Not Just a Touch

by Gerald Donais

Imagine, if you will, a baby girl born in 1959. During the early toddler years the child was sexually abused and entered into the world of pornography by those she loved and trusted. By the age of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591299284
• ISBN13: 9781591299288
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: America Star Books
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Good book Needs editor

This was a good book and a heartfelt story, very dramatic. However the book has many grammatical errors that need edited. Some of these errors make a few points impossible to understand. I did like the book and it was very powerful.

An emotional book of a triumphant spirit

Jerry's story told in 'Not Just A Touch' is not the first story of abuse I have read however it is one of the most emotionally hard stories I have ever read. For those that may have read Dave Pelzer's story, A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive and the others in Pelzer's series this is similiar. Jerry not only had to deal with the abuse but also deal with a past that was hidden, clouded and revealed to him and his spouse Cheryl. As an individual with a gender blessing myself I can understand what Jerry went through in trying to understand the uniqueness he was blessed with. I will however never understand how another human being can abuse a person in the way that Jerry was. Throughout the story Jerry speaks about being weak and powerless however I submit to you that it takes a strong individual to come through a childhood such as that and cannot help but think that Cheryl has been a blessing in his life.It is a fact the one in every 2000 children are born with some type of genital abnormality. Compare this to cystic fibrosis which is one in every 2500 and one begins to wonder why society knows and accepts little about those of us blessed with intersexuality. There are two major, unwarranted and unsubstantiated claims by doctors involved in infant genital mutilation (IGM). 1) they believe they can decide which gender to assign someone, and 2) that there are only two choices - male and femaleThe nature of diagnosising the intersexed individuals gender is time-consuming and based on the gender theory that gender be assigned at birth. This alone presents the physician as well as parents with a dilemma if they strive to place the child in one of the customary genders, male or female. Being intersexed is nothing to be shameful of. I stand with Jerry and others to say that IGM must stop. Abuse of any kind should not be tolerated. As you read this story and go through the emotional rollercoaster, remember that this is something that took you only a few hours to read yet Jerry lived with the abuse for decades. This abuse will continue to live within Jerry and others through out their lives. I encourage you to educate yourselves about intersexualism and reconsider that what some may see as physiologically normal is nothing more than what has been customary or accepted out of ignorance. I encourage you to get involved and stop child abuse.Thanks to Jerry and Cheryl for letting me preview their story., DaleLynn Sims

A Crushing and Breathtaking Odyssey

I was also lucky enough to read "Not Just A Touch" prior to publication and to appear with Gerry on "Montel" when he first started to promote the book. Even for me, whose early life as an intersexed person in chronicled in my own book "Sugar and Spice and Puppy Dog Tails", this was an almost uncomprehendingly horrifying tale. Knowing the author, I already felt enormous affection for him and his wife. After reading this book, however, I am filled with admiration for his strength and confidence is who he is to be able to cope with such a horrendous start in life. Most people -- including myself -- would probably have ended up a vegetable in a state institution by the age of 18 if this had been their fate. It is a moving testament to Gerry that he is sane and secure and contented in his life today, having survived every nasty detail mentioned herein.As hideous as the facts are, Gerald Donais tells a fine narrative and stands as an example to everyone on survival and belief in oneself.I recommend this book to everybody who can read! (And for those who can't -- have someone read it to you!!)

Eye Opener to everyone

I was able to read Not Just a Touch prior to it's release. This book will leave you with tears in your eyes, I could not put it down. It opened my eyes to the problems with child sexual abuse in this world. I will stand behind this author as he puts the message out that child abuse must stop! Highly Recommended!