Reader Reviews and Testimonials

Unspoken Truth: From A Buried Past

In author Kylen’s searing story, her mother’s long-hidden deception plays out in the decades to come through the escalating rage and violence she exacted upon Barron and her siblings.

The memoir opens with her mother’s death from cancer and the author’s shattering grief, despite her mother’s devastating abuse. The reaction is a psychological phenomenon where victims mourn a relationship they wish they had had instead of its reality. “I used to feel like I was parched, and although the water was in front of me, I was never allowed to drink it,” she writes, “This thirst of mine was for my mother’s love.”

By happenstance, a few years after her mother’s death, she learns through social media she has a half-brother, given away 60 years before in a secret adoption in 1957.

The story’s heart is the slowly unraveling truth about her mother, raised in the Jim Crow South, whose rebellious ambition was stymied by race and gender even after she fled North. As revelations unfold, an unresolved mystery remains: What triggered her mother’s inexplicable cruelty, one that destroyed two marriages and terrorized her children? And was the choice she made to give away her son the cause or a symptom?

Barron has an amazing story to tell, with its can’t-look-away brutality and the mounting toll from a secret her mother took to her grave. After learning of her half-brother’s existence, she launches a quest to complete the puzzle.

However dramatic, though, the memoir isn’t perfect. The narrative feels too much like a recitation of facts and conversations without artful crafting to elevate it. It also lacks context of the era’s societal realities that allowed so many to simply ignore what was happening. Additionally, more introspection about Barron’s feelings at each point would have been helpful. How did she come to forgiveness?

Readers will want more about Barron’s process of soul searching as the story unwinds. That aside, this is a raw and painful work that deserves consideration.

Also available as an ebook.

Unspoken Truth: From A Buried Past

When considering the modern memoir, high-volume titles typically fall into one of two categories: the salacious ‘tell-all’ or a story of redemption. At a glance, Kylen’s UNSPOKEN TRUTH: From A Buried Past may appear to be a drama-drenched dish, but the book ultimately defies categorization. While readers will discover a trove of scandalous secrets within the book’s pages–a list that includes decades-long lies and hidden affairs–UNSPOKEN TRUTH is ultimately a story of absolution and self-discovery.

For all intents and purposes, Barron’s journey began with her mother’s death in 2009 which was both unexpected and traumatic. But as so often happens, the aftermath would soon prove equally, if not more trying, than the event itself. Barron’s attempt to settle her mother’s affairs soon led to a series of heartbreaking revelations that placed tremendous strain on her sibling relationships, pushing pre-existing tensions to the edge. With her late mother serving as the common denominator for so much of her anger and resentment, Barron couldn’t help but ask herself, ‘why?’ Unfortunately, it would take some time for her to begin answering the question—five years to be exact. The key to unlocking a lifetime of secrets came by way of a seemingly random request to connect via social media. The message would soon lead to a series of life-altering discoveries, changing not only Barron’s perception of her mother, but also the size of her family.

According to her bio, Barron has spent her career immersed in the entertainment sector, including stints in both the film and music industries. Given her background, it’s hardly a surprise that UNSPOKEN TRUTH is a highly engaging read. Barron’s conversational prose and confessional demeanor serve her story well, so much so that there are portions of her story read like a heartfelt letter from a dear friend. And if there’s one overarching lesson to be learned from the book it’s the pronounced and lasting impact parents have on their children. Plagued with a litany of mental issues, the shadow Barron’s mother cast over her and her siblings’ lives was so pronounced that it took the author a lifetime to truly quantify its influence. Still, there’s more to Barron’s journey than pain and sorrow. As she points out in the book’s forward, therapy has been (and continues to be) a key component of her journey. The author also provides a litany of candid reflections, including the enduring value of forgiveness in the face of deceit. Black, white, young, or old, every single person has a family, and thus, anyone can relate to some degree with aspects of Barron’s story, just as anyone can learn from her unspoken truth.

With UNSPOKEN TRUTH: From A Buried Past, Kylen S. Barron unearths a trove of long-buried family secrets and, in the process, delivers a deeply personal story with a high level of relatability.

Unspoken Truth: From A Buried Past

What makes evil people commit undeniable atrocities against innocent people? This is a question that’s oftentimes evaded humankind for ages. Yes, we recognize evil people when we see them. As the Biblical saying goes, ‘by their fruit ye shall know them.’ When someone beats a child bloody, as happens in Kylen’s book, Unspoken Truth: From A Buried Past, all would agree that a clear ethical line has been crossed. This is not a spanking; this is, instead, pouring out wrath on a poor, defenseless child. We can many times agree on what is evil, but we can’t always explain why this evil was perpetrated.

Barron’s book tells the story of a woman named Shyrell. It’s a true story, and oftentimes a tough tale to process. It might hit a little too close to home for those that may have suffered childhood abuse at the hands of a parent. This book mainly delves on the ‘why’ question at hand. Of course, there is no justification for abusing any child. No ‘why’ is ever acceptable. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to imagine that a parent was simply born an abuser. Life circumstance drove the parent to a breaking point, somehow. This book is the story of one such bad parent.

Our story begins at the end of Shyrell’s mother’s life. While her mother is breathing her last breaths, Shyrell is trying to come to grips with the complicated relationship she has (and has had) with her mother. She loves her because she is, after all, her only mother. Children are taught to love their parents – no matter how good or bad they may be. The first part of this book finds Shyrell spending time with her mother, as well as visiting with relatives making that last pilgrimage to visit this dying woman while she’s still alive.

Along the way Shyrell takes on the role of amateur psychologist. Labeled an amateur, because she attempts to connect pivotal events in her mother’s past, with her eventual motherly failures. She uses the phrase, ‘hurt people, hurt people’ at one point. In other words, people who have been hurt – and hurt badly – many times hurt other people, much the same way they had been hurt. Shyrell’s mother must have abused her because she herself been badly hurt in the past. No normal past could ever producer such a motherly evil doer.

Shyrell deduces that the main cause of her mother’s evil behavior boils down to a family secret. It’s a secret her mother takes with her to her grave, even though she drops hints about this secret on her deathbed. (It would be a spoiler to disclose the circumstances of this secret.)

Barron’s book exposes the raw nerves of family relationships. It evidences how the death of a family member can sometimes bring out the worst in family members. It also grapples with the many times elusiveness of the ‘closer’ concept when it comes to mourning the death of a loved ones. This story suggests there can never be full closure whenever there are unexplained family secrets. It also highlights the dangers of family secrets. What some people do to protect themselves by keeping secrets, actually other people – a lot, yet, the secretive will be secretive, and cannot be forced to be honest sometimes.

The very thought of attempting to bury the past, is a Poe-ian concept, at best. Much like that telltale heart in one of his famous stories, it’s oftentimes impossible to completely bury the past and take a secret to the grave. Unspoken truth, at least in this case, was eventually spoken. Shyrell isn’t healed by knowing some of the ‘whys’ of her family’s past, but at least she’s not left in pain AND without verifiable answers. If there’s a moral to this story, it’s that we should all do our best to never lie or keep family secrets. The truth will set you free but lies always cause pain – without exception.

Good book

I Think Differently, I Am Me, I Am Proud To Be Me” is a touching and inspiring book that chronicles JAB’s journey as an autistic individual. The book offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by autistic people, including communication and imagination, and highlights the benefits of sensory activities. JAB’s story is a testament to the power of love, community, and perseverance, as he grows into a superhero who advocates for the voiceless. The author’s writing is both heartfelt and informative, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and appreciate neurodiversity.

Well Written

Celebrating Neurodiversity

What a Gem

I’m certain JAB is lucky to have such a loving, understanding family. I loved this book, the illustrations are stunning. Being neurotypical myself, I think this is a great way to understand neurodivergence and what it entails. Please, keep writing.

What an INSPIRATION

Thank you Mrs Barron for this well thought out book. It’s amazing and Jab is an inspiration. We are so pleased…keep them coming.

Well Written

I enjoyed this book as something to read to my younger ASD niece. Although it starts with the narrative of a six year old, my niece would definitely not be able to handle this read. In fact, it took a couple of sessions to finish it. However, it might be more suitable for a second or third grader.

Beyond reading level, this book is really great at helping others understand that people who are differently abled and autistic do understand what you are saying, they just do not know how to communicate back to you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.