Left / Write // Hook: Survivor Stories from a Creative Arts Boxing and Writing Project

by Donna Lyon (Editor)

LEFT / WRITE // HOOK shows that sexual abuse survivors are everywhere, that trauma lives in the body, and it needs to be expressed.

"By no choice of their own, survivors of childhood sexual abuse spend the entirety of their lives 'in the ring', fighting. Left / Write // Hook offers visceral insight into survivors' fierce, compelling and ultimately triumphant stories" --. Dr Joy Townsend, Learning Consent

"Donna Lyon has the ability to get women to open up and reveal all, and in the process begin the journey to healing. Boxing is a violent sport,

but projects like Left / Write // Hook take the violence out of it, so that it becomes therapeutic and gives you power". --Tommy Hopkins, Fitlife Boxing Club, Melbourne Australia.

Fueled with the voices and lived experiences of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, whose lives and work have been positively impacted by the combination of writing and boxing, readers will experience:

• a profound understanding of the complexity and depth of trauma through the lived experiences of survivors
• insights into the tenacious long-term impacts of abuse and trauma on the mind, body, and spirit
• personalized and collective accounts of how trauma manifests in the experiences of survivors and their sense of self
• hope and courage as to the resilience and strength of survivors who live with the daily effects of their trauma
• new insight into how the combination of physical, mental, and creative programs of expression are vital to healing
• dozens of powerful writing prompts that unearth hidden feelings, thoughts, and beliefs to recover your true self.

298 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[bimbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely difficult read for obvious reasons, but an important one nonetheless.
i recently finished a left write hook program myself & saw their recent documentary that follows the same writers in the book. i don’t think there’ll ever be adequate words to sum up not only my own experience in the program, but the experience of reading other people’s stories.
an absolute must read.

[Shana Dines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard book to read, I read it bit by bit. It is written by many survivors of sexual abuse and also ritual abuse. It is particularly hard if you are a survivor, such as I am, but it helps to know you are not alone. It also is a great way to deal with your trauma. I haven't done boxing, but I do believe it is a great way to release the pent-up anger, grief, rage, and feelings of empowerment. I definitely recommend it.

[Sweet-Unicorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this book has triggering elements. Do read with caution and take breaks if need be. This can get pretty heavy at times. With that said, it's worth a read as the information does delve very deep and has inspiration to be found, as well. Healing can be messy, and this book does not shy away from the mess.

[Caroline Laredo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, Raw, and Courageously Vulnerable
Left / Write // Hook by Donna Lyon is an extraordinary and unflinching exploration of what it means to live, heal, and rise after trauma. Combining the physical catharsis of boxing with the emotional release of writing, Lyon’s project gives voice to survivors of sexual abuse in a way that is both deeply human and profoundly hopeful.
Through candid, visceral storytelling, this book doesn’t offer easy platitudes—it meets trauma where it lives, in the body and the spirit. Each page delivers authenticity and hard-won truth, creating space for readers to witness the resilience and raw courage of survivors reclaiming power through movement, creativity, and faith. The writing prompts woven throughout are a standout feature—transforming the book from something to be read into something to be lived through.
This is not light reading, but it’s necessary and brave. For those willing to step into the ring, it offers validation, community, and the possibility of genuine healing.
Recommended for:
• Survivors: Absolutely—though best approached when emotionally ready, and ideally with supportive tools or a therapist nearby. It can be confronting but ultimately empowering.
• Supporters, advocates, and professionals: Equally valuable. It helps illuminate the lived realities of trauma and the holistic ways healing can occur—through body, mind, and creative expression.
Key takeaway:
Healing is not linear, and strength is not silent. Through physical and creative expression, survivors can transform pain into purpose and reclaim their power—one word, one punch, one act of courage at a time.