"...This is a heartrending, powerful rebellion against those who attempt to suppress victims of sexual assault and childhood abuse...Great for fans of Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died, Rex Ogle's Punching Bag." Booklife Reviews
5 Stars "...Be prepared to read this in one sitting and to be shocked to your core..." Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite
"...Few other memoirs offer the immediacy and family insights of Don’t Tell... It deserves consideration for book clubs, emotional support groups..." D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
5 Stars "...completely avoids sensationalism, focusing rather on the actual psychological strain children endure while carrying family secrets for decades. If you’re drawn to honest accounts of survival, resilience, and the lifelong journey toward healing after childhood trauma, then this book is definitely for you." David Jaggart for Readers’ Favorite
5 Stars "...Teresa Schapansky did an excellent job of recounting Troy’s life... captured the essence of the hippie era, the drugs, the alcohol, and reckless living..." Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
5 Stars "...events in this account are powerful, shocking, saddening and rage-inducing, and incites the feeling of utter helplessness..." Elly Mossman, author/illustrator
"...an extraordinary and candid memoir that is unreservedly recommended reading for anyone with a concerned interest in the subject of sexual assault, child abuse, and abuse recovery... Exceptionally well written, organized and presented" Helen Dumont's Bookshelf, MBR Bookwatch
5 Stars "...a deeply distressing survivor narrative centered on childhood abuse and long term psychological trauma... Don’t Tell will primarily resonate with readers of survivor memoirs, trauma studies, psychological recovery narratives, and readers engaged with social and familial abuse awareness literature." Kristen Connell, ARC Reviewer
5 Stars "...kept my interest from the beginning to the end..." librarian48
4 Stars "...a heartfelt narrative of a life partially wasted with the uncertainty of a regular education and a future family." Lucinda E Clarke
5 Stars "... Don’t Tell is an emotional read that will make your blood boil... If you want to understand how abuse, addiction, and neglect can break a person, then this book is absolutely worth your time." Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers’ Favorite
"...our society needs to listen to Troy’s story and better protect vulnerable children. We all failed Troy..." Philip V. Allingham, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus
"... wow was it a wakeup call to appreciate the tragedy of some people’s lives... the author’s command of the written word to describe a truly brutal life was both compelling and riveting..." PJ's Reviews
5 Stars "...A sad story about a horrifically abused child telling his story as an adult." Rita, ARC Reviewer
5 Stars "...book does an excellent job of illustrating how early trauma doesn’t simply fade with time, it shapes identity, relationships, and the way a person moves through the world long after childhood has ended... I would recommend this book to readers who value honesty, depth, and real-life perspectives that stay with you long after the final page. Samantha Miller, ARC Reviewer
5 Stars "...definitely an eye opener for the abuse that no child should EVER withstand..." Tracy Turnage, ARC Reviewer
5 Stars "...This is a very well written, thoughtful and empathetic book about one man's very sad childhood and how he survived. It was hard to read, but at the same time it was hard to put down..." toothpick1
5 Stars "...Excellent and well written book... it’s a tragic story that is in some ways hard to believe... the author has a way of making you feel like you’re actually part of it ... Hopefully it will prevent similar things from happening in the future so the book also serves an important purpose..." Dave Wristen
5 Stars "...Well written. Heart breaking story especially since I grew up in lake Cowichan and was in the same grade as Troy. A must read takes your breath away... Would be pretty amazing if this Don’t Tell book was a limited mini series..." Wendy
5 Stars "...He showed amazing courage in telling his story. Teresa Schapansky, Troy’s former classmate, writes Troy’s story with the greatest of care and heartfelt empathy... We can only hope that in being able to finally tell his story, Troy left this world with just a little more inner peace..." Trudi Roth
5 Stars "...I have read Teresa’s books for many years now but this one is soul shattering. I was unsure if I really wanted to know this story but I couldn’t put it down once I started. She has told this sad story with compassion, care, understanding, and something not found these days and that is class...." Betty Gentry
5 Stars "This was such an insightful book. As a child of abuse, I felt the shame, guilt and the silence that results from the abuse that was depicted in this book was so spot on. As children we take the blame for the bad behavior of adults. My heart broke for Troy, the abused child. If anyone wants to obtain some insight into the tragedy and heartbreak that is a product of abuse, please read this book." Jaynes51
5 Stars "What stayed with me most after reading Don't Tell wasn't just the abuse Troy endured—it was the courage it took to finally break the silence. This is an incredibly difficult book to read, but it's also an important one because it gives voice to experiences that are too often hidden behind fear, shame, and the command to "don't tell."
Rather than sensationalizing trauma, the memoir focuses on the lasting impact of childhood abuse and what it means to survive it. Knowing that the story is based on Troy's memories and eyewitness accounts makes every chapter feel deeply personal. There are moments that are heartbreaking, disturbing, and emotionally exhausting, but they never feel exploitative. Instead, they reveal the devastating consequences when the people who should protect a child become the source of that child's suffering.
What I appreciated most is that the book isn't defined solely by pain. At its core, it's an act of reclaiming a voice that was stolen for years. Simply choosing to tell the story becomes an extraordinary act of resilience. That message carries enormous weight for survivors who may still be living under the burden of silence.
This is not an easy memoir, nor should it be. It asks readers to bear witness to difficult truths while reminding us why stories like Troy's matter. By speaking openly, he challenges the secrecy that allows abuse to continue and offers validation to others who may believe they're alone.
Don't Tell is emotionally devastating, but it is also deeply courageous. It's the kind of memoir that lingers long after the final page because it reminds us that telling the truth, however painful, can be the first step toward breaking cycles that have lasted for generations.." Victoria Gilder, Goodreads
5 Stars "A very heartbreaking story of a little boy who never really had a chance, within a society that seems to fail its children too often. It's one we need to remember so we may hope to do better!" Annie Deb, Amazon