One Small Word

Fifty-year old social work student, Frankie, is on work experience when she is suddenly triggered, and finds memories flooding back into her mind of the childhood sexual, physical, and psychological abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, which she had long suppressed. She seeks counselling and takes readers with her on the journey through the painful and heart-breaking recollections of her childhood experiences that come to light as she speaks to her therapist. She remembers some good times, but the raw emotions that surface as she recalls the many instances of the abuse that she suffered, overwhelm her at first. Each time, she goes away, analyses, and learns from her experiences, gradually understanding the ways the abuse has and continues to affect her adult behaviour. She then finds ways of turning around her negative experiences into positivity, healing, and hope for the future, so that she can become the good social worker that she wants to be.

The author's writing is honest and impactful, and the use of imagery throughout this memoir really puts readers into the author's perspective, providing a whole new understanding of those affected by childhood abuse. You will feel the raw emotions that went into the writing of this evenly paced and engaging story. This memoir is a powerful read not to be missed - a remarkable story that needed to be told.