This month for Sunday Reading, I am sharing my thoughts on the book What Is A Girl Worth by Rachael Denhollander. It is a memoir I will be thinking about for a very long time.
It has been a while since I shared a book for Sunday Reading. I have read quite a few Christian books this year, but none of them have been five star reads until I read What Is A Girl Worth by Rachael Denhollander.
What Is A Girl Worth is Rachael Denhollander’s memoir of sexual abuse and her battle to protect the innocent and stop a predator.
It is about abuse not only in the sports world, but also in the church.
This book is one of the best memoirs I’ve read in a while. It is now on my list of favorite Christian memories, and it will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year.
Rachael Denhollander does a great job of sharing her story. She shares her pain, how she healed from it, and why she fought so hard for justice.
This book is technically a Christian memoir, but I don’t think you have to be a Christian to read this book. A Christian publisher published it, but Amazon does not have it listed as a Christian book.
Christianity plays a significant part in Rachael’s story and healing, but this book contains lessons that everyone can learn from.
Rachael Denhollander was the first person to speak out publicly about Larry Nassar and the abuse within the U.S. gymnastics world.
You may remember the news stories from 2016 and 2017 about Larry Nassar. It was a huge story and had a massive impact on the U.S. gymnastics and sports world.
Larry Nassar was a doctor who took advantage of gymnasts who trusted him. They sought his help with the medical issues they had because of gymnastics, and he abused them.
He was calculated in the way he did it. He built the trust of the coaches and parents and then abused the girls he was supposed to be helping.
What A Girl Is Worth is Rachael Denhollander’s raw and honest story of her abuse and her journey to get justice for those Larry Nassar abused.
Rachael fought hard and risked a lot to expose Larry Nassar and those who helped cover up what he was doing.
Rachael, though, was not only abused by Larry Nassar, but someone at church also abused her. Yes, she was abused by multiple people she trusted in two different institutions, who should have protected the children in their care.
What I appreciated about Rachael’s story was how honest she was in sharing it. She shared the difficulties of being abused and the shame that survivors feel.
She shared why it took her years to go to the authorities. She also shared how her boyfriend, who became her husband, helped her heal from the abuse.
Rachael also did a great job telling her story of trusting God through all the pain and suffering. She gave a candid look at the abuse of power within the church and how she eventually found a church that stood by her as she fought for justice, instead of trying to silence her.
The abuse in the gymnastics world was the central part of her story, but the church and her church family also played a big part in what Rachael shares.
She had two churches that stood by and protected her, and one church that did not listen to her when she expressed concern about abuse within a church group.
Sadly, the church and Christians do not want to admit that abuse happens, especially within the church. They see it as a worldly problem, not a sin problem that can be anywhere.
For too long, the church has misunderstood the concepts of forgiveness and trust. You can forgive someone, but that doesn’t mean that you should trust them.
Sexual abuse of children is a horrific crime, and it impacts them for life. People who have been sexually abused will carry scars of that abuse for life. They will continue to struggle with fear and trust issues for years, if not for life.
When a person inflicts lasting scars on a child, there should be lasting consequences for that sin.
Forgiveness does not do away with the consequences of that sin. Too many churches and Christians have been unwilling to see the seriousness of sexual abuse and the amount of abuse that happens.
That is not to say there are not plenty of churches that take it seriously. There are many Christians like Rachael Denhollander who stand up and fight for victims of abuse, both inside and outside the church.
I think this What Is A Girl Worth by Rachael Denhollander is an important for Christians to read. If you are not a victim of abuse like Rachael was, this will give you a look into what a victim goes through and how they process things.
That is why I love memoirs so much. They give us a look into a world that we may never know. Memoirs help us understand others better. They help us to be empathetic, and that makes us better Christians and better friends.
I also want to add a warning for this book. Rachael gives pretty specific details about what Larry Nassar did to her. She shares what she shared with the authorities and in court. It’s pretty tough to read, but it’s also important to read.
However, if you have been abused, I can see why parts of this book will be tough to read. At the same time, I think this book will help victims of abuse feel less alone. I think this book has the potential to help people heal.
Have you read What Is A Girl Worth? I would love to discuss this book with others that have read it.