Customer Reviews

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

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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

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 Ashley has withdrawn, often sleeping in her closet with as many obstacles as she can find between the door and her place of safety.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.

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 ...

You probably know that this is a story about surviving sexual abuse and living one's way through the alienation and loss that goes along with it. You should also know that this is one of those books about group of teens and that the healing that takes place is partly mediated by the dynamics of the group. This dimension gives the story some extra power that all kids need to have: we get well with the help of those around us.
Nicely written and with a compforing message for anyone who needs to get over it and get on with it.

Ashley Asher has been sexually abused by her stepfather since she was nine years old. When Ashley finally finds the courage to expose her abuser, her mother turns her back on Ashley and insists that Ashley is lying. The only person that takes Ashley's claims seriously is her high school English teacher, who in turns gets Ashley the help she needs.

Ashley moves to Patience, Texas to live with her biological father, his wife and his adopted son. It isn't surprising however that Ashley has a hard time trusting her new family. Bev, her step mother is an English teacher at the local high school and when she finds herself unexpectedly teaching summer school Ashley asks if she can take the class as well.

Ashley's eyes are opening in the class when she discovers the problems of various students within the class, ultimately helping Ashley in the road to recovery.

Courage in Patience is the debut novel for Beth Fehlbaum. Not since the poetic storytelling of author Catherine Ryan Hyde has a book moved me so emotionally. At first glance you would assume as I did that this was a novel about sexual abuse, but let me assure you that there is so much more to this story. While sexual abuse is the main theme in the novel the story also touches on the topics of racism, acceptance, fear and most importantly hope. The novel conveys a powerful message, and I'm so very thankful that I had the chance to read it.

Before this book,I didn't know anyone that was sexually abused. However, after reading this book, I understand the difficult process of moving on from it a little better. I enjoyed this book because it felt real. I actually felt like I was there with Ashley throughout all of her ordeal. It infuriated me all the more, to not be able to help her. I also enjoyed the growth of Ashley's classmates. I know how much a summer of hard work can change someone. I will always carry lessons learned from this book. I suggest that anyone looking for a good read about young adults, or someone looking for a great book in general to read it. I would like to personally thank Beth Fehlbaum for sending me this book. I'd love write a review for her next book.
Hamza Jaka

Courage in Patience (Texas) is a compelling and stark story by Author Beth Fehlbaum of the horrific effects of child abuse, religious dogma / idiocy not only on its main character Ashley Asher, but also on the population of those small backwater hamlets of Texas. But they could be anywhere. The tribulations of this innocent child growing into a young woman makes one cringe with its inflicted descriptive brutalities. In reading this book, one cannot help but experience a visceral reaction, which seems to call for violence to oppose not only the sick-minded pedophile-'fathers,' but also the sick-minded 'mothers' who tolerate such behavior in the name of their own 'security.'

But it is also a story of hope for young adults, should they seek and find the many decent people who abhor abuse and vicious criminal actions of any kind. It is made quite clear in this book that one of the main obstacles to finding such help for abuse victims resides in the fact that the victims have been so traumatized that they no longer believe such decency exists within their communities. Thus, it is even more devastating when mothers, the so-called protectors of the young, ignore the facts and choose to believe the evil among them simply does not exist, or make some self-serving excuses.

Courage in Patience, however, finds a way out and reaffirms basic decency for Ashley Asher to find. And find it she does, notwithstanding the very obstacles she faces for her life to come. In the process, bigotry and brutality are confronted and finally, the villain gets his just deserts. (Just in time, before I hired a tank, found Patience, TX on the map, and blew that turkey away (the pedophile, not the town) - sorry, I get riled up with injustice).

In the final analysis, it is a book of hope for young adults who may, perhaps, have encountered such overwhelming evil. Highly recommended.

Courage in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum is about the courage of a group of teenagers in Patience, a small town in East Texas. Ashley Asher, Roxanne Blake, Dub White, Z.Z. Freeman, Junior Alvarez, T.W. Griffin, and Kevin Cooper are classmates in the summer session of English II under Beverly Asher. Each teen is facing a truly life-altering challenge that requires them to say NO to fear.

The main character of Courage in Patience is fifteen-year-old Ashley. Most of the novel is in her voice. When the narrative shifts its focus to one of the other characters, a third person point of view is taken, but I did not find these shifts jarring. For six years Ashley was sexually abused by her stepfather Charlie Baker. When she finally has the courage to tell her mother, Cheryl Baker, about the abuse, her mother does not believe her. Child Protection Services then places Ashley in the care of her father David Asher and stepmother Beverly Asher. Living with her father, stepmother, and stepbrother Ben in Patience; starting therapy with Dr. Scott Matthews; and English II class help Ashley start to heal.

At the beginning of the novel, Ashley takes us through her six years in hell. But the novel does not focus on the abuse Ashley endured. In truth, I wish the novel had focused a bit more on the abuse, because I wanted to understand deeply the terror Ashley went through. The novel's focus is on the emotional effects of abuse and the road to recovery. Courage in Patience is an eye-opening read. Ashley suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and her pain, confusion, insecurities, and anger are very REAL. After reading Courage in Patience, I feel I have a much better understanding of what victims of sexual abuse feel and think and the healing process they must go through.

Courage in Patience is a story of hope for those who have endured abuse - and not just sexual abuse. Ashley and her English II classmates have experienced different kinds of abuse, ranging from emotional abuse and physical abuse to heartbreaking parental neglect and shocking racism. To make matters even worse, religious fundamentalists try to ban the novel they are discussing (and loving!) in English class: Ironman by Chris Crutcher. These conservative extremists are also trying to have their English teacher fired for assigning Ironman to the class. The way these amazing teen characters finally stand up to abuse and social injustice is inspiring.

It has been a while since I've read a novel as serious and important as Courage in Patience. (It is also enjoyable and very readable!) I am honestly grateful for Courage in Patience. I want to read it again because Beth Fehlbaum was able to successfully weave so many big themes into one thought-provoking story. Courage in Patience is an authentic exploration of emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, parental neglect, racism, censorship, and religious fundamentalism. More importantly, Courage in Patience is a necessary reminder that there is HOPE as long as we are not afraid to stand up for what is right.

It is apparent author Beth Fehlbaum knows her subject matter - sexual and emotional abuse - beyond study in a textbook (her bio at end of the book confirms this). I applaud her, and applaud her again, for her own courage in tackling such a difficult and painful topic. But it must be tackled. It must. Because abuse such as this is a constant in our society, and it is becoming ever more prevalent. Blame the Internet with all that it makes so readily available (and I am referring to adults here, far more than children, although the latter will someday become those same addicted adults). Blame a society that seems to steadily be veering away from family-based values (e.g. careers and materialism being given higher priority than raising our children, and a general trend toward pleasure-seeking and narcissism). Blame a trend in contemporary society of increasingly objectifying women and girls. Blame ageism and its counterpart of youth-obsession that forces children to be sexualized. Blame an attitude of head-in-the-sand avoidance to domestic abuse in general. Blame what you will, but this problem is not going away. Children are being abused, and domestic violence (and I include emotional abuse in this category) is on the rise at an alarming pace.

"Courage in Patience" raises the issue of child abuse to the forefront. In the character of Ashley Asher, a girl who suffers the most brutal treatment at the hands of her mother's new husband, Charlie, over a period of six years (age 9 to 15), Fehlbaum explores the inner workings of an abuse victim. With excruciating accuracy, the reader becomes witness to what begins as a water pistol spray to a child's t-shirt, to a rape so violent that it leaves the 15-year old child a ravaged and bloody mess.

We witness Ashley's emotional shutdown. Ashley withdraws into herself. She blames herself. She tries harder and harder to please and appease her abuser. She goes deep into denial, compartmentalizing her emotions and behavior. Until she breaks. In a moment of courage, despite her stepfather's threats, she tells her mother. Unfortunately, as is all too common, her mother minimalizes her daughter's confession, even worries that her daughter may be stealing her man's attention away from her. Surely it is not as bad as all that... surely, Ashley can forgive her stepfather for a few inappropriate touches... and Ashley withers in despair as someone she loves and trusts - her mother - betrays her with her emotional abandonment as cruelly as the rapist.

As the abuse escalates, beside the mother's denial (and the author quite reasonably later brings up the possibility that the mother, too, may well have been abused in her childhood, thus perpetuating the cycle with her own denial), Ashley confides in a girlfriend who will not remain quiet. When the truth begins to surface at last, we move through the frustrating process of legalities, of a crippling law enforcement system that has its own denial issues, of child protective services that threaten to worsen the problem rather than assist the victim. Ashley's savior turns out to be her long-lost father, David, and even more, his sympathetic wife, Bev. Reunited with her father, we at last begin to see the slow and difficult process of recovery.

In part, here begins the one fault line of the novel. Along with the story of Ashley's recovery, a new story emerges of Bev's classroom life as a teacher who takes on controversial books. While the additional topics of censorship and book banning, religious fervor that becomes a gateway to racism, homophobia, teen sexuality, and other issues are inarguably worthy of discussion, it is regrettable that these side issues take up so much space in a book that should have remained on one worthy topic alone. One would have hoped the author would save these other subjects for future novels. As it stands, interesting as they may be, these issues mostly detract and distract from the one of child abuse.

That aside, this is a book that one might hope would be passed out in women's shelters, in family protective services, in churches, in schools, and other places and venues where it might reach out and comfort and give courage to others faced with the same nightmare. No one feels more alone than the one who is so victimized. Abuse of any kind is a very isolating experience. "Courage in Patience" can serve well to extend a hand to those who would read it and know that recovery is possible.

In writing fiction, one of the most difficult tasks is the creation of a full-blooded three-dimensional character, which makes Ms. Fehlbaum's achievement here all the more remarkable. Ashley Asher, the heart-breaking protagonist of her new novel COURAGE IN PATIENCE, transcends the archetype of the "victimized youth." Her perseverance and personality and distinctively human voice will resonate in the imagination of the reader long after the final page has been turned. Versimilitude, though, is not limited to Ashley. Ms. Fehlbaum's evocation of small-town Texas is rich both in detail and emotion.