FACING THE JAGUAR

A childhood sexual assault victim shares her story of abuse and healing in this debut memoir.

“Almost all of my adulthood has been affected by a stolen childhood,” Walters writes in the book’s prologue as she addresses her aging father and serial abuser: “You have taken more from me than anyone.” This opening sets the stage for the rest of the book, with its chronologically jumbled storytelling and its emphasis on confronting the demons of one’s past. While the author does not shy away from discussing the graphic details of her abuse, the narrative centers around her long journey toward healing and the power of shining the cleansing light of truth on painful, dark family histories. Comparing her father to a jaguar, a predator who prowls the night waiting to pounce on its next victim, Walters notes that instead of feeling safe in her own home she was “lost in the jungle” as the beast’s prey. Walters’s story also indicts adults who fail to protect children, including members of her own family as well as religious leaders; “Jewish fathers don’t do that,” one counselor in whom the author confided told her, adding, “You have a vivid imagination, dear.” Walters discusses the psychological power her father held over her well into adulthood, and his warped justifications when confronted with his past. This is not an easy read, and rightfully comes with a trigger warning in the book’s frontmatter. A public advocate for childhood sexual abuse survivors who has developed workshops for women dealing with abuse, addiction, and domestic violence, Walters tells her story not just for personal catharsis but also to provide inspiration to survivors, demonstrating that courage, personal autonomy, and healing are possible. The book’s lean, focused text does not leave room for tangential stories, underscoring its fierce insistence that confronting abuse head-on is an essential step on the path to recovery.

A painful but powerful story of abuse and the long road to healing.