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A Deep Dark Secret [Hardcover]

Kimberla Lawson Roby (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)

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An Interview with the Author
Read a Q&A with Kimberla Lawson Roby, author of A Deep Dark Secret [PDF].

Book Description

September 29, 2009

The New York Times bestselling author returns with the moving story of a family who learns to overcome betrayal and secrets with courage and love

On the outside, twelve-year-old Jillian Maxwell is the perfect child. She's helpful with chores around the house, gets straight As in school, has plans for college, and stays out of trouble. She seems to have everything a girl could want: a big, beautiful new home, an adoring little sister, a mother who cares about her, and an attentive stepfather.

But inside, Jillian harbors a terrible secret.

Too frightened to tell, convinced that her friends and loved ones, especially her mother, won't understand—and worse, will blame her—Jillian endures her pain in silence, believing that things will get better. However, as time passes and her dilemma intensifies, the bright, hardworking girl becomes sullen and disinterested in her studies. Then, just when it seems she's on the verge of losing everything, Jillian discovers she has more strength than she ever imagined…and the power to change her fate.

With sensitivity and grace, Kimberla Lawson Roby addresses a very real and serious issue, while delivering the inspiring tale of one family's mission to shed light into the darkest corner of their lives.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sexually abused for five years, studious 12-year-old Jillian Maxwell lives in terror of her pedophile stepfather, Byron James, in Roby's (The Best of Everything) powerful short novel. The nightmare begins with her stepfather's inappropriate fondling shortly after the birth of her half-sister, Layla, and gradually escalates. Byron warns her that Roxanne, Jillian's mom, won't believe her if she tells and later says he'll start abusing Layla if Jillian doesn't cooperate. When revelations about Byron's abuse of another underage girl surfaces, Roxanne kicks him out, but then takes him back. Meanwhile, Nikki, Jillian's BFF, is obsessed with promiscuous Marcus, who sees nothing wrong in running a train (gangbanging) on Nikki with two of his pals during a school dance. Nikki becomes a laughingstock and almost kills herself, which is the turning point for Jillian, who learns that Nikki is an abuse survivor. A heart-wrenching confrontation leads to a resolution with hopeful repercussions. An intense gem in an authentic voice. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Powerful....An intense gem in an authentic voice.” (Publishers Weekly )

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow (September 29, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061443093
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061443091
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kimberla Lawson Roby is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Love, Honor, and Betray, Be Careful What You Pray for, A Deep Dark Secret, The Best of Everything, One in a Million, Sin No More, Love & Lies, Changing Faces, The Best-Kept Secret, Too Much of a Good Thing, A Taste of Reality, It's a Thin Line, Casting the First Stone, Here and Now, and her self-published debut title, Behind Closed Doors. Her 16th novel, SECRET OBSESSION will be released on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. She lives in Illinois with her husband, Will.



 

Customer Reviews

47 Reviews
5 star:
 (29)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (47 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Scared And Alone, September 29, 2009
By 
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Deep Dark Secret (Hardcover)
Seven-year-old Jillian was the happiest little girl in the world. She was finally going to get a father and soon a new baby sister. She grew into a responsible teenager, obeying her parents, exceeding in school and being a loving, attentive older sister to her baby sister. On the outside, Jillian is your typical energetic teenager, but on the inside, she's protecting a deep, dark secret.

Afraid to tell anyone because she knows they wouldn't understand or believe she wasn't telling the truth, she carried the awful pain alone. Her schoolwork begins to suffer and she starts to draw into herself, until a teacher inspires her to keep a journal. As time goes on, Jillian develops strength and courage to gain control of her life.

Written with compassion and warmth, A DEEP DARK SECRET is a stirring piece of literature which focuses on a serious issue that is running rampant, and how a family overcomes and survives the dark cloud that hovers over their lives. Roby skillfully influences the reader to float into the heart and soul of Jillian's character and feel her anguish. The subplot ties in perfectly as the story unfolds. A DEEP DARK SECRET...a tender masterpiece of family loyalty, friendship, and peer pressure.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking, December 28, 2009
This review is from: A Deep Dark Secret (Hardcover)
I've only read two books by Kimberla Lawson Roby with A Deep Dark Secret being the second book. I was little apprehensive about reading it because of the subject matter. I'm glad that I decided to give it a chance. It was written really well. I like the fact that the story was narrated from Jillian's point of view. I could actually get a sense of the pain this twelve year old was going through. There were times when this book was too painful to read. It's really short but Kimberla was able to wrap it up nicely. I don't know anyone personally that has been sexually abused. This book has opened my eyes to what millions of children are going through. After reading this book, I sat my 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son down and had a lengthy discussion about sexual and physical abuse. I wanted them to know that if someone were to do anything inappropriate to them to let me know right way. I don't care how bad they think it is or if they're scared that I might get upset. I don't care who it is....they need to let me know. My husband and I are happily married and I can't fathom their own father or anyone else in my family doing the things that were done to Jillian, but you never know. The people who you love and trust the most are at times the actual perpetrator. After reading this book, I've told myself that I would make sure that I know all the warning signs and keep my eyes and hears open. There needs to be more awareness brought to this subject. Children shouldn't have to suffer in silence. I'm hoping that more children have the courage to come forward and get the help they need.

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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Ever Tell, October 11, 2009
This review is from: A Deep Dark Secret (Hardcover)
Seven year-old Jillian Maxwell's life could not be better. She had a new step-daddy that she adored and a new baby sister. On the day her baby sister was born, Jillian's life began to change. Her dream daddy became her worst nightmare when he started to make secret visits to her bedroom. Jillian knew what they did during these visits was wrong, but her daddy told her not tell anyone about them because no one would believe her and she would have to leave home. Therefore, Jillian endured years of being manipulated by her step-dad to do things she knew was not right. Jillian successfully disguised her anguish, by putting on a happy face for her family, friends and teachers. In this novella, A Deep Dark Secret, by Kimberla Lawson Roby, the plight of Jillian and other young ladies with her problems came to light.

Statistics show that one in five girls will be abused by a trusted family member by age 18. As a former child protective services worker, I have witnessed that girls respond in a variety of ways. They will become sullen and withdrawn, an over-achiever, become sexually active at a young age or have an intense dislike for the opposite sex. It is usually when the perpetrator tries to take the abuse to another level that will make the child react, by either telling or fighting back. In this novella, Ms Lawson Roby presents two opposite reactions to the abuse by the parents and by the girls. I think this novella is a good book for mothers and daughters to read together and could open up an excellent dialogue between them on the perils of keeping secrets.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Book Club
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