It's kind of like a growing up novel, but with a grown woman playing the part of a person waking up to reality. While, of course, the struggle for care is unending, I like how a single woman, by using baby steps to get the word out, has been able to organize a group of volunteers from all over the world to help the kids out - from a group of only people. My heart goes out to all these poor children, and I'm glad there are bourgeois people who can afford to help them out. It's difficult to read, but the message is very beautiful. It is so nice to know that in such a hopeless place, there IS a silver lining behind the clouds - but you need to work too, not just stare at the opportunity to work it all out.
I feel that need to spend more time volunteering again, too. I've been to China lately, and I've seen for myself how the One Child Policy has affected the lives of these people. It gives more perspective for the book to actually be there , and see these people with one or two children. They have to pay an exorbitant amount to have more than one, especially if the first child is female.
It's very heart-wrenching to thus think of the poor orphanages. Oct 12, Theresa Revilak rated it it was amazing. This book was not the kind of book you just relax and read. It was a hard read, from the first page on to the end. I do a lot of orphan advocacy and I thought I knew a lot about orphanages, but reading it first hand, as someone who was there regularly and allowed in the rooms they normally do not allow people in, oh wow.
I just have no words of the daily life for these kids. Kay worked with the babies especially and would try so hard to ease their life in every way she could. The workers in the This book was not the kind of book you just relax and read. The workers in the orphanages, the ayis, would work hard but there was so many kids and so little ayis they could not be affectionate or give the children any more than basic care.
A lot of the ayis were just cruel and uncaring. Reading about China culture and how a lot of this attitude towards orphans is rooted in superstition and ancient beliefs and the different reasons couples may abandon their children was heartbreaking. As she goes on and moves through the book, she grows as a person and spiritually, and by the end is advised for care of the orphans.
She advocated for the medical care for so many orphans on things like heart surgery, cleft palate surgery, spinal bifida surgery, etc. I highly recommend this book because we cannot just go through life and be uninformed. Children all over the world suffer daily and this book is just one place it happens in. It's hard to put it down, as hard as it is to read. I'll be keeping this one after it makes the rounds.
Sep 05, Anna rated it liked it Shelves: Seemed like a light easy ready, and it was - I read it mostly in a few days while I was in Europe. It's clear that Kay Bratt is not a great writer. This book easily could have been self published; it clearly looked like a slightly edited journal. Bratt's description of culture shock is informative, especially in relation to the situation of the orphanage. I felt a lot of parallel with LA government run animal shelters not that babies are comparable to dogs, but that gov't systems that have little money, employees, or understanding suffer greatly and in turn, negatively affect those who need the most compassion.
I was also able to relate to Bratt's compassion fatigue and was also touched by the improvements she made in the system. All in all, not the best written book, but worth the read. Feb 14, Larry Bassett rated it liked it Shelves: Our Chinese daughter came from the far western province of Xinjiang where a major culture is Uyghur muslims. This book takes place in an orphanage close to Beijing a very different area and dominated by Han Chinese the majority Chinese population.
We adopted our daughter within the timeframe when this book was written as a special needs child. By US standards she was significantly malnourished and underwei Our Chinese daughter came from the far western province of Xinjiang where a major culture is Uyghur muslims. By US standards she was significantly malnourished and underweight. She spent her early years in an orphanage and then a foster home. We had no contact with either since the city where she was Aksu was a significant distance from the location where we picked her up. We have no idea if her orphanage experience was at all similar to that described in this book.
Paul Henke has always enthralled readers with books full of passion and adventure. In Silent Tears, the third book in the Tears Series, his readers will be. Silent Tears (The Tears Series Book 3) and millions of other books are available for Amazon Kindle. . This item:Silent Tears by Paul Henke Paperback $
But clearly she suffered from food deprivation or uncertainty because it took her several months of eating to begin to believe that there would be a next meal or even enough to eat at the current meal. She ate every rice grain. We also knew that one of her jobs at the foster home was sweeping since she was very adept with a broom and dust pan. She had hardly any spoken language skills do in some parts to the cleft palette. And of course she had never heard English. We were concerned because we knew that the first several years of a child's life are critical to future development.
But it is clear she must of gotten some good things there because she bloomed in a new home and is a very bright child. If it is true that early malnutrition can hinder brain development maybe she would be a genius now and not just very bright! So by now you have figured out why I was reading this book! I have read quite a few other books about life in China especially about women and girl babies. The vast majority he of children adopted internationally from China at the time this book was written we're girls.
I have to say that I think there are quite a few books about China that are better than this one. But this is one of the few that I have read that covers life in a particular orphanage in such detail. The international women volunteers who helped in this particular orphanage made a big difference in many ways. But it is difficult to tell what changes might have occurred if they were not there. But one thing is certain you can see some changes in the point of view of the author as she went through her several years as a volunteer and eventually coordinating a whole team of volunteers in the same orphanage.
I have to say that she started out with a bit of a bad attitude as has been noted by some other reviewers Who maybe didn't get far enough into the book when her attitude did make something of a shift to one more comprehending life in China. She initially referred to China as a Third World country. I think that was a bit offensive. China is not the US but they did keep going to McDonald's throughout the book as a treat and talking about improvement as a result of more western restaurants opening in their area. She was all right in the home they lived in with walls around it but did not seem to try very hard to understand why the orphanage might be the way she discovered it at first.
She did ultimately develop some comprehension and even tried to explain it in her writing to some extent. But I think even at the end she displayed some of that Ugly American attitude. She did love the kids. And she did display her Christianity. I wouldn't exactly say she overdid it but religion is not my thing and is not a motivator for me and doing good.
She did want to save every kid and that eventually was regrettably her downfall. She had to remove herself from the orphanage. But to her credit credit she remained in the fight for better conditions for children even after her return to the US. Clearly she has made a difference for quite a few children. The letters to her at the end of the book mostly from people who had read the book and had adopted Chinese children should not be missed. Included are many descriptions of how adoptive parents observed their children without having any information about their experience in China.
This book was meaningful to them in the same way it was to me. Even with a caring staff it is likely that an orphanage will have too many babies and young children to get the kind of care a child needs.
The vision of babies spending long hours lying on their backs in cribs is undoubtedly accurate. Abusive staff and Foster parents undoubtedly exist. You will meet them in this book. Proposed systemic solutions are nonexistent here. The universal needs of all children for love and care is emphasized with no hope that it will ever be realized.
We have all heard the story of people pulling the drowning babies out of the river until someone finally figured out that they had better go upstream and discover how the babies were getting into the river in the first place. This book shows the valiant effort of a few people to rescue drowning babies. Heartbreaking The writing was done well. I can't imagine being so involved emotionally day in and day out for those babies and feeling so helpless at times. Nov 22, Selfisher rated it did not like it.
I wish I can give it less than 1 star. And I wish I had never read this book. All this book is about the author's hate to China, and she describe herself as a saint, every Chinese she met is disgusting, and what she need to do is save every life in China. Dec 17, Jacki rated it really liked it. I read and reviewed my own copy of this book for Wicked Reads.
This book was quite different from anything I have read before. It was more emotional and enlightening than I was expecting and I'm glad I read it. Kay Bratt moves with her husband and daughter to China and there she is thrust into a completely different world with eye opening experiences that will impact her life forever.
She finds herself trying to adjust to a new culture and decides to do some volunteering to help fill her time. She volunteers at a local orphanage. Little does she know that the experience will lead to a roller coaster of deep emotions that lasts for years. Whilst there, she learns how culture really affects how people treat one another and how different her culture is from China's. All while she cares for and tries to make a difference in the lives of unfortunate orphaned children.
I don't want to spoil any of this for readers, but Kay's experiences will definitely stay with me. I myself have lived abroad and struggled with adjusting to a new culture, so I found myself easily relating to her story, but as I read more, I was grateful to have had an easier transition to my new home. I can still be brought right back to moments in this book and often find myself snuggling my own children a little tighter as I do.
I cried and had a few dark moments during my reading of this book. I will say it isn't for everyone and that some readers may find themselves feeling angry and judgmental during some parts of this book. I tried to keep an open mind about cultural differences, but even I struggled.
It made me feel blessed that I was born and raised in the culture that I was. This was tough read emotionally, but I am glad I read it. I would recommend it, but warn that it isn't the best read for the soft hearted or anyone preferring lighter reads. I praise the author for sharing her experiences and for being strong enough to have done what she did. Ugh, I can't explain how irritated I was reading this book.
One of the most annoying things the author chose to do was to write about happy things or things that she got something out of in the first person singular using "I", however, if a child "went missing" aka died even though for some reason the author likes to put in alot of suspension of disbelief and thinks they went somewhere else other than the orphanage she would talk in third person plural using "we. Also, alot of the book was basically about not respecting Chinese culture or practices which she even says during the fancy dinner that she was invited to but made her husband leave after 2 hours , and alot of blaming the ayi's and Chinese culture for being what she seems to make them out as terrible human beings while the volunteers or the foreigners were so much smarter and better than the Chinese caretakers and would swoop in and save the day.
This was especially annoying about this book. While I realize that maybe Chinese orphanages are terrible places for children to grow up, especially from the way that the author of this book talks about them, the author never took any time to get to know the culture or get to know any of the reasons for this behavior from the adults who have those traditions and feelings deeply rooted in their culture.
She is also quick to point out which people in the book are "Christians" lifting them up to a higher level than those other volunteers that aren't specifically Christian and especially portraying them as much better than the Chinese caretakers. The only part of this book that helped me to even understand maybe the audience that this is directed to were the letters to the author at the end of the book, but again it was clear that she had picked even those based on who she determined to be "good Christians" and were raising their adopted Chinese children to be as well.
Nov 26, MaryJo Dawson rated it really liked it. Kay Bratt's account of her years volunteering in a Chinese orphanage, only a decade ago, was both heart breaking and encouraging. She clearly shows what an individual can do to make a difference when determined to see a situation through. Seeing such need and deprivation was overwhelming at first, and like anyone else would have, she wondered if she could improve the lives of these children and bear to face the heartache on a regular basis.
When the reader looks back with Ms. Bratt after three y Kay Bratt's account of her years volunteering in a Chinese orphanage, only a decade ago, was both heart breaking and encouraging. Bratt after three years of giving it everything she knew how, clearly she and countless others who responded to her call for assistance made a very big difference.
Along the way the author learned a great deal about herself, and grew tremendously as a wife, mother, and individual. She was not perfect, and honestly shares her frustrations living in a world so different from her life in the U. Having lived abroad in a third world country myself, I question those who are so critical of her shortcomings when they haven't been in her shoes.
She learned to understand why so many of these children are abandoned, and not to judge their families too harshly. I really liked the opening chapter of the book, which came back to my mind many times as I was reading. My only criticism is that perhaps the story would have flowed better using a different format that the day to day relating of her journal entries.
Sometimes that got a little tedious for me. The ending chapters clearly show that by sharing her experiences, she has been a precious source of information for families in the U. This journey is a reminder to all of us that if we desire to put our faith in action, in whatever situation is available to us in our own surroundings, we can make bring relief and comfort. Feb 12, Louise rated it it was amazing Shelves: In Kay Bratt was leaving her comfortable life in the United States and heading to rural China for four years as her husband was sent there to head up a team that was opening a new factory.
Children were also abandoned due to disabilities and illness. What an eye-opening experience this turned out to be for Kay! She began to keep a journal of her experiences and the book is written in journal form making it easy and pleasurable to read. The journal is a scorching account of young lives rendered disposable. In the face of an implacable system, Kay found ways to work with and around the rules to make a better future for the children, whom she came to love. It is the story of hundreds of children, and of the one woman who never planned on becoming a hero but became one anyway.
Nov 18, Beth F. Like a book about an orphanage in China could be anything but incredibly depressing, this book lived up to my expectation of it. It began with a tragic story of a mother who was left no option but to abandon a child she was fully bonded to and loved deeply. Whenever a book elicits such a strong physical reaction, one of two things usually happen: Using an epistolary format, the story of her experiences unfurls. She was achingly homesick at the beginning of the book. And I kind of hate that about myself. Depressing subject matter aside, the book became more interesting to read after the author had dealt with her personal issues with China and finally began making progress in her work with the orphanage and serving as an advocate for children.
Dec 16, Evlyn Vander Vliet rated it did not like it. If you've read "Silent Tears," please go NOW and read Jenny Bowen's much more inspiring account of how she saw a need within China's orphanages and actually reached across cultures to do something about it, instead of simply whining and blaming the Chinese, to finally give up and go home as Kay Bratt did. I understand not all of us certainly not me have the energy to start a non-profit foundation to revolutionize China's child welfare system, as Kay Bratt clearly didn't.
But what I can't stand is her inability to escape her American superiority complex. In the years she lived in China, she never once made a Chinese friend, never made any effort to build any connections within their culture, and only ever pointed her finger at them and their perceived ineptitude. Seriously, spare yourself the self-righteous whining and put Silent Tears down. Just go read Wish You Happy Forever. Dec 15, salena ponce rated it it was amazing. I feel the need to defend this author. Lists with This Book. Aug 12, Betryal rated it it was amazing. As I said in my comment: I've read A child Called IT and this one is by far the worst case yet.
I was trying to get through it, but it was killing me emotionally and mentally by the viscous, horrific, deplorable acts within this book and that's only mentioning a few of the choice words that come to mind up front. I'm strong, but not that strong and was unsure if I could continue this one, but I have and I conquered it yet not without lasting affects to my psych. I can't for the life of me imagin As I said in my comment: I can't for the life of me imagine suffering through such an ordeal as Joe had and even coming out of it with a shred of sanity left.
He's so strong that it takes my breath away. His story is one that's hard to endure through page after page of torture, beatings, rape, even mental and physical abuse at the hands of his mother, brothers and anyone who came into his life once his father who thought the world of his son died in a tragical accident. Knowing this is happening and it's out there as foretold in Joe's story will have wanting to hold onto him for dear life and wishing that everything could have better for him and had been there for him where all others had failed him and were not.
I know Joe won't see this review, but it doesn't matter. I'm so dayum proud of you. You are truly hope to the next generations that fight the same fight. Jan 25, Abby Maddox rated it it was ok. I wanted to stop reading it but felt I owed it to the author to finish it. What he experienced was beyond imaginable. I would have given it more stars if at the end, I found he pursued justice. I just don't understand why you wouldn't go to the authorities.
I was so disappointed to make it to the end with him saying he didnt do anything about it. I read and read hoping. Then made it to the epilogue and still he did nothing. These people who abused him need to serve justice. The fact that they're still walking around possibly still abusing is just as sickening to me as the abuse itself. Truthfully I am naive to the fact that this is happening in the world and for him, by his own sickening family.
It was a true eye opener. View all 7 comments. Jan 29, Anastacia rated it really liked it. To start off I want to say that this book was very hard to read, and I had to make a extremely hard decision as to if I wanted to finish it. Something inside of me wanted closure so I finished the book.
May 07, Suzanne rated it liked it. This book takes place in an orphanage close to Beijing a very different area and dominated by Han Chinese the majority Chinese population. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. I just have no words of the daily life for these kids. I think it's important that we become aware of what very sick people can do to the children of the world. Dev Mcintosh rated it it was amazing Jul 20,
It provided the closure I wanted which I appreciate. It was a hard read, and I wouldn't suggest reading it unless you have the stomach. I went into it not know the severity of his situation. Then I read some reviews on the book, and I was horrified as to how some people said that it wasn't comple To start off I want to say that this book was very hard to read, and I had to make a extremely hard decision as to if I wanted to finish it. Then I read some reviews on the book, and I was horrified as to how some people said that it wasn't completely true, and that it was unbelievable.
Those people are disgusting Keep that to yourself. Throughout the book I questioned humanity. The main character Joe often asked, "Why me? How do people do that to their children? How do you carry a baby for 9 months, and then sell them sexually for money? I won't give anything away, but it is a truly sad and horrific story. At times I didn't think it could get worse Feb 08, Xlautnerxhawtx rated it it was amazing.
Nov 22, Deborah Manoll rated it it was amazing.
Not for the faint-hearted. This was the toughest book I have ever read. I could read through all of those, wincing quite a bit. This one I actually had to skim part of a chapter as I could not take what the child had been subjected to. I could not take it, yet he did. He survived and God blessed him, thank goodness. He makes a good point regarding our th Not for the faint-hearted. He makes a good point regarding our thoughts about human trafficking, it's usually third world, far away from us.
But he was just a kid in the neighborhood with a terribly sick mother and sick family. I wish to God this man had never lost his father. I could not put the book down. I read it in a few hours, but I'll be haunted by it forever Apr 21, Ruth Turner rated it it was ok Shelves: Don't read this if you don't have a strong stomach. By far the worst book about child abuse that I've read. I've rated it 2 stars, not for the content but for the way the story was told. While I'm not doubting the abuse happened, to me the story around the events wasn't always convincing. I had to push myself to finish it, wanting to find out what happened.
I'm happy the author's life has turned out so well, but I'm angry that his abusers, especially his brothers, are still at large, possibly infl Don't read this if you don't have a strong stomach. I'm happy the author's life has turned out so well, but I'm angry that his abusers, especially his brothers, are still at large, possibly inflicting the same abuse on others. The author's concern that he wouldn't be believed is selfish. He should have tried! Jan 11, Ojy elsaiti rated it really liked it Shelves: Cry Silent Tears by Joe Peters is a heartbreaking memoir of childhood abuse.
At the age of 5, Joe witnesses the tragic death of his father and is left completely at the mercy of his violent mother and brutal older siblings. One day Joe loses his ability to speak from the trauma he has suffered. This only leads those that are supposed to care for him and love him to hurt him more because he is unable to tell anyone. Joe is physically beaten, sexual abused, starved, and locked in the cellar for ye Cry Silent Tears by Joe Peters is a heartbreaking memoir of childhood abuse. Joe is physically beaten, sexual abused, starved, and locked in the cellar for years.
There were tears running down my cheeks numerous times during the course of this memoir. I simply do not want to believe that humans are capable of inflicting that level of pain and torture on anyone, especially children. The author describes his childhood in such a frank, straightforward manner.
Nothing felt deceptive or altered in an effort to sell books or create more shock for the reader. I admire Peters for coming out with his story, and I respect him for being able to describe those who abused and betrayed him without becoming incoherent with rage.
I know that I could never step back enough from something like that to recount it with the amount of clarity and openness that Peters did. I highly recommend Cry Silent Tears, but be prepared to feel a bit misanthropic afterwards. Feb 23, Kathy Jenkins rated it it was amazing. This book is heartbreaking! Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. God of Our Silent Tears 4. What kind of God would permit innocent suffering?
What good is God when we suffer? Writing in his foreword, theologian John Westerhoff calls the book an invitation to engage in conversations with the church's theologians who have struggled throughout history with t In his book God of Our Silent Tears , author Dan Edwards takes up the questions Where does suffering come from?
Writing in his foreword, theologian John Westerhoff calls the book an invitation to engage in conversations with the church's theologians who have struggled throughout history with the question of how suffering forces us to rethink our understanding of the Christian faith and what it has to say about the nature and character of God, and about the purposes and destiny of human beings.
Westerhoff adds that Edwards, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, continues an honorable tradition in the Christian church, offering an invitation to examine experiences and feelings, questions and reflections, doubts and convictions in our human quest for answers to our deep need Paperback , pages. Published September 1st by Cathedral Center Press.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about God of Our Silent Tears , please sign up. Be the first to ask a question about God of Our Silent Tears. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Sep 23, Brian Henry rated it really liked it. Overall, good, engaging, and strongly trinitarian, which is refreshing.