Christian Book Review: Cruel Harvest: A Memoir by Fran Grubb

Cruel Harvest: A Memoir by Fran Elizabeth Grubb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From the book:
"Get out here, now, or I'm gonna kill you!" he hollered.


Little girls are hardwired to hold their daddies in high esteem, so it comes as a shock the first time a daughter feels the back of her daddy's hand across her face . . . or watches him punch and kick her mother to within an inch of her life.

How could this be? Her older sisters teach her how to survive, even when he comes for her in the night.

A girl learns to become invisible, to look the other way, to say nothing when a curious stranger asks if she's okay. To lie. To expect nothing, not even from relatives.

To cry without tears.

To pray silently.

When she is fourteen, and weary, a girl begins to wish she were dead. Cruel Harvest is the compelling story of how she lived instead.

My review:
It was very hard for me to read this heart-wrenching story. The trust between a little girl and her Daddy is like no other relationship. There is an inherent trust and when it is broken, it's like the world ended! For Fran Grubb, it didn't take long to learn that to love her Daddy was to experience hurt, pain and embarrassment ...often.

From the time she was a little girl, all Fran knew was to hide from her father when he was mad or drunk... which was often. Her mother tried to help them enjoy life and let them know there was still joy in this world but it became more and more difficult. Her sisters tried to protect her but there was only so much they could do. Fran and her sisters and brother endured the harsh treatment of their father, not being able to go to school, having to work cotton fields, apple orchards, constantly moving, for all of their young lives, until one by one they escaped. One by one.

For a life story, Cruel Harvest reminds us how we need to look after our neighbors. So many people had contact with these children but somehow they never received the help they need. Fran Grubbs was "lucky" but there are so many children who are not. She chose to use her experience to help others and now goes around the country singing, speaking and raising money for her charity, Feed the Hungry Children.

This book is certainly not an easy read, but it is well written and flows nicely.

From a Christian perspective, it's a wonderful example of God's redeeming love and the freedom received from forgiving others. God bless Fran Grub and her husband Wayne for sharing this story and choosing to bless others thus breaking the chain of abuse. For more info about Fran Grubbs you can go to her website www.frangrubb.com

You can purchase your copy of Cruel Harvest: A Memoir on Amazon.com.
 
Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book from the Booksneeze blogging program, for the purpose of review.  I am an Amazon affiliate.  Any Amazon links I provide will generate a small stipend.

Love and blessings,
Margaret
View all my reviews

Stop the Violence Against Children! #VetoViolence

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  While we should always be alert for signs of Child Abuse, April is the Month that we need to bring it to the forefront.  It's a month where we don't whisper, but we SHOUT OUT LOUD THAT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THE MALTREATMENT OF OUR CHILDREN!  Do you know the forms of Maltreatment?

Child maltreatment includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher). There are four common types of abuse:

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Neglect

Did you know that there are almost 4 million cases of child abuse and neglect reported to the United States and CPS each year?  That means 4 million children who are now at risk for for emotional, physical and health problems for the rest of their lives!  I won't stand for it and I hope you won't either. Here is a list of things YOU and I can do to protect these children:

Listed below are things you can do to help prevent child abuse (from Darkness to Light website - http://www.d2l.org/site/):

1. Learn the facts about child abuse and understand the risks.
1. Read a book, attend a class, or look online to see how many children are affected by the different types of child maltreatment.
2. Abusers are often people the family trusts; they look and act just like everyone else.
2. Minimize the opportunities for abuse to occur.
1. Avoid situations where a child is alone with an adult – and avoid one-adult/one-child situations with children other than your own.
2. Monitor the Internet use of children so that they aren’t lured into inappropriate activities.
3. Talk about abuse
1. Talk openly to your child and understand why children may be scared to tell someone about abuse.
2. Talk to other adults about child abuse. This helps raise the consciousness of your community and influences their choices about child safety, while also putting potential abusers on notice that you are paying attention.
4. Stay alert to the signs of abuse.
1. Read a book, attend a class, or look online to determine the signs (physical and emotional/behavioral) of the different types of child maltreatment, while also understanding that some children may not display any signs
5. Know what to do if you suspect the abuse or neglect of a child.
1. Your reaction to suspected child maltreatment can determine how the child responds so it’s important not to overreact.
2. Provide support to the child.
3. Report suspected child maltreatment to appropriate authorities, either by calling the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.4.A.CHILD or by calling local child protective services or law enforcement agencies in your community.
6. Act on suspicions.
1. Even if you don’t have proof but you suspect abuse has occurred/is occurring, you should report it. If you want to talk to staff about whether or not to report, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.4.A.CHILD.
7. Get involved in your communities.
1. Meet and greet your neighbors and organize/participate in activities in your neighborhood
2. Go to a parents’ meeting or volunteer at your child’s school or run for an office in the parent organization at your child’s school
3. Participate in an activity at your local library or community center
4. Attend local government meetings (city council or school board meetings) and let them know how important resources are in your community. Let them know how parks, strong schools, and accessible services help to strengthen your family and other families
5. Support legislation that protects children.
6. Call and write your members of Congress.
7. Write letters to your newspaper.

As parents we should be even more vigilant in helping those in need.  We need to set the example for our children and step up when we see someone being bullied, when we see an act of neglect and certainly when we see an act of abuse.  We can no longer be afraid to get involved.  We have to protect these children!

So will you stand with me?  Will you commit to helping prevent child abuse?

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret