several interviews with victims, Deidre’s book indicates that the landscape of this crime knows no demographic and has a far-reaching, lasting effect. The stories of each woman in the novel also serve as a reminder that victims should be the focus of effective and on-going rehabilitation. As Rebekah starts to understand “being whole is a choice,” she realizes, “I need to learn just who I started out to be; the journey begins today without a compass and a map, but in the company of several women who are also arriving at the same conclusions.” It is through the community of women, the clamor made by the CLAMOR girls, that each woman begins to recover what has been taken from her, to celebrate, without shame, the woman she was meant to be. In one of the final scenes of the book, Casey’s mother, Annette, poignantly reiterates the indelible mark left by sexual abuse: “I am still haunted by what he did to her; when a man molests a little girl, he is not only molesting her as a child, but he is also marking her adolescence, her child-bearing years and other times of transition in her life.” Although a weighty and oftentimes very uncomfortable subject, the abuse discussed throughout this book is girded with an undercurrent of hope, the kind that Emily Dickinson immortalized: “Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” Armed with faith and knowledge, Deidre’s novel underscores that there is a way for the victims, as well as family members and loved ones, to relearn the songs in their hearts and to once again trust the unique quality of their voices.
About the Author
Born in England, Deidre Ann deLaughter studied psychology and religion at Emory University. Throughout her life, writing has been the medium she uses for understanding and sorting through her world. She describes writing as the “direct connection between brain, heart, and pen.” A friend challenged her to write this book. At first, she didn’t take it seriously as she had yet to explore writing fiction. Then, one afternoon, she remembers that Casey and Rebekah “showed up in
her car” and began having a conversation that eventually turned into her debut novel. Through “Reawakening Rebekah,” Deidre hopes readers realize the importance of releasing secrets that ‘once out,’ begin to lose their power.” This empowering awareness is the beginning of facing the formidable “trio of fear, guilt, and shame.” The stories of the CLAMOR girls is also a reminder that the sexual abuse of children occurs in “every possible socioeconomic demographic and its effects are lasting and far-reaching.” Deidre also wants her work to carry the message that “hope, advocacy, and awareness are available for victims of sexual abuse.” Deidre currently lives and works in Athens, Ga. and is proud to be the mother of the “three classiest young women in the world.” For more information, including readings and events, visit her website at www. clamorgirls.com.
Hollie Greene Hollie Greene is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the mountains of North Carolina.
AUGUST 2014 | AAWMAG.COM
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