Afraid

by Sharon McGovern

At the age of four years old Sharon McGovern knew that her new stepfather was doing something he shouldn't, touching her in the wrong way and threatening her so she wouldn't tell her Mommy. At the age of 10 Sharon was raped by this monster, Michael Garvey, in a bed where her older and younger brother were sleeping. It was an act of unspeakable cruelty. And it was the beginning—every night Sharon would hear the floorboards creak; every night Sharon lay awake, praying tonight he would be quick and the nightmare would be over. The abuse Sharon suffered went on for 13 years. She reached out to a counselor, the very first adult she had ever told of the abuse, and he told her not to tell such lies and never to speak of it again. And she didn't until the day, 40 years later, a fellow victim of Garvey—his own younger brother—arrived at her door to tell her he was going to the police to report his brother for raping him. The report went nowhere and Sharon knew it was up to her to cage this pedophile for good. With unprecedented bravery, Sharon went to the police and faced the terror of her life in the dock. She looked into the whites of his eyes and proved—beyond doubt—that this man was a threat to children everywhere. Garvey was jailed and convicted of seven accounts of rape and numerous indecent assaults. He still remains in prison today. The heartbreaking but hugely inspiring account of a little girl's survival through extreme abuse and her inspiring fight for justice.

Genres: Memoir

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tânia Tanocas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muitas lágrimas, soltaram-se a ler este livro...
Um relato na 1ª pessoa, (que mesmo que não seja intensão da escritora)consegue sempre pôr-nos do lado dela, perante as atrocidades que vai relatando (atrocidades essas, que infelizmente, ainda existem)...
Ficamos com a ideia de uma mulher cheia de coragem, força e determinação, desviando-se sempre dos caminhos mais fáceis perante a sua história de vida...

[Dan Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbing, emotional gut punching and rage

[Yenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very first books I've ever read. So inspiring and sad at the same time. Truly amazing.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will take you through so many emotions, but wow what love and strength can do. Please read as this womans survival is truly amazing. Xxxxx

[Carmel McCartin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written account of a truly horrible experience that continued through childhood and into adulthood. Sometimes a tough read, but well worth it

[Isabelle Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Histoire poignante et très émouvante

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, is one of the best I've ever read. It made me cry in so many ways. With fear, sadness, shock, happiness and relief. 10/10 would recommend.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, what a story. This is not for the squeamish or faint of heart - it is really the most graphic tale of abuse I have read in a memoir. I felt hopeless alongside the narrator and I could never imagine the horrors that Sharon went through. However there is a positive outcome which is great because often there aren't happy endings.
I was gripped by Sharon's story, her awful experiences will stick with me. I hope no one ever goes through this lengthy type of abuse ever again - I'd say ANY abuse but I know that it will happen, unfortunately. I just hope that the resources of our times - child line, social workers, online resources, counsellors, etc. would be useful and swift in dealing with any cases like this that may occur in our time now.

[Lady ♥ Belleza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The abuse started when she was four, Sharon’s stepfather was helping her learn to ‘wash’ herself. It continued for years. At age 10 it went from touching and rubbing to rape. The only one Sharon told was her best friend. He kept her quiet by threatening her mother and also by making her look like a liar. He did such a good job of it that even after he was gone, her own mother didn’t believe her when she told her she had saved a family from drowning.

When Sharon told a social worker what she wanted most in the world was to “go to sleep and never wake up” because “my dad keeps having sex with me and I can’t do it no more.'” The social worker’s reply was “Do you know what will happen to you if you go around telling lies like that about your dad? You’ll get him into serious trouble. Don’t let me hear you talking like that again.” Further convincing her that she would never be believed and never get away from the abuse.

Although the abuse suffered by Sharon was horrific, and she doesn’t suger coat it, it is not related in a gratuitous way. This book isn’t just about what happened to her. Sharon relates how she coped with the abuse, why she never told anyone and most importantly how she survived. In fact she did more than survive, she went on to have a good life and even managed to get the authorities to file charges against him. She was responsible for him going to prison where he couldn’t hurt another child.

Although I have some doubts about the clarity of her memory of events that happened when she was younger than 4, this book is a compelling read, at first heartbreaking, but reading how Sharon overcomes everything will mend it.

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was gut wrenching and painful to read however I couldn't put it down. Sharon is a survivor, she is truly inspirational. What a trooper!!! I found myself in tears reading this story... Tears of sadness, disgust and relief all at once!

[Nicola]

A well written, heartbreaking book. No star rating due to the nature of the book.

[Aléxis M · Rating 5 out of 5]

O livro é muito bom, mostra-nos uma grande lição de vida. Aconselho a todos.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Very sad and hard to read in parts. But what a strong courageous woman she turned out to be to get through such a tortuous life

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very sad and horrific abuse story. I had a very hard time reading it. The whole book was sadistic child abuse and difficult to finish.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful memoir of abuse by an incredible woman; a survivor and - in my view - a hero. Many people without the strength and will to survive and overcome would have succumbed to their circumstances (parental sexual and physical abuse over 15 or more years. Sharon is an amazing woman and an example for others. This is a difficult book to read and I imagine for Sharon it was an even more difficult story to tell. I applaud her courage, her conviction and her strength.

Too often, the events that started when Sharon was a young girl are swept under the rug (as happened to Sharon) and the embarrassed and afraid child remains convinced no one will believer her so he/she remains silent. This book is a testament to the importance of always telling the truth.

It is a difficult, but important read. I encourage anyone who interacts with young children to read this memoir, to keep your eyes open to the signs of abuse and not to discount anything that seems even remotely suspicious.

[Mon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharon doesn't sugarcoat her story, it includes very graphic sexual abuse content.

[Jess]

This was a horrible life for Sharon to live through, and just when things are looking up something terrible happens again and again. I am glad she fought for justice and closure on the abuse she faced in her life. I haven't read many abuse stories where you see it followed right through. What I really liked about Sharon's story is that you see what goes on after the abuse has finished and she has finally got away from it all. Even thought the abuser, Mick, re-entered her life plenty of times, you could see how far she had come!

[Sharon Smith]

This book is so detailed and soo said defo wold read it again