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  • Tears of the Silenced

  • An Amish True Crime Memoir of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Brutal Betrayal, and Ultimate Survival
  • Written by: Misty Griffin
  • Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
  • Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (231 ratings)

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Tears of the Silenced cover art

Tears of the Silenced

Written by: Misty Griffin
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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Publisher's Summary

A true crime memoir: When Misty was six years old, her family started to live and dress like the Amish. Misty and her sister were kept as slaves on a mountain ranch where they were subjected to almost complete isolation, sexual abuse, and extreme physical violence. Their stepfather kept a loaded rifle by the door at all times to make sure the young girls were too terrified to try to escape. They also knew that no rescue would ever come because only a couple of people even knew they existed and did not know them well enough to care.

Amish sexual abuse: When Misty reached her teens, her parents feared she and her sister would escape and took them to an Amish community where they were adopted and became baptized members. Misty was devastated to once again find herself in a world of fear, animal cruelty, and sexual abuse. Going to the police was severely frowned upon. A few years later, Misty was sexually assaulted by the bishop. As Misty recalls, "Amish sexual abusers are only shunned by the church for six weeks, a punishment that never seems to work. After I was assaulted by the bishop I knew I had to get help and one freezing morning in early March I made a dash for a tiny police station in rural Minnesota. After reporting the bishop I left the Amish and found myself plummeted into the strange modern world with only a second-grade education and no ID or social security card. To all abuse survivors out there, please be encouraged, the cycle of abuse can be broken. Today, I am a nursing student working towards my master's degree and a child abuse awareness activist. This is my story."

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Misty E. Griffin (P)2019 Tantor

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What listeners say about Tears of the Silenced

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  • sue
  • 2020-08-28

A great read

What an interesting and inspiring story. A great read. I feel so very sad for the children involved in these religions.

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Great narrative and informative

Loved this book. Poignant but not too
much detail that it horrified you to the point of not being able to bear it.

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Tears of the sun

This was such a heartbreaking story and yet it was also so very inspiring. Misty is a very strong person, it breaks my heart that she suffered the worst case of abuse. I am so glad she could get through everything and go on with her life. Very very brave, incredible writing , she is a very accomplished artist.

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loved this book

What a crazy and sad story about resilience. Really opened my eyes to the SA going on in the amish community.

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Moving and outstanding

My heart is so full of compassion for all the hurt and accomplishments of Misty and her sister. Just wonderful, I can’t say enough on how well written and spoken this book is!

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Difficult at times but must be read

So very hard to know this happened but find strength to get past the difficult descriptions because the girls deserve to be heard. The knowledge we learn from the author is also so important.

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Very good book

The book really shines a light on the abuse in these communities and how blind we are to them.

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Excellent book

I listened to the audio version and it is so sad the amount of sexual abuse that goes on in their communities. Misty is so brave, and her story from the top of the mountain to the Amish community, shouldn’t have happened. I’m a foster/adoptive mom and I hate how much abuse is in this world. All of us “outsiders” need to fight for these children when we realize what is happening. Thank you Misty for sharing your story.

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  • Deb
  • 2023-01-15

Loved it! Laughed and Cried

Misty's struggles broke my heart but her strength and determination make her an inspiration for all. I hope her story continues to bring awareness to all and helps to change the way police and social services look at abuse cases.

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Gripping!

I’m deeply moved by this sorrowful story. The author tells us about a simple, pure lifestyle, of exalted beauty, alongside horrific cruelty and rough justice. Unforgettable!

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