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Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Building the Bridge by Melissa Baker is a thought-provoking memoir that follows her painful journey from a childhood shaped by family secrets, neglect, abuse, and debilitating trauma to finding purpose in nurturing new and meaningful connections, serving others, and pursuing healing. She sells her car and uses the money to buy a plane ticket for Port Moresby, leaving nothing behind but journals from over the years hidden under her bed. Armed with a small backpack and a midrange single-lens camera with plenty of film, Mel sets out on an adventure fraught with uncertainty. Her work with new communities will bring up her painful memories. Still, people like Ian also help her to process her traumatic experiences and to make choices that choose her. All along, she is determined to expose the truth before her family disintegrates, but how will that happen?
Melissa Baker writes with clarity and creates scenes that are focused, from her experiences of street violence and family dysfunction to interactions with friends and the people she helps and supports, like Ian. I was fascinated by how well she captures experiences in the remote villages of Papua New Guinea, where she creates new bonds; her adventures in Africa and Bangladesh are equally immersive. Her journey toward self-forgiveness and her handling of guilt were a spotlight for me in this memoir. Building the Bridge taught me the true meaning of healing, and watching it happen in the life of a courageous woman was moving. Some of the scenes will stay with me, like crossing the dangerous log bridge in PNG, the confrontation with an abuser, and the narrow escape from an attack orchestrated by a corrupt police officer in Bangladesh. You’ll be intrigued by the people you meet in this memoir, including Gane, the young boy who guides Mel through the jungle and with whom she shares a lot of laughter; Chris, a very likable counselor; and James, a romantic partner. This memoir is filled with lessons for anyone struggling with abuse and trauma.
