Description:
This is the story of a survivor, Steve O'Connor, a man who has lived a life of resilience, a life described by others as heroic, yet tragic. The book begins with a simple reunion, a celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of a small Catholic school in Seattle. It ends with one of the most dramatic, precedent-setting civil trials ever to take place in the history of the Catholic Church sexual abuse crisis.
A unanimous jury verdict would determine the largest award of its kind for an individual victim. The account of the direct-evidence trial includes corroborating testimony and revelations that are astonishing and heart-wrenching.
It leaves no doubt about the secrets kept to cover up these horrific crimes--and of the determination of those who struggle through the pain, shame, and guilt to speak their truth and gain justice.
Review Quotes:
"This is more than a story of a man's struggle to overcome child sexual abuse. It is a moving story of strength and the capacity of humans to turn the dark into light."
Dr. Jon Conte, Professor, School of Social Work, University of Washington