When Kambia Elain Flew in From Neptune by Alexis

When Kambia Elain Flew in From Neptune by Alexis - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

Wallpaper wolves, memory beetles, and lizard people fill Kambia Elaine’s fantasy world. Kambia Elaine uses this world to protect herself from the abuse in her home at the hands of her mother’s boyfriends. The secrets and the shame of Kambia Elaine’s life stay hidden until her next door neighbor, Shayla, becomes a supportive friend that she confides in.

Lori Aurelia Williams’ When Kambia Elaine Flew in From Neptune, was the first book that I ever read where I identified with a character so deeply. Kambia Elaine’s story was similar to mine in many ways. Her beautiful spirit was unscathed by the hurt she endured and she longed for support because her mother did not believe her claims of abuse. Hiding the pain in a deep corner of her mind, Kambia Elaine attempted to create an alternate world to distance herself from what was really happening.

Through reading about Kambia Elaine, I found enough courage to speak out about being sexually assaulted. Trying to put the experiences in a seperate world was no longer working and I began to unravel much like Kambia Elaine did in the book. By confiding in a supportive friend, I got the strength to move forward and take the necessary steps to make sure the person that hurt me was punished.

Without this story, this character, this in depth insight to such an intense pain, I may have never spoken out. Kambia Elaine flew in from Neptune with her silly stories and alternate worlds filled with mythical creatures but with all of that, she flew in to inspire me.