May Reading Challenge

As we round the corner into May, it’s time for us to pick out a new book! Head to Hester’s Books on the Square to chose from a selection of (drum roll please)… “A Book with the Word ‘Secret’ in the Title.” Hester’s shelves are stocked with copies of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling, and The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden. Check back on the 15th to for our bi-monthly check-in on our reading progress!
Last month, the Radiogram and Hester’s Books on the Square brought you “Memoirs by People You Admire.” With April dedicated as a Child Abuse Prevention Month, I selected a copy of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. “The complicated story of child actor, Jennette McCurdy, coming to terms with her mother’s mental health issues and how they have impacted her life.” – Alyson Morrow.
The memoir highlighted a key aspect of child acting and television in general – what we see on our screens unfortunately does not always reflect what’s going on behind the scenes. Jennette painstakingly recalls countless moments in her life when she had to fake a smile and get through a scene she was dreading, all while dealing with a mother who had forced her own acting dreams upon her with no regard of the costs to her daughter’s childhood. Though there were several people whom Jennette remembers commenting on the obvious stress she was undergoing, and the eating disorders and mental health issues that came along with it, her own voice was missing among them until her mother’s death. I’m Glad My Mom Died is an extremely raw look at the turmoil she endured for 22 years and the challenges she faced in undoing them. It is also a reminder to us all not to be afraid to speak up and take the wheel when we witness injustice and abuse in our own community.
If you or someone you know is struggling with physical or mental abuse, you have options and you are not alone. The Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center has been serving their community for over 20 years, with a mission to “empower child abuse victims, their families and our community through education, healing and justice.” There are many resources available on their website for parents, guardians and community members seeking assistance.        
- MG