DANCING ON A CRACK IN A HOLLOW HOUSE

A child abuse survivor recounts her lifelong path to recovery in Traub’s debut memoir.

“Examining our story allows us to determine how our future chapters evolve,” writes the author, as writing allows one to “move from a bystander to an active participant.” Despite the book’s relentless optimism, it does not sugarcoat the author’s horrific childhood trauma. “Caught in Evil’s Chasm,” Traub, her sisters, and her mother were trapped for years inside a home with her stepfather, Don, whose alleged physical, emotional, and sexual abuse is bravely detailed here. The author also confronts the lasting feelings of loneliness, fear, anger, and shame she carried with her for decades. The book’s poignancy, however, lies not so much in Traub’s pain, but in her recovery and desire to help other victims “find their God-given purpose through and beyond their pain and suffering.” Indeed, while her stepfather’s menacing presence looms over each chapter, the book also centers on those who made a positive difference in the author’s life: from a high school vice principal’s gesture of nonjudgmental acceptance to the support given to Traub by her sisters, children, and husband. The author’s Christian faith is also a central theme in her recovery, and the book abounds with references to God (who, the author writes, “turned my mourning into dancing and filled me with joy”). Inspirational Bible verses and Christian-themed poetry emphasizing the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and unconditional love occur throughout the narrative. Non-Christians will still find immense value in the book’s intimate perspective on the conflicting emotions that confront abuse survivors as well as its insider account of recovery groups and professionally licensed therapists. Written in an unconventional style, Traub often mixes timelines, as the past is retold through flashbacks intertwined with stories from her present life. This technique, along with blending first and third person, may make for a disorienting read, but it also provides a space for Traub to reclaim and write her own story.

A powerful, inspirational memoir about overcoming childhood trauma.