The Ashes of Innocence

The Ashes of Innocence
Alexandra Tesluk
self-published
ISBN: 978-0-9808942-0-2
Non-Fiction, Memoir
Reviewed by Tracy Kokemuller

The Ashes of Innocence is the story of Alexandra Tesluk. It is a testimony of her life left for her family. It is also a testimony to those who have experienced abuse. Alexandra’s mother Ola was born in the Ukraine in 1907. Alexandra didn’t know a lot about her mother’s life during the time period before she was born. What she did learn was Ola met her father Andreas during WWW Two and they worked as forced laborers in a slave camp in Germany. She then emigrated to Canada after the birth of her two daughters without Andreas, whom she never married. Ola then married Tom in 1946 when Alexandra was three years old. Alexandra experienced devastating physical abuse at the hands of Tom.
One incident in particular included Tom making Alexandra kneel on grains of rice while holding a heavy log over her head. Alexandra’s mother did nothing to stop the abuse. Alexandra left their household only to marry an alcoholic who abused her as well.
The Ashes of Innocence is about overcoming the obstacles of abuse and eventually learning forgiveness, especially of her mother. Alexandra also movingly tells about her quest to find her daughter she had given up for adoption. She finally finds closure, of sorts, with her biological father. I would recommend this book to anyone who has had to experience abuse. You may find strength in reading Alexandra’s courageous story.