Don't tell Mom

Memories of a childhood marked by abuse and silence.

The title phrase of Toni Maguire's book, Don't Tell Mom , could be a naive pact between two siblings or a joke between children. Unfortunately, it isn't. In fact, it's the threat the author suffered during the nearly ten years she was abused by her own father.

The book, set in the 1950s, is the sincere and shocking account of a girl who, in addition to being bullied, also suffered from her mother's neglect. Her mother, even though Toni was too young to realize it, always showed signs of full awareness of the situation. Perhaps the fear of losing her charming husband led to this attitude. For example, she always groomed her daughter to be the prettiest of them all. After the bullying began, she became irritated whenever the girl put on clean clothes or simply combed her hair. Or when she turned off any light in Toni's room, telling her to go to bed early and not read—her great passion.

To make matters worse, due to the family's numerous moves, Toni never had a true friend. Her closest companions were two little dogs.

Don't Tell Mom is the frightening yet touching story of little Toni Maguire, neglected and betrayed by those she should have trusted most. A difficult book to read, but essential for today's world.

Constantly abused by her father, even becoming pregnant, Toni slipped into complete destruction. Her recovery and recognition as a writer serve as an example to children and young people who are victims of sexual abuse every day, showing them that it is necessary to fight against this condition and that it is possible to win.