Charred Souls: A Story of Recreational Child Abuse [Paperback]

Trena Cole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2002 | ISBN-10: 097235350X | ISBN-13: 978-0972353502

Charred Souls describes the childhood of one child and her 6 siblings as they grew up in a family that used child abuse as a source of entertainment. In her book, she describes the methods of intimidation, torture and isolation used to keep the children from seeking help from others. It also describes how, since much of the extended family practiced the same type of abusive behavior, the children assumed the whole world lived this way. This family, while they may have been reported as potential child abusers, were never charged or prosecuted despite the atrocious, sadistic torture they subjected their young children to. Trena, the oldest child, became the parental role model, nurturer and caretaker for the younger children from the age of five, never having anyone to nurture or care for her.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As I read chapter after chapter, I felt such pain for that little girl." -- Hope M. Chema, M.D.

"Charred Souls is a powerful, heart-wrenching account of the horrendous emotional and physical abuse endured by Trena Cole..." -- Barbara Parks, R.N.

This book...gives the reader a window into the experience of a child, and the suffering that was relentlessly endured." -- Madelaine Pinkus Rohn, Ph.D., LCSW

From the Publisher

Charred Souls describes the childhood of one child and her six siblings as they grew up in a family that used child abuse as a source of entertainment. In her book, Trena Cole describes the methods of intimidation, torture and isolation used to keep the children from seeking help from others. It also describes how, since much of the extended family practiced the same type of abusive behavior, the children assumed the whole world lived this way. This family, while they may have been reported as potential child abusers, were never charged or prosecuted despite the atrocious, sadistic torture they subjected their young children to. Trena, the oldest child, became the parental role model, nurturer and caretaker for the younger children from the age of five, never having anyone to nurture or care for her.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Oberpark Pub Inc (October 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097235350X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972353502
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,176,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, October 5, 2004

By 

Brigitte Pliska "Author of The Hand That Feed... (Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charred Souls: A Story of Recreational Child Abuse (Paperback)

This is one of the most compelling and poignant stories I have ever read. As painful as it was to read of the sadism this little girl and her siblings were subjected to, I simply could not put the book down. The writer has a way of putting the reader right there. As you frantically turn the pages you find yourself witnessing the horrific abuse. You recoil in disgust and rejoice in her strength of character as she is determined to survive and be a loving role model to her younger siblings. I only hope this gifted scribe keeps on writing.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the merit is in the psychological value of this personal ..., October 17, 2004

By 

Josephine Thompson "The Torn Trilogy" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charred Souls: A Story of Recreational Child Abuse (Paperback)

...experience. Reading this book is like a personal interview with someone who not only lived 'child abuse' but had the insight to understand the dynamics of the perpetrators as well.
Although this book is not literary, it is written well: emotionally powerful, educational and entertaining (definitely holds your interest) to read.
I have read a lot in the field of child abuse, first hand accounts, clinical studies, etc., and this is one of the best books on the subject besides a Child Called It .
Commendation is due for the narrator's voice and tone: not a poor me tone, but a factual, 'I have suvived' tone, actually laced with an underlying sarcastic humor (I actually cracked up in places, because the humor reveals the ridiculousness of adults bullying a small child). This book can be therapeutic to those who are in the proper healing stages of recovery.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery To Me, March 31, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Charred Souls: A Story of Recreational Child Abuse (Paperback)

Why people enjoy torturing, manipulating and mistreating children is a mystery to me. What kind of victory do adults feel by bullying the small and defenseless? I used to say jokingly, on a bad day with my children, "I'll never condone child abuse, but some days I can almost understand it." After reading Charred Souls, I will never say that again, it's not funny anymore. I had never heard the term 'recreational child abuse' until I saw this book and that's exactly what Trena, and her brothers and sisters, lived with. If I were a vengeful person I'd say it would be fitting for those parents, and a few extended family members, to have to live the way those kids did for just one year. But I'm not vengeful and they probably still wouldn't admit the error of their ways anyway, child abusers almost never do.

Trena Cole did a wonderful job making me feel as though I was there with her while she lived through the abuse she was dealt in life. I'm glad she told, I wish more survivors did. The author describes the way the children were cussed at and smacked at all day, every day. It seemed like the children enraged the adults just by being there. They were either enraged and attacking the children, or they were torturing them for fun. Recreational child abuse, who could have put a finger on that one? Trena Cole's therapist. Who would have thought someone would have to come up with a name for such mistreatment? That bunch of sick pillars of the community who had seven kids and abused them emotionally, physically, mentally, verbally and permanently! I have to believe they knew exactly what they were doing and I also believe they will never admit that what they did was deplorable. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's definitely five star material.