by Aaron Fisher
First published 2012
Aaron Fisher was eleven when Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky recruited him for the Second Mile charity. The legendary coach showered Aaron with gifts and attention, slowly winning his trust while cutting him off from family and friends. What began as mentorship turned into sexual assault. At fourteen, Aaron found the courage to speak out against his abuser. His accusations triggered a three year investigation that would become the biggest scandal in sports history. The community turned against him. He faced harassment from people who should have protected him. Panic attacks plagued him as delays stretched the case forward. His mother fought desperately to keep him safe. Psychologist Michael Gillum provided crucial support. Other victims eventually came forward, inspired by Aaron's bravery. The book captures Aaron's journey from silence to speaking truth, told through his own voice alongside his mother Dawn and therapist Mike. This account transforms a nameless victim into an agent of change.
Genres: abuse, crime, non-fiction, biography-memoir, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: true-story, victim-to-survivor
Setting: Penn State
Period: 2000s
218 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: child-abuse, sexual-assault