James Jean-Pierre

Untold Secrets is gripping story of a young man’s coming-of-age at a very early age in his native Haiti. The topics of childhood abandonment, sexual addiction and suicidal thoughts are addressed. The author does an excellent job of pulling the reader into his story through the voice of his younger self. The reality of his life is raw and difficult to face. His writing is clear and engaging and I definitely got the picture of what his coming-of-age was like. The cultural aspects were very interesting and added to the intrigue of the story.

As a reader I had some difficulty with the repetitive sexually explicit details and felt there should have been warning about that. In his defense, I do think he wanted to tell his story as authentically as possible and in that vein, he did accomplish this authenticity.

The main issue I had related to his story structure. I believe a memoir has to show redemption and leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction that the hero has overcome the obstacles. While he paints a very vivid picture of the obstacles, the ending fell flat and abruptly for me. I knew he had survived but I wanted to know a little more about that experience.

This story is important in shedding light on the impact of childhood abandonment. I have to give it 3-stars due to multiple typos and what I felt as a reader to have an incomplete narrative arc. However, I would read other works by this author as I feel he possesses the ability to engage his reader and makes them want to know more.… (meer)