Violent Embrace

the long version

Grief. Regret. Fear. Longing. Whom do we cling to when life gets overwhelming? Can anyone rescue us from the clutches of pain, danger, loneliness or despair? After a terrifying car crash, Sami weeks in the hospital to find her face, her plans and her confidence shattered beyond recognition. She feels helpless. And hideous. Jake's father withholds food from the kids, sometimes for days. When his older sister finally flees, Jake knows what he must tell authorities to survive: "Our dad would never hurt us." Phoebe grows up desperate to avoid her mom's rages, marrying young and ultimately moving into her dream house. But when she punches holes in the walls during fights with her husband, she's forced to wonder, Have I become my mother? Sami, Jake, Phoebe and other real people from right here in Greenville, South Carolina, share their true stories of facing unbearable situations -- and of finding themselves gripped by something more powerful than they'd ever imagined. Violent embrace. - Back cover.