Girl Hidden was an endlessly pleasant read, though not pleasant for the sake of the content. The characters sprung to life as if they were in the room next to me. I found myself rooting for Dolores, and then her daughter Jesse. The nefarious men and women in the story would remind anyone of their own skeletons and the people better left in the past. Overall, I loved the book and cried more times than I would’ve liked to. (Book Tour Reviewer Medley Wolfgram)
A beautifully written and heartfelt memoir from an intelligent and insightful author. At times I felt like my heart would break reading the experiences that Jesse has endured in her life but despite the devastating pain she has been through, her hope and strength shine through. She is truly an amazing and inspiring woman and although this book is in a genre I would usually avoid due to the content, I am so glad I haven’t missed out on this book. (Book Tour Reviewer Michelle Marshall)
This is a book that should never have had to be written. Jesse Gibbs’ memoir about childhood abuse and the effects of this on a young child is a sad indictment on how society often fails the vulnerable, believing the lies of the abuser over the facts presented by either the victim, or those who are championing her cause. From the outset, we don’t feel sorry for Dolores, the self-centred, narcissistic perpetrator of a lot of the abuse. This will be partly because the story is told from the point of view of the child victim, but also because the story is so horrific. Over the course of the story, young Jesse is subjected to physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse as well as neglect. She becomes a slave to her mother, a plaything for her stepfather, a substitute mother for the younger half-siblings her mother pops out every so often, and, when she is old enough to go out to work, she has to hand over all of her wages. But there is an upside to this story, a hope that it will all come out for good in the end. Jesse has a number of people who are looking out for her, once they know what is going on. First and foremost is her maternal grandparents. Although her grandfather succumbs to a moment of weakness and gives his granddaughter back to his daughter, he lives to regret that decision and comes through for her in the end. This is a story of resilience, of beating the odds. Jesse Gibbs’s story is a compelling read with believable characters, fast paced storytelling and showing us, the reader, what life was like for her and her siblings. There were no major editing issues that I noted, and while ‘joy’ is probably not the emotion I felt reading the book, I did enjoy the story from the perspective of a well-written life story. (Book Tour Reviewer Phoebe Wilby)
Girl Hidden is Jesse’s story; an unwanted child, forced into servitude and desperately trying to protect her siblings from the manipulating and abusive relationship with their mother. With the family living on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains making up the bulk of Jesse’s memories, she relives everything as she takes in the old homes where she and her family lived to create this book. With lots of characters, some drifting in and out of the story, and time jumps aplenty, this can be confusing reading. You can’t put it down once you reach the middle though where most of the time jumps make sense. It is worth hanging on to finish this book, and I would recommend it. (Book Tour Reviewer Yvonne Marrs)
‘Girl Hidden is a poignant memoir that takes readers on a journey through the tumultuous terrain of Jesse and her family in North Carolina. Jesse’s narrative is an account of a life marked by neglect and hardship, but also by resilience and self-reliance. From her unwanted conception to her role as a pawn in her mother’s schemes, her story unfolds with raw honesty. It is a powerful and captivating memoir that invites readers to step into the shoes of a resilient individual as she navigates the challenges of her environment and emerges as her true self. I cannot help but admire Jesse for her courage and all that she has has to endure in her life. It is a very heartfelt and raw account, that I am sure will touch many people. (Book Tour Reviewer Bronwyn McKay)
The depth of every character is there to read. This is quite simply down to each character being real. Characters are gritty, naive, brutal, aggressive, caring, protective, and so much more. Jesse as an individual and of course the author is brave and in bringing her life to words, extraordinary. What I really liked is the way each character was flawed but also had positive traits too even if these didn’t always surface. Take Dolores – an exceptionally flawed character, yet in moments showed some of her humanity. Brilliantly captured by the author. Written in the third person, dialogue was limited but this did not detract from Jesse’s story. Dialogue was effective in capturing interaction between the characters. It helped to capture thoughts and feelings as portrayed throughout the story. Jumping between Jesse’s youth and adulthood the scenes worked well. I found the pace slow over the first few chapters as the characters were introduced but I also feel this was intentional. The reader needed to appreciate characters’ pasts to understand their present. So patience at the start of the story is very much rewarded as the book develops. In terms of the overall plot, as a memoir this is captured fantastically well by the author. Each event builds in to the next. What happens to Jesse takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotion. Tragic and horrific in places, happy and moving in others. The jump from past to present throughout the book works extremely well and this is credit to the author in terms of building the story. Very well edited throughout. This makes the story highly readable and the words flow from each page. (Book Tour Reviewer Niall McKay)
Girl Hidden by Jess Gibbs is an emotionally charged and heart wrenching account of Jesse’s journey through a childhood deprived of love, marred with abuse, and overshadowed by the presence of a narcissistic mother and a completely inappropriate step father. This poignant memoirs delves into the depths of human suffering, highlighting the strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit of a young girls who endures unimaginable circumstances. From the very first page, the reader is drawn into Jesse’s world, feeling her pain, confusion and longing for a normal childhood. The authors evocative storytelling brings forth the raw emotions and vividly portrays the traumatic experiences that shaped Jesse’s early years. The narrative is both captivating and heartrending, leaving an indelible mark on the readers heart. Despite the immense hardships she faces, Jesse emerges as a beacon of strength and resilience. Her unwavering determination to protect her younger siblings and care for them whilst surviving the abhorrent abuse inflicted upon her is nothing short of inspiring. While Girl Hidden is undoubtedly a painful read, it also serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. As Jesse’s story unfolds, the reader is taken on a journey where Jesse ultimately finds the courage to break free from the cycle of abuse. This is a remarkable memoir that sheds light on the hidden horrors of childhood abuse whilst celebrating the indomitable spirit of Jesse. A profoundly moving account that will leave readers inspired and deeply touched. (Book Tour Reviewer Kirsty McKay)
We award 5 stars.