Mary E. DeMuth

Mary DeMuth has written a deeply personal challenge to the church in America (anywhere, really, but the American church needs to listen). Beginning with her own story of childhood sexual abuse, from which her passion for reform and healing arises, she paints a moving story of what many women suffer in silence. But more, this book calls church leaders to action, to justice, to mercy and compassion. Get this book into the hands of your pastor, your minister, your ministry leader. It will give show more them suggestions and reasons for setting up processes that protect the abused instead of the abuser in their midst. Let this loving, hopeful challenge speak into the corridors of church power so that real change can come. We Too offers resources, yes, but it keeps the focus on who needs protecting—not the church but the most vulnerable within. show less

Watching The Tree Limbs by Mary De Muth is an excellent book. It is filled with powerful emotions, well-developed and relatable characters, real and troubling scenes of violence and abuse and real and hope-inspiring scenes of God’s love and truth. My church book club read this for our March selection and it received unanimous thumbs-up. I think we had the best discussion ever — everyone had strong feelings about the characters, the plot and the intense themes.

Mara Weatherall is a young show more girl who is given second-hand attention in addition to second-hand toys and clothes. In her ninth year, sexual abuse by a neighborhood boy is added to the neglect by her adult caretaker. Broken, confused and adrift, Mara holds on as best she can with the advice of her friend to watch the tree limbs. The defenseless child may be forgotten and abandoned by most of the adults in her life, but God never leaves her.

I wanted to slap someone while reading Watching The Tree Limbs. I wanted to slap the neglectful and indifferent adults in Mara’s life. I wanted to slap the teenage boy who steals her innocence and her sense of self. I even wanted to slap the loving housekeeper, Zady, who comes to offer a bit of comfort and protection, but is bound by secrets. This book caused me to enter into Mara’s fear, hurt and anger. With autobiographical touches, Mary De Muth has created a challenging and moving novel that will stay with me for a long time. Child sexual abuse is never an easy topic to read about, but I feel this novel is a must-read. Mara’s spiritual journey is one of discovery of a good and loving God who is present even in the midst of darkness, despair, and fear.

Watching The Tree Limbs is the first book in a 2-part series. I am anticipating another excellent read in Wishing on Dandelions.

Highly Recommended. show less

"We Too" by Mary DeMuth is a difficult, but necessary read for those seeking to address the very real problem of sexual abuse, both outside and inside the church. A survivor herself, DeMuth opens up the difficult parts of her story, deconstructing her experience: who helped her, who did not, and how speaking out can help change the abuse narratives that are firmly in place in society. She offers other survivors' stories, both of how churches helped and how churches hurt. What are we to do to show more change how survivors AND abusers are treated within the church's walls?

While there are no easy answers, DeMuth gives concrete examples as to how abuse should be handled in the church. There are awful stories of survivors being excluded and hurt further by the extending of "cheap grace" (a term coined by Bonhoeffer) to the perpetrators of said abuse, but also encouraging stories of other churches who stood up and exposed abuse, refusing to let it linger.

I wish I had enough words to explain what a gift this book is to those in church leadership...no place is safe from abuse, sadly, so we should be ready to confront it when we see it. If we have no tolerance for sexual abuse, it strengthens the resolve to eliminate it from our midst, even at a high cost. DeMuth does a wonderful job of taking to task all the imaginable issues in place...the book is very specific and detailed in its complexity. This not a fluffy read, so pray and prepare prior to reading. It will get emotional, if you're anything like me. Don't rush with this one.

There were issues brought up that I may have never experienced personally, but others I could relate to. DeMuth continues to approach subjects that many are afraid to, and this book continues to remind me why I appreciate her involvement in supporting abuse survivors and speaking so openly about how trauma and abuse has affected her life.

I cannot recommend this book more. It is a much needed, honest, unflinching look at where we are as a society in regards to the way we process/help/prevent sexual abuse. The church must do better, and we must do more. Anyone in leadership or those that work with survivors could benefit from this book. Even if you are not in church, the connection between how church should deal with sexual abuse is very applicable to those who are seeking spiritual support after abuse. Please, do not miss out on this book. This would pair well with her previous work, "Not Marked:Finding Hope and Healing After Being Sexually Abused."

I was able to read a PDF version of the book early, thanks to Harvest House, and chose to leave a review. I also pre-oredered a hard copy for myself. Don't miss this one. It's that important, folks. show less

This is the first book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy. It captured me immediately and I was whisked away to the small town of Defiance, Texas.

Daisy knows that someday she will marry Jed, even if Jed doesn't know it. The two meet at an old church (the Crooked Creek Church) in the old town (before it was moved). When Jed realizes he is going to be late getting home he leaves Daisy behind at the church and rushes toward home. He felt a little guilty but, Daisy would be alright and he sure didn't show more want to get another beating from his father.

But Daisy isn't alright. Daisy never makes it home. She has disappeared and Jed has to find her in order to stop the guilt he is feeling.

Where did Daisy go? Did her father take her away with him? Did she decide to leave her mother, who seemed to love the strangers she brought home more than she loved Daisy? Or was it something more sinister?

I love a book that takes me to the town it is set in and this book took me to Defiance, Texas. I felt as if I knew the characters personally and lived in the town. I walked to the church with Jed and I helped him paint the wall with his friends.

It was a great book and one I am saving to read again someday. show less