"Childhood's Thief is the story of JoAnn, an attractive, successful, middle-aged woman, who came to therapist Rose Mary Evans to learn why she suffered from such severe depression. In the course of treatment, Evans realized that although JoAnn had completely blocked out memories of her childhood, she was determined to discover the truth about herself. As part of her therapy, she recalled and wrote of an elderly couple she had known briefly, thereby unlocking a story of physical and mental abuse, prostitution, and murder." "Bit by bit, JoAnn remembered a poverty-stricken childhood in the Deep South, her years with an uncaring teenaged mother and abusive grandparents. She recalled horrifying episodes of being "sold" sexually by her grandfather, even before starting first grade, and also remembered the love and kindness of a neighboring old black couple she knew simply as Honey and the Man. They gave JoAnn the only love she experienced as a child, saving both her life and sanity." "Rose Mary Evans narrates this story, explaining how the reawakening of these memories helped JoAnn recover from the wounds that had persisted into adulthood. Accompanying her patient in this endeavor gave Evans a new perspective on her work as a therapist. Into her account of the process, she also interweaves JoAnn's amazingly evocative writings about her childhood, an effort that formed the centerpiece of their therapeutic work together. JoAnn's story is a testament to the remarkable ability of the psyche to protect the core of life, the human spirit."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved