Unhinged

Carolyn St-Denis has a decision to make; does she succumb to the effects of abuse and kill herself, or does she fight for her education and finish high school?

Set in Ontario, Canada, this unflinching memoir tells the story of an only child whose sexual abuse begins when she is a toddler. Cursed with an unprotective mother and a tormenting stepfather, Carolyn is plagued with nightmares and finds solace in books, but especially in food. The bigger her body becomes, the safer she feels, until Carolyn is molested by her maternal uncle when she is twelve. Carolyn's world completely falls apart when her mother is diagnosed with a terminal illness and her stepfather becomes the primary caregiver. She leaves home at fifteen and becomes immersed in a world of homeless shelters, psychiatric wards, and a group home.

More than just a voyeuristic view into someone's traumatic childhood, Carolyn highlights how instrumental two workers were as they taught her about unconditional love and encouraged her to rise above. Twenty-five years after the abuse, we witness Carolyn grow into herself as she writes letters to the people who've hurt her.

Gritty and impactful, Unhinged is a must-read for survivors and professionals alike.

Carolyn has a message for other survivors: There is hope. Speak your truth. Transform your pain. Reclaim joy.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn St-Denis lives in Montréal, Canada. She has been a crisis worker for over sixteen years. When she is not playing sidewalk-chicken with cyclists, Carolyn enjoys chilling with her cat, and spending time with a few selected humans.