Courage in Patience: A Story of Hope for Those Who Have Endured Abuse [Paperback]

Beth Fehlbaum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

After six years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse from her stepfather, 14-year-old Ashley finally finds the courage to reveal the painful details of her experiences with her mother, who refuses to acknowledge the problem and turns her back on her daughter. After confiding in her teacher—the only adult whom Ashley can trust—she is removed from her home and sent to live with her father and his second wife, Beverly, an English teacher. Nurtured by Beverly, an extraordinarily positive influence in her life, Ashley and a summer school class of troubled teens learn to face their fears and discover who they really are.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fehlbaum's debut novel, set in a small Texas town, is overloaded with thorny issues and hindered by a very special episode tone, but features a genuine and empathetic lead. After enduring six years of sexual abuse from her step-father, 14-year-old Ashley Asher finally gathers the courage to confide in her mother; predictably, mom sides with step-dad. Soon, Ashley is sent to live with her estranged birth father, David, and his new wife and son. Though he's now a kind man who's put his life-long anger issues behind him, Ashley still struggles to trust her father. His wife, Bev, a high school English teacher, brings Ashley into her extended family of summer school students; a controversial reading assignment, Ironman by Chris Crutcher, provides the novel's other hot-button issues—racism, censorship, homophobia and religious extremism. An over-the-top scandal is followed by Bev's hokey, message-laden testimonial before the local school board. Throughout, Ashley's self-destructive tendencies, conflicted feelings and struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder read authentically; had Fehlbaum focused more on her recovery, rather than a raft of societal woes, this story would have been more powerful. (Sept.)
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From Booklist

Nine-year-old Ashley Asher was pleased when her mother started a relationship with Charlie Baker. Charlie, Ashley thought, would be the father she never had. She was 9 then; now 15, she recounts the story of how her dream life soon turned to nightmare, commencing with the first time Charlie touched her inappropriately. For years she tolerated it—not only the sexual abuse but also the emotional manipulation her stepfather inflicted on her—until one day she confronted both Charlie and her mother. To Ashley’s horror, her mother sided with Charlie, leaving the teenager to find her own way, prompting her to reestablish a connection with her biological father. Though the subject matter is undeniably dark, Fehlbaum manages to keep the tone surprisingly light and hopeful. This hard-hitting but readable story about an infinitely troubling subject will resonate with all readers but especially with other survivors of abuse or with those who work with those survivors. --Mary Frances Wilkens

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Kunati Inc.; 1st edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601641567
• ISBN-13: 978-1601641564
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in the Dallas area and my family moved to East Texas several years ago. I enjoy writing and reading but love to be outside in the spring and fall when the weather is beautiful. I like writing poetry and short stories as well as novels; I love music and I have great admiration and respect for songwriters. I like watching movies and hanging out with my husband and daughters. My kids all have wonderful senses of humor and I love laughing with them. I wrote Hope in Patience and Courage in Patience as a way to show those on the journey that they should never give up.
Check out my website for chapter previews of Courage in Patience and Hope in Patience! You can also find upcoming events and appearances.
http://www.bethfehlbaumya.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strength in adversity, September 13, 2008

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Courage in Patience: A Story of Hope for Those Who Have Endured Abuse (Paperback)

Rather than the famous West Texas town of El Paso (although that town is briefly referred to in the story), this emotionally draining debut novel is set in the tiny East Texas town of Patience.

Ashley, the young protagonist tells the heartbreaking tale of the six years of abuse she endures at the hands of her step-father, and the betrayal she experiences when her own mother and maternal grandparents refuse to believe her story, even when faced with irrefutable evidence.

Her mother and her biological father had parted on bad terms, having eloped as teenagers when her mother was pregnant with Ashley, and except for the occasional card and the child support payments, he is a complete stranger. Having heard of his uncontrollable bad temper, Ashley is more than a little afraid when he swoops in and whisks her back to his home in Patience to live with his new family, against the wishes of her mother.

As if this weren't enough, the small town soon becomes embroiled in a moral brouhaha when Ashley's step-mother Bev chooses a controversial novel for summer school reading, revealing the bigotry of some elements of the supposedly religious and tightly knit community.

With love and a lot of support from her father and step-mother, Ashley slowly begins to work her way out of her self-constructed armor, but fails to make meaningful progress until she gains the self-confidence to face her nightmares head on.

Based in part on the author's real-life experiences, this book tackles abuse, racism, intolerance and cruelty, tempered by love, compassion and friendship, and is recommended for ages 14 and up. Genuine characters, believable dialogue and a heartbreaking story make for an absorbing and compelling read.


Rated: 4.5 stars



Amanda Richards, September 13, 2008

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It blew my emotional socks off, September 5, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Courage in Patience: A Story of Hope for Those Who Have Endured Abuse (Paperback)

This book is so emotionally and psychologically heavy that it is surprising that it is so physically light. Fehlbaum has managed to pack so many negative aspects of life into this book that it could have been extremely depressing to read. However, while there are passages that brought tears to my eyes, it is uplifting.
Ashley Asher is the main character and she is in her early teens and has been sexually molested by her stepfather for years. Her mother is aware of it but demonstrates some truly world-class denial. Ashley has withdrawn, often sleeping in her closet with as many obstacles as she can find between the door and her place of safety.
When her stepfather reaches the point where he rapes her, with the help of a kindly teacher, Ashley seeks help. Fortunately, she is reunited with her biological father, a man she has not seen since she was an infant. Even more fortunate, he has quit drinking, gotten married and has a stable life. Ashley goes to live with him and his family in Patience, Texas and she begins the road to recovery.
In addition to her problems, Ashley finds that Patience is a town with problems from one dusty street to another. Ashley encounters racial hatred and bigotry, religious parents who find it difficult to utter three consecutive sentences without a religious reference and a football coach whose religion is spelled "football." She also meets children her age and very strong adults who stand up and do battle for what is right.
Therefore, this is a book about severe and broad-based adversity, having the courage to fight back and an ultimate triumph against forces that have been in place for some time. The courage shown by the teenagers in this book is the stuff that great people are made of. The story is the stuff that great writers make.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC, August 15, 2008

By 

A. Moore (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courage in Patience: A Story of Hope for Those Who Have Endured Abuse (Paperback)

A GREAT READ! WITHOUT A DOUBT BETH WILL CONTINUE TO BRING FORTH WORKS THAT ARE A PLEASURE TO READ AND AN INSPIRATION FOR MANY OF US! A MUST READ FOR ANYONE AND A GREAT BOOK FOR VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, PASTORS, TEENS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS ...