advocate, he approaches the subject with empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of the profound impact it has on survivors and society as a whole.

One of the notable strengths of the book is its commitment to raising awareness. Pearse provides a wealth of information, statistics, and real-life stories that shed light on the prevalence and devastating consequences of childhood sexual abuse. By presenting this information in a sensitive and accessible manner, he breaks the silence surrounding the issue, creating a space for open conversation and understanding.

The author goes beyond raising awareness and provides practical guidance on how individuals and communities can take action to prevent and combat childhood sexual abuse. Pearse offers valuable insights into recognizing signs of abuse, providing support to survivors, and implementing preventive strategies. His approach emphasizes the importance of education, communication, and fostering safe environments where children can thrive and feel protected.

Throughout the book, Pearse maintains a compassionate and supportive tone. He addresses the needs of survivors, validating their experiences, and offering guidance on healing and recovery. His empathetic approach encourages survivors to break free from the cycle of silence and empowers them to seek help and support.

Moreover, Pearse addresses the societal aspects surrounding childhood sexual abuse, including the role of institutions, legal systems, and community support networks. He highlights the significance of holding perpetrators accountable and advocating for changes that protect vulnerable children and support survivors.

The writing style in "Breaking the Cycle of Silence" is clear, engaging, and accessible to both professionals in the field and general readers who may have limited knowledge of the topic. Pearse balances the use of personal stories, research findings, and practical advice, creating a well-rounded narrative that engages and educates readers.

In conclusion, "Breaking the Cycle of Silence" is an essential book that confronts the grave issue of childhood sexual abuse with sensitivity, expertise, and a call to action. Daniel Pearse's work serves as a valuable resource for raising awareness, supporting survivors, and creating a society where the cycle of silence is broken. This book is a crucial tool for individuals, communities, and institutions dedicated to preventing and addressing childhood sexual abuse.


Note: It's important to approach this topic with sensitivity and trigger warnings, as it may be distressing for some readers.

[Daegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank Booktasters and Daniel for sharing this beautiful book. This book just came in at the right time for me.

As someone with a bit of a similar experience with the author (I will try to be as less biased as possible with this review), it's very reassuring and comforting to find survivors opening up and sharing their experiences. Victims rarely do this for several reasons, but for the most part, they are reluctant to share their experiences because of the stigma surrounding it.

As the book mentioned, 30% of children are abused by family members and 60% are abused by people the family trusts. That in itself is a definition of an "internal" family problem and most family members would rather bury the problem for two reasons. First, people (friends, families, or the people within the victim's inner circle) in most cases do not know how to react or comfort victims when they open up about their experiences. Most family members are not appropriately equipped enough to help the victim heal, and that in itself can be a hindrance to letting the victim heal properly. Second, some families are very particular about their reputation and would encourage the matter to be hidden and forgotten due to the possibility of society finding out and ostracizing them about it. It can't be avoided, but there is this heavy amount of shame and guilt the family carries if the victim's situation were discovered by society. Overall, neither of these two things actually helps the victim heal. These are just more likely to encourage repression, and eventually mental health problems for the victim in the near future This is just as exactly as what happened with the author's nephew in the book, with his suicide attempt .

I am very glad that this book was published, as this has also helped me enlighten some things that I'm also going through. I definitely encourage everyone to read this. The book is not that long so please kindly read it. It's even divided into parts chronologically, so it's really easy to follow through. To be honest, the book's tone can feel a bit emotionally detached in some ways (I would understand, as it's very difficult to write about things that are very traumatizing. You need a little amount of detachment in order to not let it consume you), but you could see that this book was written for the sole purpose of the general population to understand that victims need your help. Not only do they need your help in preventing these things from happening again in the future, but they also need your help in understanding them as most of them are having a hard time understanding themselves.


So yeah, please do get a copy of this book. You might never know, this might help you save someone's life.

[NANNYANGA Restetuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I hope you, the reader take serious steps educating yourself about child sexual abuse prevention and recognition. I hope you’ll help educate the children in your life and help prevent them from being harmed. I hope you’ll help raise awareness to end the stigma”
Daniel L. Pearse

Reality has it that this is the first heart wrecking novel I have read so far! I didn’t see this coming but toxicity is out there in its concentrated amounts and people are suffering and enduring such situations. Daniel, a sexual abuse survivor gives us a first hand experience of growing up and living with pedophiles and the ripple effects.

Losing his mother at an early age led to his family being split having him and his brother Thomas being sent to a foster family of a one toxic Peter and Edith who later on chose to adopt the both of them. Unfortunately, they landed in the den of child molesters! Peter molested the boys and Edith who ideally knew about what was happening chose to keep quiet in fear of her own security. Many more boys who were fostered by this same family faced the same horror of sexual abuse until a one Paul chose to break the cycle of the silence from all the boys. Daniel shares the ripple effects from the molestation and the effects of not standing up to talk about the molestation to the authorities when he had the opportunity.

Daniel later meets his father, and the rest of his brothers, Micheal and John who had been fostered in a different home and they live and estranged life given a longer life lived apart, they however try to patch the time that was lost all those years. The effects of the molestation follow him even in his marriage, two fail because of emotional issues his spouses did not know and which he never wanted to talk to them about.

Daniel, to break that cycle of silence and child abuse, he chooses love and be very intentional with how he brings up his own children so as to protect them from anything that could be similar to what he faced in his childhood.

If there is anything that has taught me empathy, it is this book! Its emotionally hurting to listen to such things and its unimaginable that they are happening to people in reality. The best we can do is helping them if we see any, educating our selves to acquire the necessary skills and become more knowledgeable on how to deal with such situations !

“When you have been in an abusive situation, it is vital you talk to someone you trust and then someone who has an experience in recognizing abusive situations and the best ways forward”
Daniel L.Pearse

[Ruth Prime-Flore Desravines · Rating 5 out of 5]

It always break my heart when I hear of sexual abuse in general. But in the case of a child, I can't even imagine the horror and the despair they go through. Everytime I read a story like this, I tell myself I wish I could do something. So it's admirable to see people who went through such pain can have the courage to share their story and raise awareness about it.

"Breaking the cycle of silence : Raising Awareness and Taking Action to Prevent Childhood Sexual Abuse" is written by Daniel Pearse, himself a survivor of sexual abuse. The book is divided into two big parts.

In the first chapters, he shares his own story. He relates how he has been raised in a dysfunctional family after her mother passed away and how he has been abused for years by his stepfather Peter, a serial child molester. Through the pages, he demonstrate the silence observed around that matter and the possible complicity of Peter's wife and surrounding, even though the signs of sexual abuses were often obvious. The author himself tells us how he didn't speak up when Peter was accused by one of his foster children and as a result, Peter remained free until his death. From what I have heard and from what I've read in the book, breaking the silence is crucial if we want to do something about child sexual abuses. These cases are more common than we thought and they can happen anywhere.

The second part of the book is more a guide and a list of ressources to educate on the subject. It was really useful to read even though it is centered on Canada & the US.
We need to create a safer environment for children worldwide and teach them properly about the issue. And if you see something, say something! You can save a life. A future.

I am glad I read this book and everyone should. It can be used as a beginner guide on child sexual abuse. The author did a decent job in writing this book. There were a few annoying repetition and the writing style could be better however it was easy to read. And in this case for me the story was the most important.

I thank Booktasters and the author for giving a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

And one last thing, I am not Canadian but I fully support the Daniel's law.

[Sarah Adebesin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For something so life-wrenching, child sexual abuse is not talked about enough. Only if society care more to understand the weight that it creates, then we’d treat cases more diligently.

This book is a reality check. It's also an eye-opener. It reveals how child sexual abuse does not only affect the victim but also affects everyone around, and the tendency to affect the victim's future relationships. This is to say that the harm done is not just to the victim, but it's also to society, and the world at large. A broken person is a broken family, and no society can flourish when there is no family to begin with, or when it's full of dysfunctional ones. Child sexual abuse is truly one of the worst experiences that one can ever live with.

In the book, the author, Daniel Pearse accounts his life experience of being a victim of child sexual abuse. He briefly takes us through his earliest days with his biological parents, the loss of his mom which resulted in him and his twin brother ending up as foster kids to Peter and Edith, the perpetrators.

It's so sad because a child somewhere is currently having a similar experience. The statistics show how rampant it is in every corner of the society.

The world at large is a pedophile's playground, and whether we like it or not, society’s actions or inaction toward seriously tackling this affects us. This book is a testament to that.

In a morally bankrupt world, the little we can do is be more intentional in learning about societal issues, particularly the ones that impact children in their formative years. We need to plant the seed of precaution, empathy, and care in ourselves, our wards, and everyone around us. We need to STOP the stigmatization.

“Breaking the cycle of silence” is a wake-up call.
I wish that more people get to read it. I’d share and recommend it.

The author shared some organizations and links in Canada that are working in the capacity of tackling child sexual abuse. I think it'd be helpful, particularly for readers from that region.

Thank you, Booktasters for sharing this with me.

[Krishnakanth Kurumeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content in this book is like a reality check or a checkpoint, one which everybody needs to stop and ponder the situation, implications and the significance - personally at individual degree as well as at societal level. This book hits you, at all the right places and some that are not right

Let me split the review into two parts - content and written quality

Content:
I like (or rather feel depressed) the way Daniel addresses the issue. His personal experience, his stages of dealing with it - denial mostly, anger at the later stages and acceptance at the end. It's gut wrenching how normalized the abuse had been that he was facing. The personal struggles were unbelievable, and then we are exasperated by the gut-wrenching facts that were added as a support.
Daniel is doing a good thing by volunteering to improve the situation in his country by doing his bit. We can only imagine how bad the situations would be in places where the laws and support networks are not as prevalent as in Canada

Written Quality:
It's good that the author chose to write it himself. And I liked the way he wrote it - based on his personal experiences completely and grounded in reality. But that could be a bane to the popularity of this book. In terms of written quality, I found a couple of improvements needed for a wider reach of the content. Perhaps an assistance of a more experienced author/writing assistant would have made this book slightly better
1. He needs to make it a bit more dramatic to engage the viewers and thereby ensuring the recommendations and spread of the content
2. Some parts of the book are repetitive. I guess a better editing would have resulted in a better book

I agree those above points are negligible compared to the informative content we get from the book, my only point to it would make this a bit more immersive and more popular

But it's a must read for people all over the world, especially where child abuse laws are not very strongly established

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is heartbreaking to realize that so many children are victims of sexual abuse, even nowadays. When you've been through so much pain (and that pain is been caused, in most cases, by someone you know or trust), it is very hard to continue living as if nothing happened. That's why it is extremely important to be aware of what's happening to the people (specially children) around us and do our best to detect and prevent this kind of behavior.

The author is a sexual abuse survivor and has decided to write this book, on the one hand, to share his story and, on the other hand, to show the reader how to prevent sexual abuse. Firstly, he shares his story: how he went living with some relatives and how he was sexually abused for nine years. Then he continues with his life as an adult and tells how the trauma he suffered as a child is still there and has affected him when taking certain decisions. Finally, he provides some (horrendous) statistics about sexual abuse and gives advice on how we can act to prevent this terrible behavior from happening.

I “liked” this book because it shows the harsh reality of a problem that is, sadly, very present in our society, and learning the hard way about this is the “best” way to make us react. The advice he offers at the end is very helpful for the people who want to participate in sexual abuse prevention initiatives.

However, in my opinion the last part of the book (chapters 4 and 5) is a bit repetitive. Yes, it is necessary to be aware of the reality of sexual abuse in order to prevent it from happening, but it seemed to me that the writing of this last part was somehow disorganized and impulsive. The same statistics can be read multiple times in 30-40 pages, and that makes the reading slow. That’s the reason my rating is 4 / 5.

[Rohandip Samanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a deep yet enriching read I'm extremely humbled to know what the author had to go through in his childhood. It's not easy for a child sexual abuse victim to open up themselves to the world. And such has been the story of the author. Yet, even in such circumstances, it was relieving to know how each of these issues were tackled at each phases. But the best part about this book is the concept of awareness.

It's not so common to be fully aware of one's childhood trauma. Although without any awareness, it's is solely difficult for us or any survivors to function in a healthy society. Part of why I liked this book in the first place is because of it's linkage to childhood events. As a reader myself, I too have been keen to explore my own childhood. To be able to know the roots of oneself is alone the path to liberation from one's pain.

There were a few pages that I found extremely helpful for myself. The section in the chapter Life after Trauma where the author answers the self-reflective questions regarding his past is impeccably educative for one's own self. Sometimes it's necessary for us to question our construct and the identity. Knowing ourselves helps us to see things as they're and not as we want them to be. Along with that, the section where the author had a revelatory talk with his family member Jack also enlightened me that we are not alone. That there are people who are willing to open up.

There are many parts in this book I want to talk about but it's not always possible. At least the best reward I got was to become aware of a topic as sensitive as this. Being on the same side, I advocate without a thought that education on any disorder or abuse is necessary. If we want to foster a healthy society, it is our duty to do the work, which in this case is education and awareness.

[Augustine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Raising Awareness and Taking Action to Prevent Childhood Sexual Abuse" by Daniel Pearse offers a crucial introduction to the issue of child sexual abuse. It aims to uncover this sensitive topic, increase awareness, and inspire action to protect children.

One notable aspect of the book is its focus on the importance of ending the silence around child sexual abuse. By urging survivors to share their experiences and seek support, the author stresses the necessity of addressing this issue openly and providing assistance to those impacted.

Moreover, the book suggests the necessity for education and training to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse. Through Daniel's Law, the proposal advocates for age-appropriate sexual abuse education in schools, potentially empowering individuals to intervene and safeguard children.

However, the book falls short in providing concrete details on prevention strategies beyond raising awareness and education. While these steps are vital, exploring additional measures like community programs or counseling services could enhance prevention efforts.

Furthermore, the book lacks a thorough examination of the root causes and risk factors associated with child sexual abuse. Understanding these aspects could lead to more targeted prevention approaches and a deeper understanding of the issue.

Lastly, the book overlooks potential obstacles or drawbacks in implementing Daniel's Law or similar legislation. Considering the feasibility and potential challenges could strengthen the effectiveness of such initiatives.

In summary, while the book introduces an essential topic and stresses the urgency of breaking the silence on child sexual abuse, it could benefit from a more comprehensive exploration of prevention strategies, deeper analysis of underlying causes, and consideration of implementation challenges.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by Booktasters to review and will attempt to give my honest opinion on it.

It takes great strength for someone who has been through such a harrowing childhood of abuse to take the steps to recovery and then to also take up the challenge of telling their story as a cautionary tale to other adults / teachers / people in authority to prevent the perpetuation of this violence. In this the author has succeeded.

The book has no pretentions to literary greatness, but unfortunately as a work of literature it fails, probably not through the fault of the author but due to little to no sensitive editorship prior to its publication. The book is unnecessarily long and repetitive without a compelling thread to it and would have benefited from guidance by joining a writing group or a professional hand in rendering it a more enduring work.

The second part, with the statistics and more information around the general subject of child abuse was very localised to the Canadian experience and would have benefited from being more than just a washing list of information that could be gleaned from a quick google search. This section would have benefited from the author's experience and gone into more generic detail on how a victim could advocate for themselves and the steps, physical and emotional that would need to be gone through in order to convict the abuser as well as the steps necessary for self-healing on the part of the victim.
A better graphical interface in this section as well as information being presented as infographics would have benefited it being a useful tool for educators for example.

Again, a worthy book that could have been better written and particularly better edited so that it would be more timeless and useful.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in return for an honest review.

This is a nonfiction written in first-person about the author's life experience and mission as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. The first few chapters are an autobiography that helped give context of both some good memories and the truly horrid ones. Honestly, I shouldn't have to go into much detail due to the title; the author was straight forward in expressing the trauma that was their childhood, but also its effect on their adult relationships.

What I did "like" (I use this loosely because you can't like abuse) about this book is the author's words felt honest, biased, and fluid. It moved/flowed quickly, I wouldn't say its a timeline fashion, however, it doesn't stray from the overall message. The last two chapters, the author's discusses the journey of making a stand towards recognizing the system is beyond broken and children are fallen into the fray. It provides some websites and statistics from their research, and gives ways for people to make a difference.

What I didn't like about this read...I wouldn't say that the story is biased and one-sided as a dislike. Really the view is quite personal and some of the terms were just ones the author used for their story. As a person with a psychology background, I would have liked some of the psychological research that has been done in helping prevent childhood sexual abuse and "signs to recognize" a possible child in need. Please don't think I am saying that this is a major dislike within the book; I only mention it as a way forward for future works or takeaways after one finishes this book.

I gave this book 4 stars as I will not reread this book. It is a good read for those who are looking at how to make a difference or references to appropriate websites in prevention and statistics.

[lea ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every step you take, you are helping rescue a child and deliver them a better future.”

Booktasters sent me this book and i am very grateful to them for it. such an important read, filled with ressources for both parents/caretakers and survivors. as an abuse survivor myself, it meant a lot to read from another survivor with a different experience yet very similar because abusers use the same tactics. it’s easy to feel all alone in this world when you have been abused, the first part of abuse, the one that makes it last is isolation. your abuser isolates you from everyone & everything around you, so you cannot share and relate to anyone. books like these remind you you are in fact, not alone. and you have never been alone. this book was easy to read, for it was well written and filled with sincerity and genuineness. it was packed with ways to help and inform, i admire his determination to help other kids, other survivors so they don’t have to go through he had to go through. i believe every parent/caretaker should inform their kids of everything Daniel Pearse talked about in this book, i also appreciated how he explained the different ways you would depending on your kid’s age and the different signs that come with sexual abuse depending on how old they are. all in all, it was a great read that i would recommend to survivors, anyone who works with children, has a child or plans to have children/take care of children one day. i am wishing all the best to the author and every survivor who might pass by, there is a better future ahead

[Curtis Kack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking the Cycle of silence… by Daniel Pearse is a book which introduces us to the story of a man whose childhood was stolen by a sexual abuser. As a child, the author was not abused by a stranger but by a person he knew so well. A person who ought to love him, who ought to take care of him, who ought to cherish him, a person he called “dad.” Through out the book the author wonders if this sexual abuse was not done with the complicity of his wife, for how can a man be sexually abusing children for about half a decade with his wife not knowing. The wife herself is not described by the author as the mother of the year. She is verbally violent and physically violent too. She used foster children as a means of revenue just as their goats and cows.
From the book we can understand why it is difficult for molested children to speak up. Firstly, most of them blame themselves, but also how will you trust a system which has sent you to hell by letting irresponsible people adopt children. Mr. Pearse also tell us that most of sexual abusers are siblings or people we know already, and when the people you trust the most disappoint you it is difficult to trust anyone. In short, undaunted, Daniel Pearse makes himself the voice of the voiceless. He ends the book by helping parents to communicate with their children on these issues but also to be able to handle them when confronted to problems of sexual abuse. As an elder brother and a future parent, the book speaks to me because I know that there are wolves hanging around dressed in shepherd’s clothing and so we ought to be vigilant.

[Niharika Rathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book written about sexual abuse of children, by someone who himself was sexually abused as a child. I think that is the point that changes everything. This author uses his own experience as fuel to rage against the sexual abuse of children. It raises awareness about how to identify and prevent it and how to reduce it. A book with 5 chapters, the first 3 are more focused on the author's own struggle against sexual abuse in his childhood and the latter 2 are guides to prevent it.

As a survivor, Daniel's perspective makes this book worth a read. Sexual abuse of children, especially within their own homes is a rising issue that needs to be faced and stopped. Right now. Children of younger ages are easy targets for predators, as they do not understand, or the incident does not register to them as wrong. This leaves them feeling shame or confusion.

The author reflects on his own experiences to write this book. He emphasizes that parents should pay close attention to their child's safety. He also believes that teachers should be well-equipped to identify signs of any sexual abuse to children. Also, children should be given an age-appropriate program about this topic.

This book teaches one many things about a social issue that should not be ignored. It gives information about sexual abuse of children that is mind-opening. I would really recommend this book to everyone

[Divya Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many kinds of books / stories - ranging from too good to very bad and occasionally some that you can't finish (they are so much worse). But once is a while you come across a book that you cannot put down but still wish that this book didn't need to be written. Abuse of any kind physical, mental or sexual is horrific at any age but at the age when kids don't even know the complete meaning of sexual acts are subjected to sexual abuse , it becomes more traumatic. The best thing about this book is that the author neither asks for pity or sympathy just wants the world to acknowledge that CSA happens and not turn a blind eye or deaf ear to it. He pitches for age appropriate sex education and awareness about this much avoided topic.
He advocates that kids be educated about it as per their age so they can recognise abuse and not be silent and guilty about it. And this is true about one country but entire world as well. Now a days I know of some parents and schools that teach small children difference between "Good" and "Bad" touch and this is absolutely necessary. Yes it is high time to break this cycle of silence.
This book is not only a must read for CSA survivors but also for parents, guardians, teachers and counselors or anyone who works with kids how important this is.
Thanks @BookTasters for this book

[Immortal Writings · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Breaking the cycle of silence' is a very fitting title for this book, as the author has mainly focused on voicing the issues, he is simply asking;
"Why is everyone silent?"
"Why is not anyone asking questions?"
"Why the victims/survivors are silent?"
"Why people are ignoring the obvious signs?"
"Why are you suffering alone?"

Daniel has suffered sexual and mental abuse in his childhood by his adoptive parents, he has penned down his journey of trauma and recovery. By sharing his life experiences he is trying to spread the importance of speaking, if it's only to a friend. His only motive is to break the vicious cycle of abuse. The book is not surrounded by author's pity but the questions and measures we can take for preventing the abuse and taking action.

In this book he has included some statistics, reports, recovery measures and tip for both parents and children specially in recognising the early signs of abuse and pedophiles. I will recommend this book to not only CSA survivors but everyone, so that they know their surroundings.

I am sure this book is going to be a great support in your recovery path and let you know that you are not alone. Also inspire you to SPEAK.

And thank you Daniel for an excellent initiative of "Daniel's Law". I really hope that you succeed in making this law a reality.

[Ahmed Gharib · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, the book was discussing an important idea and problem that does not receive much attention. I think this is due to embarrassment or because most people do not have the courage to talk about something like this that happened to them, and of course this is something that is not easy for them to talk about, but if no one talks about a topic like this, the problem will be bigger , I respect the author for talking about a topic like this, but the narration in the book was kind of boring and I didn’t feel like I wanted to continue reading the book. It had a lot of details in his childhood. I do not think that it added anything important to the book, and after that, the most important period in which sexual abuse occurred, and the period of age 20 and above, was not adequately given its due, and also the sequence of events was not in the best shape. At times, I did not know how old the writer was in the period he talks about.I also found repetition in describing and talking about people who were talked about and known, such as the people who adopted him.The book also taught me how people who have been sexually abused feel and how they suffer.It was a good thing that the author added more books on the same topic and articles that I find useful for people who are more interested in the topic.

[Aparajita Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about Daniel, his life before and after he met his foster father Peter. A survivor story in his own words. When I pick the book, I knew what I might get into but word after word it becomes a little difficult to continue.
Why? Because the blatant truth it speaks. The story is set in Canada but is applicable to the whole world. A pedophile's playground become the hell for Daniel and his siblings and all the unknown victims who I really hope have found some solace.
There is no happy ending, no justice. Just an attempt by Daniel to make a difference and raise awareness of how we can protect the children.
We adults are the only one who can take initiative and create a safe haven for all children.
The book has shown how a survivor is taught not to share things and we can always question how can such a person remain at large for so long. It's because we turn blind eye to things that doesn't concern us.
It's sad but it is true. Only if one person reach out to these children and ask them, they will be able to know their story. But we don't ask and we don't listen.
I really like the book and the message it is trying to send. And I also think that teaching the kids from the young age about their bodies and what is right and wrong can help.

[Thea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

"Breaking the Cycle of Silence" by Daniel Pearse is a must-read for anyone concerned about the issue of childhood sexual abuse. The book offers a thoughtful and comprehensive view of the problem, and provides practical steps that parents, educators, and others can take to prevent it.

The author's writing style is clear and engaging, making the book accessible to anyone interested in learning more about this important topic. Pearse's insights are based on extensive research and interviews with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as well as professionals who work with victims and abusers.

One of the key strengths of this book is Pearse's focus on prevention. He offers specific strategies that parents, educators, and others can use to protect children from sexual abuse, such as teaching children about personal boundaries, recognizing signs of abuse, and reporting suspected abuse to authorities.

Overall, "Breaking the Cycle of Silence" is a powerful and insightful book that should be required reading for anyone who cares about the safety and well-being of children. I highly recommend it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a whole lot of emotions expressed and unexpressed in this book. One cannot begin to imagine what a child would feel living among untrustworthy and abusive adults. As an adult, we would say do what is best for your mental health and if you're in a place where you're not valued, leave. But what does a child do in such situation? A child who has nowhere else to go and should be protected by those he calls "parents"?

Breaking the Cycle of Silence is a tough book, and Daniel Pearse did a great work by it. Coming out to talk about his experience with abuse is in itself a tough one because of the stigma around such things, yet he did that as his own part to play to prevent child sexual abuse.

This book should be read by all adults and should be distributed around. Whether you are a parent or not, this book is for you. To help your children, wards and the children around you.

The book contains guides to help adults who have been abused as children, parents or guardians whose children or wards have been abused, adults who want to prevent children from experiencing child sexual abuse. It's a book for all and as an adult, what is the biggest role you should have than to protect the most vulnerable among us — children?

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to praise the author first for his bravery to speak up as it one of the most important things to do if one ever sexually abused. This book show how hard it is for someone who suffered through it and how hard it is to forget even after decades of the events. And how it affects the victims journey in growing up, resulting in barricades oneself against people and emotionally detached from others as an adult. This book offers help to the victims and to every reader who wants to be educated about child sexual abuse, this book has every resources and sites that can help every victim and what to do as a parent whose child is sexually abused. How to deal with it as a victim and as a guardian. What i will always remember from the book is to always believe the children and tell them it’s not their fault. Mutual trust is important, if they telling us the truth, we should be able to be truthful to them too about our situation as an adult and how we can help the child.

Overall this book is helpful and raised my awareness of child sexual abuse, a topic that is hard and barely talked about. I didn’t realize how important it is to be aware of child or any sexual abuse, and it happened a lot where i live. It’s true they will never stop if they didn’t get caught.