What People Are Saying
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Burwell captures vividly the maddening nature of being a parent of an addicted child, both the sadness at seeing your offspring suffer and the hurt and rage at being manipulated and lied to… It’s impossible for readers not to admire the Burwells’ grit. The way D’Anne, her husband and her daughter hang in with Jake through years of agony defines for me the word ‘family’… If you are looking for a candid, well-written account of the human experience of loving someone who is addicted to opioids, this quietly powerful book will stay with you for a long time.”
— Keith Humphreys, Washington Monthly “Without cleverness or false pride, Burwell, a suburban mother of a struggling son, writes the brutal truth about addiction…” — Publishers Weekly “Burwell’s story of her family’s harrowing journey comes at a fortuitous time, [when] the skyrocketing abuse of prescription drugs and heroin is forcing everyone from health care leaders to presidential candidates to reassess our decades-long war on drugs.” — San Jose Mercury News “I think this is the best book since [David Sheff's] Beautiful Boy on the real-life experience of parenting a kid with substance use disorder. It is harrowing but ultimately uplifting...” — Ann Herbst, Young People in Recovery “Reading D’Anne Burwell’s brave and powerful memoir, I knew: this could be my child, and this mother’s harrowing story could all too easily be my own. It could be yours, too. Love alone won’t save us from the epidemic of addiction ravaging our kids, but love and better information, together, will help our families and our children survive and heal. Rooting for Jake on every page, we come to share in his struggle and in his family’s hope for recovery. We also see just how tough a road that is, and how essential it is for stories like this one to be told. Saving Jake should be read by every parent.” — Katrina Kenison, author of The Gift of an Ordinary Day “Jake’s story is my son’s story. Burwell’s pain, fears, anger, and misery are mine. I read Saving Jake at a time when I really needed strength, and I found it. Burwell is a great writer and a greater humanitarian for sharing her life, giving us the gift of hope and commitment.” — Carlos B., father of an addict “For 20 years I have been sending addicts out the door of my ICU, to the morgue, or back to their habit. I’m an intensive care physician. One third of the patients in my ICU on any given day are addicts. Do we have a secret epidemic? Yes, we do. Addiction is a disease NOT a moral flaw. Until I read this inspiring book, I didn’t really believe that some are fortunate and actually survive. From where I sit they die with me, often alone, occasionally with some very distraught family. Their disease makes me feel so helpless… this book will do more than I ever will. I read Saving Jake, nearly without stopping over two days. Copies of it will be placed on the counter in my ICU and when families (addicts never ask) ask me what to do? “Here,” I’ll say, “Take this book, you will find it helpful, if she/he makes it out of the unit alive.” Jake’s story, what a gift! Thank you Jake, Bruce, D’Anne, and Alea.” — Christopher Anderson, MD “A remarkable, gripping story…honest, vulnerable and thoughtful.” — Sharon Hofstedt, Psychiatric and Substance Abuse RN “I just devoured this book; every word set fire in my soul.” — Dustie S., daughter of an addicted father, mother of two “Powerful and insightful... This book is an important and necessary addition to our society's conversation about addiction and the efforts to defeat it.” — US Review of Books “It is a brave act to tell your truth. Burwell has opened a fragile window into her life, allowing us to have a look in. She has written a beautiful account of her harrowing, heartbreaking journey, helping us understand what she has endured, learned, lost, and gained. It is her honesty and vulnerability that will keep you reading.” — Jonathan Barlow, MSW “A theme in the book is the importance of connection: how people are more likely to succeed in recovery if they have a strong recovery community.” — The Courier, Northwestern Ohio “… One family’s story of what addiction does, what it can do to anyone.” — The Logan Daily News, Ohio “Beautifully written, exquisitely detailed, this book chronicles the long and often tortuous journey to recovery for both addicted individuals and all those who love and care for them. If your child is ‘struggling,’ you will find comfort in the pages of this book, knowing you are not alone. And you will discover solace and much wisdom in the author’s loving quest to find the points of light on the pathway to healing and wholeness.” — Katherine Ketcham, coauthor of Broken and Teens Under the Influence “Poetic in its precisely chosen words…a page turner.” — Dorothy M., mother of three, former wife of an alcoholic “Too much shame and silence surround addiction. Burwell’s terrific memoir will move dialogue forward on one of the top health problems of our time.” — Greg Williams, filmmaker, The Anonymous People and Generation Found, and cofounder of Facing Addiction “I simply wanted to say thank you for having the courage to share your story of "Jake" with those of us who are also part of the inner circle: parents of kids who are addicts. Through your personal outreach to support groups like ours, and by way of your book for a wider audience, you have taken an audacious stand against this scourge that truly endangers not only our kids, but our country. My perspective has been through a law enforcement lens: now, in my time as the father of an addicted child, I have also been transported to the other side. Efforts like yours have given me new insight—and hope—in the struggle against drug abuse, and our fight to save the lives of our children.” — B.T., SF Bay Area prosecutor “... Vulnerable and so real... I couldn't put it down...” — Fay Zenoff, Executive Director, Center for Open Recovery “I shed many tears, reading this book. Burwell’s willingness to bare her soul—to communicate not just the pain and terror she lived through but the wisdom and determination of her entire family—is courageous and selfless. Saving Jake will not only touch people deeply, it will teach them about the disease of addiction and provide a beacon through the darkness.” — Amy Temple, MS, school psychologist “Addiction is not just about craving. It is also about chaos, love, fear, anger, shame, and sadness and how they wear you out over time. They can also make you into a better person, transform families, and— sometimes, with luck and a mother’s determination—alter the course of disease.” — Thomas Hofstedt, PhD, board member, HealthRight 360 “Saving Jake will help many families survive difficult and confusing times.” — Dr. Kevin McCauley, The Institute for Addiction Study “With stunning honesty, Burwell depicts the quicksand that is life when dealing with a loved one’s addiction.” — Lenna Buissink, parent in long-term recovery “Burwell shows us what it looks like to do some of the hardest work a human being can do… which is to change oneself, and the hardest work a mother can do… which is to let go.” — Barbara Cofer Stoefen, author of A Very Fine House “D’Anne Burwell eloquently shares the pitfalls and cautious joys of survival when trying to cope with her son’s drug use. As a parent coach and the mother of a child in recovery, this story touched me deeply and reminded me that while the substance use details may vary, the love, worry, and emotional pain of mothers put in this situation never changes.” — Cathy Taughinbaugh, certified parent coach “Burwell’s book has helped me tremendously to deal with my son's addiction. Reading Saving Jake was so timely as we were at our wits' end - truly going insane. As I read this book, I felt I was looking in a mirror. The author's words were so insightful, encouraging and comforting, empowering me to let go of owning my child's life and actions, and have added to the process of finding peace.” — Karen B., mother of an addict “Burwell chronicles her son's downward spiral and recovery, along with the struggles and hard lessons her family learned...” — Los Altos Town Crier “Once I started reading, nothing else mattered. I couldn’t put it down. What really hit home for me is D’Anne’s transformation as a mother. Those of us in recovery often try to over compensate when it comes to caring for our children because we’ve caused so much chaos and trauma. We want to do everything and anything to fix our “broken” children. D’Anne’s understanding of addiction is beyond anyone I have met who’s actually not suffering from it, and even many in recovery don’t even understand as much as D’Anne has learned in such a short time. Saving Jake is by far the best book I have come across.” — Aleksandra Bembnista, Glorious Recovery co-founder, in recovery, and mother of three “Saving Jake is a story that will touch the heart of every parent; indeed, Jake’s story is a cautionary tale for any family that has ever thought ‘it could never happen to us.’ Through it all, Burwell remains unswerving in her love for her son, dedicated to doing whatever it takes to support Jake’s recovery—even when letting go is the most painful choice imaginable.” — Charlene Margot, MA, Founder of The Parent Education Series, Sequoia Union High School District “D'Anne is a very impactful speaker and writer, and I thank her for sharing her very difficult experience. She makes a great advocate for those suffering from addiction and their families.” — Korina De Bruyne, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Stanford School of Medicine “D’Anne came to Findlay, Ohio and presented her very personal story of love and recovery to our community at the University of Findlay, to a recovery group and to a Chamber of Commerce group. Her narrative of love and support for their family resonated with everyone. Strong family support is a key factor of success along the path way to recovery. Saving Jake is an outstanding book and D’Anne is a warm, compassionate person who presents her story easily, while mixing in her knowledge of science and best practices on the opioid epidemic.” — John Kissh, Chairman of the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board “I am not easily moved by the written word, as I respond more keenly to visual images, yet Burwell’s raw and authentic expression of her journey in the effort to save her son, and also herself, had a profound effect on me… Heartfelt wishes of congratulations for her strength and courage to write this book for the world to know her family’s story and her commitment to help others in the battle against this horrible disease.” — Susan M. Anderson, Founder, The ArtReach Foundation “I think this is the best book I have ever read/listened to describing codependency and how to change our reactions. I have read every book out there yet listening to this first hand account is so powerful! Takes away the stigma and helped me to realize our sons and/or daughters did not choose addiction.” — Tricia Olive, mother of an addict “Burwell concisely and vividly unravels the heart-clenching, intimate details of a family’s journey through addiction upheaval. Devoid of direct instructions, Saving Jake reads like a gripping, moment-to-moment guide for parents. Admirably, there is no self-justification, but rather raw authenticity and frontline truth. Rich with characters who climb into your heart, this beautifully told story is a powerful contribution to the literature.” — Barre Stoll, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist For more than 455 reader comments and reviews, click here. |
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