Invisible Girls: The Truth About Sexual Abuse--A Book for Teen Girls, Young Women, and Everyone Who Cares About Them [Paperback]

Patti Feuereisen (Author), Caroline Pincus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 2005

Dr. Patti Feuereisen has been working with teenage girls for twenty-five years and has been a pioneer in helping abused girls find their voices. What she discovered in listening to hundreds of girls was not only that sexual abuse of young girls is in fact epidemic, but if the abuse can be processed when girls are still young—in their teens and early twenties—remarkable healing can take place. Girls and young women who are given an opportunity to speak out will most often go on to thrive as adults; without such an opportunity the traumatic effects of their abuse will often continue to cause them difficulty long into adulthood.

Invisible Girls weaves together powerful first-person narratives with gentle guidance and seasoned insights to help girls through the maze of feelings that swirl around the abuse experience. This gives every young woman who struggles with the scars of sexual abuse the courage that comes from knowing that she is not alone, while other girls come out from behind the veil of secrecy to become vibrant, healthy, and whole.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Written by a psychotherapist, this book sets personal narratives within a generalized discussion of sexual abuse of girls and young women. Feuereisen addresses myths about female sexuality and abuse, considers contributing family dynamics, and offers advice on preventing, reporting, and recovering from abuse. Individual chapters are given to father-daughter incest, other incest, abuse by teachers and clergy, and different types of rape. The writing is clear and frank, including sufficient details without becoming salacious. The personal voices are the strength here, reminding other victims that they are not alone and that healing is possible. Individuals of various races and ethnicities tell their stories within their cultural contexts. Carolyn Lehman's Strong at the Heart: How It Feels to Heal from Sexual Abuse (Farrar, 2005) is an equally impressive title with greater emphasis on the importance of telling one's story to aid in the recovery process. Linda L. Foltz's Kids Helping Kids Break the Silence of Sexual Abuse (Lighthouse Point, 2003), for a younger readership, offers similar treatment on the importance of speaking out, with less explicit detail.–Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"If you are a teenage girl, this book may save your life. Invisible Girls will help you see the truth." -- InvisibleInsurrection.org, April 7, 2005

"Invisible Girls speaks the truth of sexual abuse like no other book has dared." ---Lyn Mikel Brown, author of "Meeting at the Crossroads," "Raising Their Voices," and "Girlfighting"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press (March 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580051359
• ISBN-13: 978-1580051354
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boyfriend's perspective, March 21, 2006

By 

Publius V (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Invisible Girls: The Truth About Sexual Abuse--A Book for Teen Girls, Young Women, and Everyone Who Cares About Them (Paperback)

A few months ago, I started dating a very successful, attractive, and intelligent girl who revealed very early on our relationship that she was the victim of sexual abuse. Although she didn't provide details and I didn't pressure her for details, I had no idea the impact this could have on someone and as I got to know her better and see her more often, we actually started getting farther apart emotionally. This really confused and upset me because I was in love with her and I really wanted to be close to her. As a result, I began to push her to be closer emotionally and to share her feelings with me more often. Within a few weeks, she broke-up with me because I think of the pressure I applied to be close, among many other things that only now make so much sense. We remain, however, today as friends.

After we broke up, I came across "Invisible Girls" and read it cover to cover twice. As I read the book, so many things that happened in our relationship and some of my friend's characteristics were now so understandable. I wish that I had read this book as soon as she told me her story as I could have been so much more understanding and more supportive toward her than I was. For example, each time that she pushed me away, I would try to talk to her about it and try to get her to share her feelings with me, but in reality I was actually just pushing her away. After I read this book, I learned that such people really don't want to push people away but that is what they have done for years to protect themselves and it shouldn't be taken personally. I should have been more patient and understanding to my friend during these times.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the affects that sexual abuse has on people, and to hear what steps individuals can take to recover, overcome and move forward confidently in their lives as independent people. It has given me the perspective and understanding to be unconditionally supportive, kind, loving, gentle and understanding toward my friend, which is the very least that my awesome friend should expect from anyone in her life.

This really is a great book.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abuse survivor, April 5, 2005

By 

Michelle (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Invisible Girls: The Truth About Sexual Abuse--A Book for Teen Girls, Young Women, and Everyone Who Cares About Them (Paperback)

This is an IMPORTANT book not only for abuse survivors but also for friends and family members of abuse survivors. What makes this book so special is the fact that the stories in this book are written by the very girls who have gone through the abuse. I saw myself and friends of mine in a lot of these stories and the book really helps to break down and explain the emotions that one goes through and the steps toward becoming a survivor. I especially appreciated the sections where Dr. Feuereisen explains the differences between the myths and the facts. Dr. Feuerisen's approach has helped me to deal with my own history of abuse and I hope others will be able to read this book to help shed light on an otherwise dark subject.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, April 4, 2005

By 

Pajarita "Bird on a Wire" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Invisible Girls: The Truth About Sexual Abuse--A Book for Teen Girls, Young Women, and Everyone Who Cares About Them (Paperback)

This is a hugely important book that will be of inmesurable help to everyone out there who has suffered sexual abuse. It is possible, indeed, to recover from this plague and live a great life that belongs to you and to the ones you choose to share it with - not to someone who tried taking it away from you. "Invisible Girls" allows us to read one horrific story of abuse after another but also, and most importantly, one triumphant story after another. It is a book that does away with the taboo of sexual abuse by talking about it, explaining it, and letting us hear from brave women who have suffered in silence but are now talking.