Reviews
“Written with heart and humor, Girl Hidden is a testimony to the author's resilience and ultimate triumph in the face of family trauma, religious betrayal, and community failure. You can't help but root for her, page after page, as she struggles to "be a good girl" despite her overwhelming responsibilities and complete lack of support or opportunity. How she survived, much less succeeded, is both humbling and inspiring.”
— Danielle S.
“This is an emotional read from start to finish. The main character, Jesse, is a strong character who is easy to root for. We follow Jesse from before her conception, with her mother Dolores, to the ending, where she comes into her own strength.
The beginning of the book starts with ancillary characters like Jesse’s mother, and her parents. We get a stunningly authentic portrayal of a selfish flighty woman who already harbors seeds of abuse inside her. The characters of the Grandfather and Grandmother are presented as kind, but flawed in their own way. When the character of Robert is introduced, one knows instinctively where the plot is going; his passivity and abuse are just as expertly portrayed as Dolores’s. The friends of the parents, and Jesse’s, are both depicted in realistic ways that don’t glorify or villainize the characters; an impressive feat considering the nature of this memoir. Each family member (and there are many!) all have an individual voice.
The story moves at a steady pace. We jump back and forward in time, from before Jesse’s birth, to scenes of her growing up and being abused, to her having escaped and healing. This braided narrative works well in diffusing the darker themes in this book. As a memoir focusing on abuse by narcissism, it does a great job describing the actions and dialogues of narcissistic people and their enablers. The action speaks for itself, in all its horrifying glory. The pacing of the entire memoir flows and we end with an uplifting note, with a cast of mostly happy and enlightened characters who finally are united.
There were many parts that were hard to read. The emotional, physical and sexual abuse was a lot to take in. But the ending proves that in the end, narcissists oust themselves with their own behavior. And victims become survivors by pumping on their own strength and leaving the abuse behind, finding power in friendship and love. This book reminds us no one is alone, and many people will help others overcome horrific life circumstances.
I award this book a 4.5 stars.”
-Sophie Jupillat Posey, The Book Dragon, UK
“I seriously finished this book in two days, it’s not one you can put down!”
— Mackenzie G.
“This book is griping, from the first page till the last. I haven’t stayed up till the wee hours of the morning to finish a book in a long time, but I did last night. An amazing story of strength, pain, heartbreak, depression and love, with loads of growth, self discovery and restoration! It’s hard to say all the things I want to say, because it stirred up so many memories for me. As a child being at your house, I always knew something wasn’t “right” in your home, but I loved being there with you. After reading the book, so much of what I saw makes sense now, and breaks my heart because I wish I could have been there for you in all the ways you needed. But I didn’t know. I was a kid too. If I could give this book 10 stars I would! Anyone thinking about reading, just do it. I’m so proud of you, Jesse, and even though we don’t know each other like we used to, I will always carry you in a special place in my heart and I love you.”
-Amanda J.
“Books dealing with child abuse rarely touch on the enabling forces and people surrounding the abuser, this book does not gloss over this factor. Although the story is transparent on the abuse of the children it is not overly graphic and is softened by the love and tenderness the siblings have for one another...”
— Amanda S.
“Reading this book, was like sitting down with an old friend and asking them to bear their soul to you. Jesse’s story is one that no child should ever have to endure. The fact that she wasn’t allowed a real childhood makes me appreciate even more the warm, hopeful, hilarious, bright, and magical person that I’ve known her to be. Her story is difficult to read at times, but as Jesse takes us with her throughout the different timelines she has lived, we see the hope that always lived inside of her. We see her get the happy ending that she has always deserved. This is a journey to healing that should give us all hope, as we all share different kinds of pain throughout this life. Take Jesse’s hand and walk with her as she leads you barefooted through freezing cold waters, into a dance of love and hopefulness.”
-Jennifer N.
“Yesterday, I started listening to the weekly episode drop of the "Suffer the Little Children" podcast, and discovered this week was your interview. I started listening and decided to stop 5 minutes in, order the audio book, listen to that first. And THEN finish listening to the interview. It has been less than 24 hrs and I have finished both the audio book and the interview. It was such a captivating, magical and heartwrenching story. I couldn’t bring myself to stop listening.”
— Cheryl M.
“I had the privilege of meeting the author a few times at a dance event she ran in Seattle some years ago. As a relatively new dancer I was impressed by both her dancing skills and the confidence she exuded while running the event. I would never have guessed at the horrors in her past. That skill and confidence are evident again in this memoir, which neatly weaves narratives from two timelines together to build an uplifting story of survival. The rich details and keen observations make you feel like you're right there alongside the author for both the good and the bad. Readers with similar experiences in their pasts may be able to take inspiration from the author's journey, but all readers will be glued to the pages at the end to find out how it all turns out.”
-Paton L.
“This book is simply awesome! Beautifully written story that weaves young Jesse and adult Jesse's experiences into a powerful yet terrifying memoir. The writing kept me glued to the couch reading. Anxiously hoping for good and fearing that there will be another twist of abuse. It's dark, it's beautiful, it's full of emotion. You'll love it!”
— Britt W.
“This book shocked, moved, and appalled me in so many ways, it's almost unbelievable the way some of the story unfolds. However I know it to be as true as the author could make it, piecing things together about her life through first- and second-hand family accounts, court records, saved and salvaged letters and postcards, and of course her own lived experiences.
This book is a stunning reminder of the strength, tenacity, and resilience of the human spirit, while also being a stark and sometimes gut-wrenching description of what some humans are capable of.
Ultimately, it's a demonstration of the power of love, and what it can do for you when you finally find it -- *especially* within yourself -- even in the face or wake of extreme adversity and abuse.
Most effusive kudos to the author for the bravery she has shown by putting this into the world.”
-Lessa L.
“This was a well written book. The author writes a 3rd person narrative about her life growing up in a severely abusive home. It was heartbreaking, and in some places I found the detailed descriptions of the abuse that she suffered to be extremely difficult to hear, but as there was a warning up front about this and I think that not including these things would have been a complete disservice and invalidating in regards to the author's experiences. My heart goes out to Jesse Rene Gibbs and I very much hope she has healed through writing this memoir.”
— Lindsay H.
“Having grown up with/around Jesse and her family, I was transported back to some of the same places and some of the emotions that she lived. I devoured her beautifully written outpouring in 24 hours. It was a captivating read, not only for the easy flow and connection to my own childhood (and common crushes) and filling in of gaps where my childish soul knew there was darkness I didn't understand but her seamless integration of situation, character, and time. I couldn't put it down.
I'm sure a lot of people have had similar experiences, of being on the fringe of something so big and ominous but unfathomable. This memoir feels like the tip of an iceberg...forest. There is so much depth of situation that we are left wanting more of and I hope a part of her happy middle-ending is spent exploring and sharing those situations (ptsd therapy / cult life, hello!) with all of us who have ever been in/around/recovering from abusive and controlling relationships in other beautifully woven additions to this beginning.”
-Grace W.
“It’s a heroic story so well written, unimaginable abuse. I am so happy to see the author has triumphed over her turbulent past. Gripping and raw, but leaves you feeling with hope and optimistic new beginnings are always possible.”
— Olga D.
“I haven’t had shivers run down my back this way since I read Dave Pelzer’s Child Called It. Every time the mother is mentioned I held my breath for the next horror, wishing for some miracle to save this child from the never-ending nightmare.
My heart aches for Jesse, and celebrates the sprinkles in highlights of potential for healing.
I couldn’t put this down. I felt so many relatable emotions, and felt my own trauma find healing as I read of Jesse’s journey to heal from each and every wound she experienced at the hands of the people she was supposed to be safe with.”
-Emily S.
“A really gripping story! Loved how the author moves from letters to journal entries to storytelling across time and place to take the reader along through her journey of understanding, awareness, growth, strength and trust in herself. Beautifully written. A triumph. This one will stay with me for a long time!”
— Kelly E.
