Private Scars
Brenda Youngerman

Reviewed by Carianne Carleo-Evangelist

Private Scars by Brenda Youngerman  tells the story of a battered woman who does all she can to hide the challenges she faces at home from the public.

Nancy Lewiston Cooper has it all on the surface, but as is often the case in real accounts of domestic violence, the surface doesn’t come anywhere near the private demons faced by those affected by domestic violence. News accounts tell of stories of prominent women who are affected, yet the belief persists that this, domestic violence, affects only poor people. Further, the belief is prevalent that the victims would have some way of knowing what was coming and could avoid it, if they chose. This book does a good job in attempting to show the truth beyond these persistent beliefs.  

Nancy and her husband Vince are both well-written characters. Nancy is more than a victim and Vince is more than an evil abuser. It’s the fact that these characters exist beyond the stereotypes often attributed to them is what helps the story’s flow along. These are real characters, almost real people who the reader could expect to meet in the course of their day. These could even be our neighbors. 

Perhaps what allows Nancy to persevere as long as she does is help from family, such as Matt, Olivia, and her parents ultimately. Matt knew there was more going on and pushed Nancy as much as he could, yet he was cognizant of causing her further pain. At the same time, it was clear that Nancy wanted to trust someone. Wanted to tell the truth. However her trust had been violated so severely by Vince that it’s almost as if she cannot trust anyone else, which is her undoing. Finally though, she learns. She sees there is another option. But her past will always be with her.  

The powerful message contained within this slim volume is one that will resonate with the reader even after the book is done.