First edition published April 2009; cover, layout and design by Barbara Mueller; Printing by MegaDigital, Cape Town.

About the Book:
This first-hand narration describes experience of sexual molestation, physical abuse, psychological traumatisation, incestuous intergenerational depravity and exploitative labour lasting longer than a half century.

Millions of children, women and even men of all races suffer abuse and other forms of violence on a daily basis, but the subject is tragically under-exposed in literature. Why should it remain undisclosed? In most societies the subject is taboo and is likely to remain so for a long time to come, unless it is confronted. Many communities protect the perpetrators and not the victims/survivors.
The austere emotions felt by an abused child at the time of an incident are extraordinary. They remain with them for life, etched deeply into their brain. The detail is so horrific that it affects every aspect of their very existence. Forgetting the detail is impossible. The events leading to and resulting from the encounter invariably recede but never disappear.
Child abuse has taken place since the dawn of time and is even more prevalent and brutal now, yet, to the victim, it remains a subject, which is seemingly best left alone. The trouble is that the horrors are all too real and play a great part in destroying children who would normally be raised in circumstances of love and compassion.
The real reason for writing the narrative is to teach the abused person the value of talking to someone about it. Read the book with the heartfelt compassion with which it was written and help the victims to talk.
It is not an ordinary book because it delves into victims minds and identifies the events which require them to create alter egos. It describes all types of abuses, sexual, physical, psychological, and child labour. Most of all, it is the voice of the many millions who could not get their experiences into printed material. The material is insightful and reading it may be a challenge to the sensitive reader. It is unique and will have a great, albeit controversial impact in all communities.

Visit the website - http://www.book-frankie.com

About the Author:
This book relates the true-life history of Frankie Panaino who, as a young child, experienced sexual molestation and horrific violence. He had to devise artful ways of surviving his turbulent development into adulthood. In stark, factual detail, this book describes his precocious escapes, victories, failures and limited opportunities.
His personal history armed him with a wealth of knowledge about the emotions experienced by abused children. This is the exposé, for he felt that this knowledge should survive him. Shared, the experiences will be a valuable tool for the many readers who have experienced or witnessed abuse or molestation.
The book appears 50 years after the fact and in it, the author details the fundamental issues around self-worth, social maladjustment, and the paradoxical feelings of guilt and complicity experienced by most child victims of violence, abuse and molestation. In his book, the author reveals the routes of escape to victims, and encourages them to make use of them. The book is inspired by the need to guide victims towards their escape.

CHILDLINE and similar non-government organisations exist and CHILDLINE runs a toll-free help service for children. They operate therapy services for children and their families, Court preparation, support, prevention and education programmes in schools and communities. They are hopelessly under-funded and receive nominal grants.

SPECIAL ADVICE TO ABUSED PERSONS: The last and most important fact is that victims must speak. To the many victims I say the following; Speak to your teacher, your traffic guide on the way to school, your doctor, your dentist or even the cashier of your local supermarket. Run out into the street screaming or speak to a friend or your friend’s parents but don’t keep quiet. You must insist on assistance. Most importantly, Telephone CHILDLINE on their 24 hour Toll Free Helpline.

Banking details for any highly appreciated contributions to the worthy cause can be received from the director of CHILDLINE at 031 563 5718.

CHILDLINE 0800 055 555

R10.00 donation will go to CHILDLINE for every book sale!

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