What would you do if you heard someone abusing a child in the bedroom next to yours?
What would you do if it took over a year for that child to find safety, and you heard the child's anguished cries, night after night?
Read one woman's diary of suspected child abuse in the state of New Hampshire during 2011 and 2012.
This is a true story describing real events, though the characters have been fictionalized.
This isn't a novel. It's a real-life diary.
The story starts as the concerned neighbor gradually discovers that it doesn't help to call the police or state officials. Their hands are tied, whether by inadequate laws or an overwhelmed and under-funded system.
The only people who seemed concerned were those who - by law - couldn't do anything except offer help to the family, and express frustration to the police, Child Protective Services, and members of the extended family.
This diary covers the months that followed, until one parent decided to shake things up.
This book isn't just about one child. It gives you an inside view of a system that is overburdened and ineffective.
In this case, nothing protected the child from abuse.
"Momma, Don't Hit Me!" includes the author's thoughts on what needs to change to heal children, their families, and - ultimately - their communities.
Read this true story now, to understand what's going on behind some closed doors, and what needs to change to protect children in our community.
About the Author: Shannon Bowen is a New England author, and popular travel writer. Her first diary-style book, "Momma, Don't Hit Me!" became an instant Kindle bestseller in 2012. Then, she wrote a sequel, describing what happened next in the sad tale of Kevin, the abused child. She's currently working on a new series of books, based on others' real experiences with abuse and bullying. Shannon writes from her home office. She is a happily married wife and mother, and a former Girl Scout camp director. She's active in her church, and her hobbies include baking, hiking, and genealogy.
