Thank you Netgalley. This book was an experience. The writing was so well done I had to remind myself it was NOT fiction. I became immersed in the story and couldn't put it down. Told from multiple POVS, this story about SURVIVING abuse was compelling. Highly recommend

As the Sycamore Grows is a story about how to heal abuse trauma. This story provides insight not only on the victim of the abuse but the abuser. You are able to see both sides of the story. What really shines through is the courage and strength of Ginger as she navigates life with all its struggles and victories.

Ginger MacNeil is a court advocate who has learned how to stand up for herself and others. Her husband Mike abused her emotionally, physically, and mentally. But like the sycamore tree grew out of compost, Ginger thrived too. When asked if she would change her past, Ginger replied, "Everything I was taught and believed and have done, it’s all part of me. It’s what made me a sitting duck for a man like Mike. And it’s where I drew my strength in the end.” And regarding loving an abuser - “I believe in every person there resides something— call it a soul, or humanity, but something that gives us hope and allows us to change. Whatever it is allowed me to change. And if I can change, so can other people. So, I don’t demonize batterers. Besides, I loved one for a very long time.”
This story is one of resilience, strength and power. It also shares the importance of friendship and professional support - Ginger survived after her escape from her abusive home because of the shelter employees and program participants who rallied around her. That's an example of true love and the need for folks in helping jobs/ministries to persevere.
I appreciate how the author wanted to get both sides of the story.
In places, the writing is more telling than showing. So, while the content could be triggering, it's not as emotionally charged as some other similar stories.
If you or someone you know is experiencing partner abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800 -799-7233 or visit www.thehotline.org .

Incredibly well written, this book made me feel as if I was reading a fictional story - until I remembered that it was very, terrifyingly real. It examines an abusive relationship from multiple perspectives, which makes for a compelling, hard to put down read. I can't say I enjoyed reading it due to the subject matter but it was definitely fascinating and thoroughly moving. The realness of the story hit me especially at the end, while I was looking through the photos of the couple and their children. While I don't usually read nonfiction books, I ended up caring deeply for the people involved and learned a lot about the types and mechanisms of abuse. I think that this story should be widely known and read as similar situations continue to happen every day, I firmly believe it could help others with understanding how abusive relationships work and at the same time give hope and support to those who need it.

From the first word this book holds your attention. The story of Ginger as she struggles through a childhood with an iron fisted Father and grows into an adult woman who believes that she should be equally submissive to her partner is one you can't look away from. As I was reading this book I appreciate that the author gave us insight not only from Ginger, but from her abuser Mike as well. Typically you only get one side of the story but getting to hear both sides made me feel even more anger at the situations which Ginger found herself in as the result of an egotistical man who used religion as his weapon. While this book was heartbreaking to read I felt that it would also give hope to those who found themselves in similar situations. Ginger never stopped fighting to be treated as an equal and as someone who knew she didn't deserve the treatment she was getting. This book is a redemption story and is worth the read.

Ginger is an abuse SURVIVOR. From early childhood, raised in an extremely religious household, she experienced an anti-feminist culture that fed easily into abuse that continued well into adulthood.

Written from various accounts, we get a look into not only the abused, but the abuser and how he normalized his twisted behavior, and the families that turned a blind eye to it.

Domestic violence is not easy to escape and the familial cycle is even more difficult to break. Yet that’s exactly what she does. Her very real and very raw story is about courage and strength. A truly powerful read.

This book will draw you into the pages of years of mental and psychological abuse that is often hidden to onlookers. It helps explain the cycle of abuse many experience behind closed doors. It exemplifies the need for mental health help. It also shows the care (and sometimes the lack there of) family plays in these situations. The book also shows how religion and doing what one thinks is the right thing and how this also can damage decision making. Definitely a book worth reading. I suggest anyone who has the slightest forn of abuse happening in their household read this book.

One girl's attempts to be happy, to make others happy. Will she succeed if she has been raised to abide, to serve and to comply?
This book makes you cry with sadness, wonder about human nature, grin with joy and sometimes despise people.
It rises questions about man's role/leadership in family, society, and the church.
Why is Ginger's experience as a child, a girl and a woman still so actual nowdays? Why? How?
And what role does the Church play in (small) rural communities.
What makes this book so special is that this story is about the abuse which is not always visible from the outside and sometimes even within the family itself.
And of course about courage, strength and flexibility of a woman.

This is a book about abuse neglect isolation and the southern way of staying with your husband. When gingers husband Mike started his abuse the very first time she climbed out of the window and ran unfortunately his parents live next-door and although his dad Roy was very upset at her sons abuse he still insisted he come get his wife even the preacher instructed her to go back to her husband and said I’ve already called Mike to come get you. Is Mike’s abuse grew so did his threats of taking her to live in the woods where she would have to do everything he said and little theGinger know but that is exactly what he was going to do and did. With her abusive husband Mike and her two boys Casey and Cody they live in an isolated shack with no electricity and not only lived in poverty but was like the stereotypical impoverished white family and although ginger knew her and her children were better than that it was something that kept compelling her to go back until the day she didn’t. As The Sycamore Grows by Jenny Miller Helderman is one of those stories she found by accident but knew the story his purpose it has won many awards has helped many abuse victims and survivors and I just want to say I felt so honored that I got to read this book it is such a story of a hero finding her feet and a testament to human survival. I absolutely love this book and I’m not a fan of biographies at all but totally love this autobiography and think everyone should get to read it. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A moving, powerful story that I was blown away by. This is a 2nd special updated edition of the book from the original. Told from more than one point of view. It can be triggering but offers hope ultimately. Well-written and kept my attention.