Telling Teddy (Dear Teddy A Journal Of A Boy Book 2)

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But I guess that is a good pointer to a powerful story and a very accomplished writing. Some of the thoughts I came up with can be read on my review of Dear Teddy. Things do not get any better for young JD; only worse: I think the author does a great job showing how, for example, dissociation, self-harming yes, self-harming at six and, less known, OCD can develop in a very small child as a relatively direct result of abuse and the feeling of helplessness that comes with it; also from an upbringing in a household in which anything this little boy does might be wrong, bad, and thus unravel hell.

By the introduction of a character called Graham, Stockholm takes us another step further into the mind of abused child. Sexual abuse to a child so young really mixes their feelings and patterns of thinking about many things, such as boundaries, intimacy and the sense of right and wrong. The book is wonderful in how it proves this especially true when the abusers are the child's parents. And it gives another turn when, in the midst of non-stopping, violent abuse, steps a figure who abuses the child in a way that is not physically harming. Reactions to how the story plays out with this character might leave you with disturbing thoughts you had never thought you would have.

It actually enraged me how nobody did anything; how nobody tried to scratch below the surface of an anguished and scared child shrugging when spoken to about things he was not supposed to tell… Finally, I suffered and keep suffering when I think of JD still loving his mother and father, still fighting to be the son they want, still blaming himself every time he feels pain; every time they hurt him.

Telling Teddy

JD was a gentle, sensitive, loving child. And, never, ever, was anything that happened his fault. Be ready to shed tears, but I urge you to read this story. Aug 18, Cynthia rated it it was amazing. I am one of those people who loves to read books. I also love to write reviews on them if I have enjoyed them. I take pleasure in doing so and the words I choose to write just kind of tumble right out as I go.

I have, however, never before found myself staring at the screen of my computer for so long, wondering what the best way to word myself is. I struggled this way after reading both J. Stockholm's first book, Dear Teddy and then this book, Telling Teddy. How do you write about how much you I am one of those people who loves to read books.

How do you write about how much you enjoyed a book that is a grievously true story all about child abuse in its worst form? Is it right or appropriate to even use the word "enjoy"? So, let me simply explain what it is about this book that I Just as in the first book, the events in Telling Teddy shock, horrify and unhinge you.

You just can not come to terms with the fact that there are parents who could do these things to their children. Who could be so cold-blooded and heartless. In so many different ways. Starving, neglecting, molesting, verbally and physically abusing their own son. Indubitably, there is something intrinsically wrong with these people's make-up. You constantly feel your anger warring with the dismay and anguish you feel for the young boy. Where are these people's natural inclination to feel compassion and humaneness, not for a stranger, but for their own flesh and blood?

How can you sit and watch a little boy cry in fear or pain and feel nothing? How can you allow others to hurt and abuse him instead of being overwhelmed by a parent's constitutionally profound need to protect and fight for their child's safety? How can you ignore his terrified screams and desperate pleas for help? How can you do what you did to your son? While reading, you are appalled by so many countless events that take place that you do not know which to be more nauseated or angry about. Your hatred for the child's parents threatens to consume you on more than one occasion.

The father's repeated maltreatment and abuse of his child is sickening and enraging. This is an absolutely callous and degenerate human being. However, although you constantly find yourself angered by his father, it is his mother's actions that literally make you gasp in horror. Not only did she allow what was happening, but the horrendous fact is that she encouraged it too. You reach a point where you are completely overcome with contempt and resentment for her. In my eyes, the part she played in this is almost worse.

She could have protected her child. She could have saved him from a life of untold horror and despair.

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She could have saved him from her depraved husband. She could have saved him from sick, debauched men. She could have been a good mother. The sense of helplessness you feel when you see this story through the boy's eyes, when he uses a child's words and perception to try and explain what is happening to him, is crushing. You know what is coming, yet you cannot protect him. His innocence is endearing and disarming, and his continuous hope and struggle to win his parents' love is heartbreaking.

Despite all he endures, he loves his family and dreads the thought of being parted from them. One of the most tragic scenes in the book is where he runs after his parents' car when they are leaving him behind, begging them to take him with. While you may feel a sense of relief and joy at this parting, you cannot but feel sorrow for the small child's sense of despair and abandonment. Another part of the book that completely shocked me was the child's encounter with yet another abuser, Graham.

What shocked me, however, was not the actual event in itself, but my feelings towards it. I was appalled to find myself feeling thankful when the young boy got to stay with the man at the weekends. After trying to figure out why I could possibly feel this way - after all, he was still being abused - I realised that out of the two evils, I felt this was the less of the two.

The child was being fed there, he felt safe and warm, maybe even loved, and to my mind, that was infinitely preferable to what he felt at home. I was racked with guilt and shame, though, for thinking and feeling this way.

What does this say about me as a person? It revealed a part of myself that I did not recognise, and that scared me. We all believe we have our limits, but when have we truly been tried to see how much we would adhere to them? This book was an eye-opener in more than one way. A lot of people have told me that they cannot read this book because they cannot bear to read about an innocent, helpless child's suffering. It would be too upsetting and unsettling. While I can understand their reasoning, I can not help but think how much this reflects society's deep-rooted attitude and reaction to the problem of child abuse.

Out of sight, out of my mind. If we cannot see it, we do not have to deal with it. We do not want to believe that this goes on. We do not want to be upset by that which we feel we have no control over. We might not like to admit it, but we are good at avoidance. The author has once again done a brilliant job of getting his story across.

Telling Teddy is well-written and insightful. Yes, it will make you cry and sob, and leave you with a feeling of deep sadness and helplessness, but it is absolutely worth reading. This story will touch you and stay with you forever. Jul 03, Steph Barton rated it it was amazing.

This book was even more emotional than the first one.

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Touches my heart and makes me sad to know that things like this are an every day occurrence for some children. Such a sad, yet beautifully written book. Jul 07, Ethan Martin rated it it was amazing. That plus the story, I think I might feel more for this series than I did for the child called it.

Again, moving and heartbreaking at the same time.

This one a bit more graphic of the abuse but it makes you open your eyes and understand that this did happen and still does to so many other silent children. It begins to make someone understand what childhood abuse does to a person mentally. Warning again, if you have experienced childhood abuse in any way, this is a trigger. May 25, Brian Sondey rated it liked it. I felt the story was too long just talking about how bad the child was. I'm going to read the next book,but hope it has a better narrator and story.

I think that the narrator needs to learn to let the words flow better. Also I hope this child comes out of this a sane and well - adjusted person. May 26, Dom Perry dom the book thief rated it liked it Shelves: Same opinions as last time. Extremely heart-wrenching, but the child's POV just doesn't do it for me. The constant repetition of phrase and words is understandable because that's how children talk, but it doesn't read well for me.

It seems we're also starting to see childhood-OCD. I'm intrigued to see how he explores this. Something was seriously wrong with JD's parents and he was unlucky enough to be born to that perverse couple. I asked myself more than once why no one saw what was happening. The little boy JD had all the classic signs of a child of abuse yet no one said a thing. None of the teachers saw that there was a child without a winter coat. None of them saw that he had bruises? None of them questioned anything in this child's life What about the neighbors?

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My heart broke for this small boy that lived through hell. But my heart swells when I realize that it is this small boy grown up and telling his story. Now I sit and wonder He fought his way up into adulthood and he is carrying with him the pain of his childhood. Will his father pay for sexually and physically abusing him. What about his mother who on a daily basis was feeding him WHAT? And then she joined in the sexual abuse of him too. I don't think Nan could have helped him because it would seem that JD's parents abused her as well. I am appalled that no one has ever stepped forward for that little boy.

He was just a little boy that wanted to be loved and accepted by his parents. I cry for that child and I hope that the man JD is now is doing well and progressing. And for all the hugs that you didn't get as a child The more you write the better it will be. Little JD is now six, and still tells us, and Mr. If you have read "Dear Teddy " or Teddy 1 , you will know this boy's life is nothing ordinary, but not for pleasing reasons. This book is the second part of the memoir of a man who was emotionally, physically and sexually abused at least from when he was five years old.

And the story is told from a child's perspective. As it happened with the first book in the series, I think this one is a must read. However, it took me a really long time to write the reviews. I'm not sure I am expressing the full length to which this book has made me think, and then think again.

But I guess that is a good pointer to a powerful story and a very accomplished writing. Some of the thoughts I came up with can be read on my review of Dear Teddy. Reading this second part I was even more devastated by JD's story. Before I've told you about him: Things do not get any better for young JD; only worse: I think the author does a great job showing how, for example, dissociation, self-harming yes, self-harming at six and, less known, OCD can develop in a very small child as a relatively direct result of abuse and the feeling of helplessness that comes with it; also from an upbringing in a household in which anything this little boy does might be wrong, bad, and thus unravel hell.

By the introduction of a character called Graham, Stockholm takes us another step further into the mind of abused child. Sexual abuse to a child so young really mixes their feelings and patterns of thinking about many things, such as boundaries, intimacy and the sense of right and wrong.

The book is wonderful in how it proves this especially true when the abusers are the child's parents. And it gives another turn when, in the midst of non-stopping, violent abuse, steps a figure who abuses the child in a way that is not physically harming. Reactions to how the story plays out with this character might leave you with disturbing thoughts you had never thought you would have. Imagine the effect on little JD Another aspect of the book that denounces the harsh reality of child abuse is the attitudes of "the rest of the world". Abuse of children -especially the sexual kind, and when the victims are boys--is considered to be so nonexistent or private, there are some times signs of it "all over the place", and still people don't notice, or do not want to notice.

I wonder about the teachers at JD's school The only thing missing was a big card attached to his chest saying "I'm being abused. The same goes to his mother's lady-friends, the people at stores. It actually enraged me how nobody did anything; how nobody tried to scratch below the surface of an anguished and scared child shrugging when spoken to about things he was not supposed to tell Finally, I suffered and keep suffering when I think of JD still loving his mother and father, still fighting to be the son they want, still blaming himself every time he feels pain; every time they hurt him.

JD was a gentle, sensitive, loving child. And, never, ever, was anything that happened his fault.

Be ready to shed tears, but I urge you to read this story. You can not help but feel that you are right there with the six year old, feel what he feels. No child should have to go through what he has. It is a child starved for a hug. I sincerely hope this is helping him heal, he is a precious child that has been told so much that he is evil, until he is beginning to believe it. He is a normal kids that needs love not torment. Any one who has been abused or abandoned as a child can relate to this story.

No child wants their parents to get into trouble for the torment they have to endure. They do not want to be taken away from their parents they are his Mom and Dad, he only wants them to change show him that he is loved. It is an awesome book all you want to do is hold this child and show him how wonderful he is. See all 50 reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers.

Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. Set up a giveaway. What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? Dear Mr Ted Kindle Edition. Two siblings trapped in a world of abuse. One woman determined to free them. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. There's a problem loading this menu right now.

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