Truth Gives Strength To Wings: It’s All in the Journal by Katy Sudano and Ginger Green is the harrowing non-fiction memoir of a girl who, with all odds stacked against her, was able to fly. The book begins with the heartbreaking revelation that young Sydney was being sexually abused, repeatedly, by her step-father. Worse still, her mother was witness to an unconscionable act and through a blend of denial and about-face is somehow able to sweep it under the rug. By all outward appearances, Sydney was living a life of style and luxury. Internally, she was emotionally ravaged in ways that few are able to overcome to survive. Her family and those she thought loved her harbored a secret disgust through flagrant and unapologetic victim-blaming. Her life goes from bad to worse when a volleyball match ends with a violent assault and a future that appears to further a bleak existence as she tries to flee an abusive husband with her toddler son.

First and foremost, Truth Gives Strength to Wings is a story of courage. Katy Sudano has lived fifty lives and survived them all, which is an overwhelming accomplishment on its own. Even more astounding is that she has parlayed her pain into a book that will speak volumes to others who are trapped in similar circumstances, and has devoted her life to advocacy. The writing is engrossing and relatable even when the situations cannot possibly be. The reliance on a secret imaginary friend, Zoryia, to carry her through the worst storms provides an interesting alternate look as Zoryia morphs into an alter-ego and acts as a source of refuge through the darkest moments. This is an incredible book and a truly inspirational journey that will be enjoyed by all those brave enough to pick it up.

To the outside world, she was born into a world of wealth and privilege but behind closed doors, Sydney lived in fear. Abandoned by those who should have protected her, Sydney's only escape was her imaginary friend, her imagination into a world free from abuse, and her secret journal. Sydney learned from a young age a disturbing and distorted idea of love. This led her on a path of abusive relationships and total abandonment by those she trusted. A life with no safety or happiness became her horrifying reality. Little by little Sydney was able to piece her life back together and refuse to be a victim any longer. Follow her terrifying journey in Truth Gives Strength To Wings by Katy Sudano and Ginger Green as she finds the strength to rise up, find the inner power to fight for her voice, happiness, and freedom.

Truth Gives Strength To Wings is such an uplifting story of a tragic victim to inspirational victor. From the first chapter, I was hooked and wanted to protect that terrified little girl from her step-father. The abuse scenes were heartbreaking to read and the reactions and behavior of her mother and extended family regarding the abuse were deplorable. The descriptive narrative, especially of Costa Rica, really placed you inside Syndey's world and the dialogue highlighted the personality of each character. I was impressed by her strength of character to remain so loving in the face of such disregard for her well-being. When she finally decided that her 'compliance was not for sale', I was thrilled and thought this would be the turning point, but so much more abuse and terror would be coming her way. The escape scenes with the help of the coyote were filled with suspense and tension. I was literally on the edge of my seat.

Sydney is such an inspiration to anyone who lives in fear, showing that there is a way to joy and inner peace. I loved the character of Hugo and couldn't understand why someone with his values could be with Sydney's mother. The section on mindfulness at the end was so empowering and encouraging to live a more authentic life that brings you true joy. This quote from the book is so powerful: 'we would not be able to create anything new without our ability to believe in what we cannot see. Without imagination, we could not hope for something better. And our ability to hope may be our greatest human power, for, without it, there is no room for faith.' Truth Gives Strength To Wings is superb and a highly recommended read.

Truth Gives Strength to Wings: It’s All in the Journal by Katy Sudano and Ginger Green is a compelling memoir, so exquisitely written that it is hard to put down. In this memoir, the author describes, and with surprising details, how as a child, she was abused by her mother’s second husband, married an abusive first husband, and had to hire a rescue lawyer. The reader follows her as she fights to protect both herself and her son. There is a lot in this memoir, from being born into a rich family to being groomed for a relationship, to overcoming very challenging situations and finally finding happiness and love. This is a memoir about overcoming hurt and creating happiness. From the start, the reader already knows that the protagonist wasn’t happy as a child and she had her moments of flight. The severity of her emotional pain in childhood is captured in the creation of Zoryia. At twelve she wrote about a fictitious character in her journal, a character she dreamed was having a wonderful life and that character was an extension of herself and her dreams.

The writing is insightful and descriptive and I was pulled in by the author’s imagination as a child, creating a world where she could escape from the doldrums of life and projecting herself into a future that she believed to be hers. This imagination plays a great part in the story and shows how it helped the protagonist to build resilience and go through hurtful situations without being ripped apart. The setting is international, with descriptions of places in the US, Switzerland (where the protagonist was born), Germany, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Katy Sudano has an unusual way of describing her life and I particularly enjoyed the insightful and imaginative writing. For instance, here is how she captures her childhood: “I was always somewhere between a take-off and a landing. I didn’t know exactly what was real or in my own mind.” I enjoyed the journal entries, but most importantly, the author’s honesty and her ability to look truth in the face. Truth Gives Strength to Wings: It’s All in the Journal is as inspirational as it is entertaining; it is told in an engrossing narrative voice filled with humor.