Facing the Jaguar: A Memoir of Courage and Confrontation

For fans of The Glass Castle and Educated, a child sex abuse survivor-turned-domestic violence advocate examines the full circle of generational trauma, resilience, and healing. 

The average person can keep a secret for forty-seven hours. Babs Walters held the worst kind of secret for nearly 70 years.

Beginning at the age of 11, Babs suffered childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her father. His edict, “Children should be seen and not heard,” defined her childhood and groomed her to silence. Desperate to be loved and seeking approval, the good little girl absorbed both the responsibility and the shame that was not hers to begin with.

Despite the generational trauma and abuse that haunted her childhood, Walters made a promise to herself when she realized that “We are not what happens to us. We are the meaning and purpose we give to what happens to us.”

Now, decades later, author Babs Walters shows us how uncovering the truth is a critical step to healing. Facing the Jaguar is an inspirational story of resilience and courage—a story that proves anything is possible when we claim our truth and shine a light in even the darkest of places.

About the Author :
Babs Walters is a speaker, advocate, and author as well as a survivor of domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse. She brings difficult subjects to the surface through the power of storytelling. With a Masters’ in Counseling Human Relations, Walters developed creative, healing, journal-writing workshops for women in alcohol and drug recovery. During her corporate career, she led workshops on Preventing Sexual Harassment and continues to teach women to raise their voices today. Babs lives in SE Florida where she teaches Jazzercize and enjoys time with family. Learn more at BabsWalters.com

Review :
“Facing the Jaguar is one of the few books that will hold you spellbound from the very first page till the last. . . . Barbara Walters is a beautiful writer . . .”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“A public advocate for childhood sexual abuse survivors who has developed workshops for women dealing with abuse, addiction and domestic violence, Walters tells her story not just for personal catharsis but also to provide inspiration to survivors, demonstrating that courage, personal autonomy, and healing are possible.”—Kirkus Reviews

“In her gritty and authentic memoir Facing the Jaguar, Babs Walters courageously reveals the secret life she lived an abused child and young adult, living in terror and secrecy—and how she coped. Her poetic and powerful writing reveals the mark that trauma leaves and how Babs learned to hide to protect herself. This is a touching and emotionally resonant book for every child who has to grow up without the love and support they need. A must read!”—Linda Joy Myers, president of the National Association of Memoir Writers and author of Don’t Call Me Mother and Song of the Plains

“Babs Walters recounts her life through vivid imagery capturing the long-lasting impact of trauma and survival. Her memoir is a testament to quiet resilience and will encourage other survivors to do the same.”—Dr. Vanessa Dunn Guyton Survivor Advocate and Executive Director of HUSH No More