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6th out of 31 books
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12 voters
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A Deep Dark Secret
by
Kimberla Lawson Roby (Goodreads Author)
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 everyt
...moreHardcover, 192 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by William Morrow & Company
(first published 2009)
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K.augustine
added it
In A Deep Dark Secret Kimberla Lawson Roby takes us to a place that none of her previous novels have. We are introduced to seven year old Jillian Maxwell the joyus day her little sister Layla is born and tragically, that very night her step father begins molesting her. We then jump five years in the future and Jillian is a brilliant twelve year old who everyone deems a good seed with spectaular grades and a great head on her shoulders. Possessing nothing short of Academy Award Winning acting ski...more
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I read this book for outside reading this past school year, honors freshman english, not summer reading. It is a novella about Jill, who is in 7th grade and her best friend Nikki, going through tough times. At first, it seems all light and happy, but based on the title, you could probably guess from the start that it is not the case for the entirety of the book. By reading other reviews, you could have found that Jill is molested by her stepfather, but it is not just anothe...more
I read this book for outside reading this past school year, honors freshman english, not summer reading. It is a novella about Jill, who is in 7th grade and her best friend Nikki, going through tough times. At first, it seems all light and happy, but based on the title, you could probably guess from the start that it is not the case for the entirety of the book. By reading other reviews, you could have found that Jill is molested by her stepfather, but it is not just anothe...more
A Deep Dark Secret is a disturbing novel about a young girl who is being molested by her step-father. The molestation begins when she is seven on the night her baby sister is born. Now Jillian is twelve and the abuse has escalated between her father.
Jillian's father has threatened her if she breaks her silence. Jillian is quite convinced his threats will come true so she remains quiet and continues to live her life as normal as she can. Jillian's facade starts to slip when she begins...more
Jillian's father has threatened her if she breaks her silence. Jillian is quite convinced his threats will come true so she remains quiet and continues to live her life as normal as she can. Jillian's facade starts to slip when she begins...more
This book was a fictional strory about a real life problem of childhood sexual abuse. In the book, a young adolescent named Jillian Maxwell received a stepfather and didn't believe her life could be any better. That was until her stepfather, Byron, started sexually abusing her behind closed doors and her mothers' back. Jillian is brainwashed by her stepfather and does whatever she has to in order to keep peace in her home. She doesn't want her mom to be lonely and she doesn't want to be fatherle...more
This book was just okay. First I'm not sure if it's written for an adult audience. I think that Roby attempted to convey a message to young people that sexual abuse is not normal and not ok however I didn't get a clear understanding of what she was trying to tell the reader about what to do in the case that it is happening to them. If I were a child being abused and read this book, in the end I would still be questioning, should I tell or shouldn't I tell. The book was very rushed, I wish th...more
Now I feel every young lady from 13 and older need to read. This book made me cry,laugh and fight. Kimberly Lawson Roby did the damn thing. This book is about things we need to address daily. We as woman need to stop falling for the first man to come into our lives. Talk things over with our kids and let them know they are welcome to talk to us.
A Deep Dark Secret will be a challenging read for those who are survivors of sexual abuse but it’s a very important read. Kimberla Lawson Roby does a great job at delicately telling the story of a teenage girl whose father forced her to have sex with him since she was five years old. The author lets the girl tell her story in her own voice. We learn why the girl waited so long to tell her mother and it’s entirely believable, and true from everything I’ve read about sexual abuse.
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A deep dark secret it’s really a sad story to me. This story is about a young girl named Jillian Maxwell that was sexually abused by her biological father. Jillian Maxwell was the perfect girl, she always gets A on school, she always helps around house, and she’s happy with her adoring stepfather. But Jillian has a deep dark secret afraid to tell their friends. But then Jillian Maxwell finds the truth about what had happened to her, that she was sexually abused. I really liked this story, its re...more
Very very good but also shocking book, yet it's the reality, those kind of things happen every day, in every country of this world. Sad!
I have really mixed feelings about this book. I felt like it was an important message to young people who are being or have been sexually abused, it was quite graphic. I'm not sure I'd want my 13 year old reading it. I think for the naive young woman who didn't have an inkling about sexual abuse, it would be too disturbing. I found it disturbing, but compelling. I think the subject matter should be dealt with, but without such graphic details about the sexual encounters.
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While I usually enjoy Roby's works, I did not enjoy this one based on the subject matter. I know that the sexual abuse of children is hiddeous, and 1 in 4 children will suffer some kind of inappropriate touch by an adult. I don't like to read about it. Maybe it's because I'm a professional nanny, maybe it's because I have 5 "neices" and 1 "nephew" but this book bothered me. I will continue to read Roby's books, but I strongly did not care for this one.
This was a difficult read due to the content. Had I not had first hand experience, it may have had a different effect on me. I wanted to stop reading several times, but I needed to know Jillian would make out in the end. I wanted to see justice served. 20 years is not too long of a punishment for him. She will have to deal with this for the rest of her life, trust and believe, and it is not an easy thing to forget.
im not gonna lie,after every chapter i really wanted to punch someone,especially the step-father.i cried most of the time,a situation like this can happen to anyone.i recommend this book to everyone
This book really had me mad!! Its a true situation that unfortunately happens to young girls. The story line was good but I found myself angry and glad at the end.
Very good book. Some parts are very hard to read because it is about a young girl being molested by her Dad. Harder for me to read since I have a daughter.
I read this book in two days! I couldn't put it down. This book absolutely touched a nerve. Kimberla has done it again!
This story delivers a strong message that abuse of this type should not be tolerated. May this story reach those who suffer in silence and that they may find the courage to speak up, reach out, and end their silence and abuse. I do agree with other reviews that the story did end abruptly and too easy. The prologue did neatly wrap up the story.
Sheila
added it
Jillian's stepfather was sick sick sick!!!!! It is very disturbing that too many of our children go through this.
Loujean
added it
I found this to be a very easy and interesting book.
Good for teens, not so captivating for adults. Quick read.
Excellent Read! Very touching!
Hard subject matter (child molestation) but very well done.
Emotional read. I really enjoyed it.
Freda
added it
Truly a good read.
Jackie ADAMS
added it
good read
The message was great, however, I felt that the book was rushed.
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I truly enjoyed this book, some say its a good read for teenagers but not adults. I totally disagree, this book is for everyone, especially adults, who knows maybe it will help you to see some signs that you normally would miss. Heaven forbid, this stuff happens & more than we know. The stats on this issue is way too disturbing.
Keep up all the good work you have put out there Kimberla, always a big fan of your work.
Keep up all the good work you have put out there Kimberla, always a big fan of your work.
I think this was a good book.
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New York Times Bestselling Author, Kimberla Lawson Roby, has published thirteen novels which include, THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, ONE IN A MILLION (a novella), 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 debut title, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS , which was originally self-publi...more
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