Charred Souls: A Story of Recreational Child Abuse

by Trena Cole

Book Overview

Charred Souls describes the childhood of one child and her 6 siblings as they grew up in a family that used child abuse as a source of entertainment. In her book, she describes the methods of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 097235350X
• ISBN13: 9780972353502
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Oberpark Publishing
• Length: 325 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

the merit is in the psychological value of this personal ...

...experience. Reading this book is like a personal interview with someone who not only lived 'child abuse' but had the insight to understand the dynamics of the perpetrators as well. Although this book is not literary, it is written well: emotionally powerful, educational and entertaining (definitely holds your interest) to read. I have read a lot in the field of child abuse, first hand accounts, clinical studies, etc., and this is one of the best books on the subject besides a Child Called It . Commendation is due for the narrator's voice and tone: not a poor me tone, but a factual, 'I have suvived' tone, actually laced with an underlying sarcastic humor (I actually cracked up in places, because the humor reveals the ridiculousness of adults bullying a small child). This book can be therapeutic to those who are in the proper healing stages of recovery.

Compelling

This is one of the most compelling and poignant stories I have ever read. As painful as it was to read of the sadism this little girl and her siblings were subjected to, I simply could not put the book down. The writer has a way of putting the reader right there. As you frantically turn the pages you find yourself witnessing the horrific abuse. You recoil in disgust and rejoice in her strength of character as she is determined to survive and be a loving role model to her younger siblings. I only hope this gifted scribe keeps on writing.

Mystery To Me

Why people enjoy torturing, manipulating and mistreating children is a mystery to me. What kind of victory do adults feel by bullying the small and defenseless? I used to say jokingly, on a bad day with my children, "I'll never condone child abuse, but some days I can almost understand it." After reading Charred Souls, I will never say that again, it's not funny anymore. I had never heard the term 'recreational child abuse' until I saw this book and that's exactly what Trena, and her brothers and sisters, lived with. If I were a vengeful person I'd say it would be fitting for those parents, and a few extended family members, to have to live the way those kids did for just one year. But I'm not vengeful and they probably still wouldn't admit the error of their ways anyway, child abusers almost never do. Trena Cole did a wonderful job making me feel as though I was there with her while she lived through the abuse she was dealt in life. I'm glad she told, I wish more survivors did. The author describes the way the children were cussed at and smacked at all day, every day. It seemed like the children enraged the adults just by being there. They were either enraged and attacking the children, or they were torturing them for fun. Recreational child abuse, who could have put a finger on that one? Trena Cole's therapist. Who would have thought someone would have to come up with a name for such mistreatment? That bunch of sick pillars of the community who had seven kids and abused them emotionally, physically, mentally, verbally and permanently! I have to believe they knew exactly what they were doing and I also believe they will never admit that what they did was deplorable. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's definitely five star material.

Inspirational and Educational

I give this book five stars because that is the highest rating available. I was fortunate enough to hear Trena Cole speak to a group of professionls a few weeks ago and to meet her was even more touching than reading her book. She was very brave, and inspirational, to give us a glimpse of not only what happened to her and her siblings but the long term effects of severe emotional abuse. Her story is not only inspirational, but educational for anyone touching the lives of children in their profession. While reading Charred Souls I had to ask the same question Trena seemed to ask over and over as a child, "Is anyone watching? Is anyone paying attention?" While she and the rest of the children in her immediate, and extended, family were used as game pieces for sadistic controlling power games it seemed as if the whole world lived that way. Those children certainly had no inspiration or intervention from anyone to indicate anything else. Not since, A Child Called It, have I read such a heartbreaking case of child abuse. In her book Trena talks about the angels who passed through her life while she miracously made it through the chaos of her violently tornadic childhood. When a gas station attendant smiled at her and told her she was a pretty little girl, that was enough to keep her inspired and forging ahead for days. She refers to him as one of the angels who gave her a kind word when she felt like she was shriveling up and couldn't go on. Forced to stay strong and hard. Forced to keep the secret of her abuse from the rest of the world. I salute Trena Cole for her courage to become an inspirational angel, in her own right, by educating people who can make a difference in such a child's life.

A Battle For LIfe........

CHARRED SOULS is a powerfully drawn true sojourn of a child's struggle for physical and emotional existence. Trena Cole is the eldest of seven children borne by a poorly educated woman living in a shack on an alley in Small town America. Trena, from her earliest memory, was forced to be a wage earner, housekeeper and guardian for her siblings. Her Mother, Alcee, is a lazy and manipulative woman who exploits her children for money and emotionally abuses them for entertainment. Gordon, her stepfather who parades as the supreme king, enjoys the pain and control he wields within the confines of his house. All of the prominent players in Trena's existence are brought to life. Her schizophrenic Grandma alternately shows her love, yet subjects her to the harshest cruelest criticism possible. Aunts, uncles and cousins who witness the vicious cycle and do not raise a hand or voice to help. Raymond, the manager of a small restaurant at the end of the alley, takes advantage of a seven year old child with impunity. Well meaning school officials and child welfare agencies only succeed in creating a more desperate situation for the very children they attempt to assist. Trena's life was a montage of cruel and painful events meant to demean and deprive her and her siblings of a human face by the very forces that society expects to comfort, love and protect them, the nuclear family. CHARRED SOULS is a profoundly touching yet an "on edge of your seat" story. You find yourself pulling for this lost soul from the Introduction to the final page. This is not a light read, but a MUST read, especially for every professional whose life is dedicated to making children safe! All who read this book will be forever changed by it. This is a captivating and riveting story that makes you want to reach out and help this child!CHARRED SOULS is written in first person narrative and freely laced with dialogue exactly as Trena remembers it. The dialogue comes directly at you in waves and throws you into Trena's life exposing you to the reality of her "Hell on Earth." The subject matter is difficult yet the struggle is compelling. This is a journey you won't want to miss. Though it is unusual, a personal "Thank you" goes to Ms. Cole for sharing her experience and allowing herself to show the wonderment of the human spirit.