Beth Fehlbaum, YA fiction author

Jill Starishevsky, author of My Body Belongs to Me, is a New York child abuse and sex  crimes prosecutor. She's also the source of invaluable information for victims of sexual abuse and their families.

Jill was on Good Morning America in a segment titled, "Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Abuse."  She discussed her reasons for writing My Body Belongs to Me (available on Amazon), and she also gave vitally important information that dispels the largely-unfounded fear of "stranger danger"-- i.e.-- most of the time, a child is sexually abused/victimized by a person he or she knows-- not the stereotypical stranger offering a kid candy or a puppy. (Not saying that doesn't happen-- but the majority of sexual abuse is perpetrated on a child by a trusted family member or friend.)

I encourage you to watch the segment (click on the title, above)-- and check out Jill's book, too. I wish I had had it as a child.

One thing that's really important for one to take away from Jill's book and her interview is this: if kids are hesitant to tell a family member what happened-- or if they tell and they are not listened to; their outcry is not acted on-- the kid should tell a teacher. Trust me. A teacher (and I am one, so I know of where I speak) WILL listen to a child's outcry.