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What happens when children are told they are no good? When they are abused, neglected, and treated as worthless? Anya Achtenberg explores the dark, sad world of childhood abuse and how one girl found the power to rise above it in the heart-aching, powerfully told "The Stories of Devil- Girl." Born into the Jewish slums of Brooklyn, Devil-Girl is raised to believe she has the devil in her, or at least he is at work in her life. Her abusive mother teaches her she is worthless. But hope always exists. The novel will inspire those in abusive situations to overcome their pasts. Readers will become more aware of child-abuse and the importance of building a child's self-esteem. First released as an audiobook, "The Stories of Devil-Girl" will emphasize for people the importance of letting children's voices be heard and the necessity of being the voice for children who cannot raise their own.
The Stories of Devil-Girl
Anya Achtenberg
Modern History Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932690620
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (6/08)
Devil-Girl was raised to believe that she had the devil in her, or at least he was at work in her life. Her troubled family and tough neighborhood taught her to believe that she wasn’t worth anything. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood, Devil-Girl encountered people who used and abused her. Devil-Girl was never heard. Because her belief in her self-worth has been attacked in various ways, the child, often silenced, must find ways to resist and speak up for herself and, eventually, for others. She is always moving toward change even at the darkest moments, but this story made me fear for all of the “Devil-Children” out there who don’t get heard.
Achtenberg has a talent for writing scenes in vivid detail which brings them to life for the
reader. It is inspiring to see the character turn her life around and use her experiences to help other Devil-Girls out there. This may in turn inspire others who are being abused to make something positive of their lives and not allow the current situation to ruin their futures. I think that it will also make people take a closer look at what is happening in the lives of people around them, especially children’s.
“The Stories of Devil-Girl” is the first book in the Reflections of America Series. This
series “highlights autobiography, fiction, and poetry which express the quest to discover one’s context within modern society.” If “The Stories of Devil-Girl” is any indication of the quality of the books to follow in this series, readers will be thrilled to have access to some excellent works. This book is one tough act to follow.
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