A Goodreads user asked Misty Griffin:

The description says that "Tears of the Silenced" is based on a true story. I've found reviews criticizing various aspects of your book, such as the details of communities, and which communities were involved. Would you be willing to confirm which aspects of these are true and which are dramatized? It could help children in surrounding areas to stay safe. Thank you kindly for any reply.

Misty Griffin Unfortunately, I cannot confirm where the community is. Actually at this moment someone from my book is being investigated. I can say that these are the Amish from the midwest area. Iowa, Wisconsin etc. Some stories from other victims have been incorporated into my story. There are some dramatizations but I added them to emphasize how easily crimes are committed among the Amish and to show what my church believed. I wish I could say more but due to the investigation I do not want to put anyone in jeopardy. I will say that I know more than one family where almost all the children were molested by the fathers. They were reported to the church leaders who then placed them in the six-week bann. These children then went on to be abused horribly. I am in contact with some of them at the moment. It is an outrage and a crime.

The adults that knew this was happening could have done something. If a group of the Amish men and women had went to the authorities they would have believed them. These men could have at the very least been removed from the home.

My hope is that one day the Amish will realize that it is Okay to go the authorities. If the authorities were to start to hold the Amish clergy accountable and make it mandatory for them to report instances of abuse I think it would eventually become less of a problem than it is now. But right now it truly is plague among the Amish, those who say it is not are in denial or were fortunate enough to be spared themselves. I do not wish to harm the Amish but in good conscious cannot remain silent either.

Here are a couple of video's that pretty much sum up what goes on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPHFu...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z5CO...

A very important article.
http://legalaffairs.org/issues/Januar...

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