By Heather Gudenkauf
OMG, what a story! Heather Gudenkauf takes on the controversial issue of Safe Havens for newborn babies, where a new parent or other interested individuals may leave a new baby when these individuals cannot keep the child. When readers consider These Things Hidden as an illustrative example, I believe that there will be no choice as to whether to support the law.
Three young girls, from two different families become involved in the secretive birth of baby twins.No matter whether it is right or not, the very first thing I wondered about was the home life of the involved girls. One set of parents were extremely proud of their daughter, until she made a mistake. At that point they essentially disowned her.
Another parent had continuously brought new "fathers" into her home, even ignoring that sometimes it was her daughter that they were interested in...Allison was perfect. She was an excellent student and excelled in sports. She was disciplined and on track, moving toward college and a career.
Until she fell in love...
Nobody had known she was pregnant; she had a tall, slim body and with her rigorous sports and exercise, the fact that she was pregnant did not show. It allowed her to ignore what was happening to her body--she wasn't ready to accept what had happened.
Her younger sister Brynn was there when she came home that day, ready to deliver. For once, Brynn who had been in the shadow of her older beautiful sister since she had begun to win trophies and become so active in school, would be able to help her sister, albeit reluctantly.
But once the baby started coming, and there was nobody else to help, Brynn quickly pulled together sheets, towels and other items that would be needed and worked to help Allison as she delivered a little girl. Knowing what would happen if her parents came home, Brynn wrapped up the baby and layed her in the corner of the room while she cleaned up the room and helped Allison in then delivering the placenta.
Two things then happened.
Brynn saw that the little girl had turned blue and shared the news with Allison, knowing that she would be relieved.
Allison then had another baby--a little boy!
Allison was lost in fear, pain and confusion. When she saw the little boy, she automatically acted--she and Brynn took the baby boy to the home of the baby's father and forced them to take him, screaming that she could not keep him.
Charm had answered the door when Allison came. Finally calling her brother, they were confronted with a small baby boy and expected to keep him. Charm immediately fell in love with him while the baby's father left and had never returned.
Charm lived with one of her mother's "fathers" who had come to be the only real father she had ever known. When her mother left to be with another man, she and her brother had stated to live with Gus. Gus was now very ill and Charm, while also going to nursing school, was taking care of him. Now she was trying very hard to take care of a new-born child, her nephew. But soon she realized that she couldn't and very reluctantly delivered him to a safe haven...
The little girl, whose mother had never wanted her? She was found in a nearby river...
Allison was in jail for her death...
This is also a story about Joshua, a little boy who had been adopted by Clair and Jonathan. They had worried about the mother coming back to claim her child, as had happened with a little girl they had fostered. But with the Safe Haven law, they were able to quickly adopt Joshua. But that did not take away their fear!
The climatic ending is surreal. Readers know what is coming to some extent, but not this, not the real story, as written. Heather Gudenkauf has grabbed us by the core of our hearts and holds on tight as she reveals These Things Hidden. A powerful, truly unforgettable story about the little ones who are brought into the world, unwanted... If you've read this far, I guarantee you will be sorry if you miss this one!
Book Received Via
Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.
GABixlerReviews
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- Newborn left for dead at staircase landing (sg.yfittopostblog.com)
- Teenage Student Kills Newborn Baby At Oprah Winfrey?s School (donst08.wordpress.com)
- How to Surrender an Infant Under Safe Haven Laws - "It's About Life!" (deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com)
- How to Surrender an Infant Under Safe Haven Laws - "It's About Life!" (deaconforlife.blogspot.com)
- Book Review: These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf (stargazerpuj.wordpress.com)
- These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf (bluearchipelagoreviews.com)
- Heather Gudenkauf "These Things Hidden" (eyeonbooks.com)
Sounds like a deeply emotional read. Something that tugs at the heartstrings of an reader. Much like the work of a CASA.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I was thinking of sending this one to you...so I will!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Glenda