Courage in Patience: A Story of Hope for Those Who Have Endured Abuse

Rather than the famous West Texas town of El Paso (although that town is briefly referred to in the story), this emotionally draining debut novel is set in the tiny East Texas town of Patience. Ashley, the young protagonist tells the heartbreaking tale of the six years of abuse she endures at the hands of her step-father, and the betrayal she experiences when her own mother and maternal grandparents refuse to believe her story, even when faced with irrefutable evidence. Her mother and her biological father had parted on bad terms, having eloped as teenagers when her mother was pregnant with Ashley, and except for the occasional card and the child support payments, he is a complete stranger. Having heard of his uncontrollable bad temper, Ashley is more than a little afraid when he swoops in and whisks her back to his home in Patience to live with his new family, against the wishes of her mother. As if this weren't enough, the small town soon becomes embroiled in a moral brouhaha when Ashley's step-mother Bev chooses a controversial novel for summer school reading, revealing the bigotry of some elements of the supposedly religious and tightly knit community. With love and a lot of support from her father and step-mother, Ashley slowly begins to work her way out of her self-constructed armor, but fails to make meaningful progress until she gains the self-confidence to face her nightmares head on. Based in part on the author's real-life experiences, this book tackles abuse, racism, intolerance and cruelty, tempered by love, compassion and friendship, and is recommended for ages 14 and up. Genuine characters, believable dialogue and a heartbreaking story make for an absorbing and compelling read. Rated: 4.5 stars Amanda Richards, September 13, 2008

This book is so emotionally and psychologically heavy that it is surprising that it is so physically light. Fehlbaum has managed to pack so many negative aspects of life into this book that it could have been extremely depressing to read. However, while there are passages that brought tears to my eyes, it is uplifting. Ashley Asher is the main character and she is in her early teens and has been sexually molested by her stepfather for years. Her mother is aware of it but demonstrates some truly world-class denial. Ashley has withdrawn, often sleeping in her closet with as many obstacles as she can find between the door and her place of safety. When her stepfather reaches the point where he rapes her, with the help of a kindly teacher, Ashley seeks help. Fortunately, she is reunited with her biological father, a man she has not seen since she was an infant. Even more fortunate, he has quit drinking, gotten married and has a stable life. Ashley goes to live with him and his family in Patience, Texas and she begins the road to recovery. In addition to her problems, Ashley finds that Patience is a town with problems from one dusty street to another. Ashley encounters racial hatred and bigotry, religious parents who find it difficult to utter three consecutive sentences without a religious reference and a football coach whose religion is spelled "football." She also meets children her age and very strong adults who stand up and do battle for what is right. Therefore, this is a book about severe and broad-based adversity, having the courage to fight back and an ultimate triumph against forces that have been in place for some time. The courage shown by the teenagers in this book is the stuff that great people are made of. The story is the stuff that great writers make.

A GREAT READ! WITHOUT A DOUBT BETH WILL CONTINUE TO BRING FORTH WORKS THAT ARE A PLEASURE TO READ AND AN INSPIRATION FOR MANY OF US! A MUST READ FOR ANYONE AND A GREAT BOOK FOR VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, PASTORS, TEENS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS ...

Courage in Patience (Texas) is a compelling and stark story by Author Beth Fehlbaum of the horrific effects of child abuse, religious dogma / idiocy not only on its main character Ashley Asher, but also on the population of those small backwater hamlets of Texas. But they could be anywhere. The tribulations of this innocent child growing into a young woman makes one cringe with its inflicted descriptive brutalities. In reading this book, one cannot help but experience a visceral reaction, which seems to call for violence to oppose not only the sick-minded pedophile-'fathers,' but also the sick-minded 'mothers' who tolerate such behavior in the name of their own 'security.' But it is also a story of hope for young adults, should they seek and find the many decent people who abhor abuse and vicious criminal actions of any kind. It is made quite clear in this book that one of the main obstacles to finding such help for abuse victims resides in the fact that the victims have been so traumatized that they no longer believe such decency exists within their communities. Thus, it is even more devastating when mothers, the so-called protectors of the young, ignore the facts and choose to believe the evil among them simply does not exist, or make some self-serving excuses. Courage in Patience, however, finds a way out and reaffirms basic decency for Ashley Asher to find. And find it she does, notwithstanding the very obstacles she faces for her life to come. In the process, bigotry and brutality are confronted and finally, the villain gets his just deserts. (Just in time, before I hired a tank, found Patience, TX on the map, and blew that turkey away (the pedophile, not the town) - sorry, I get riled up with injustice). In the final analysis, it is a book of hope for young adults who may, perhaps, have encountered such overwhelming evil. Highly recommended.

You probably know that this is a story about surviving sexual abuse and living one's way through the alienation and loss that goes along with it. You should also know that this is one of those books about group of teens and that the healing that takes place is partly mediated by the dynamics of the group. This dimension gives the story some extra power that all kids need to have: we get well with the help of those around us. Nicely written and with a compforing message for anyone who needs to get over it and get on with it.