Review of The Truth About Sugar by E.M. Youman

The Truth About Sugar
By
E.M. Youman

Wil Records Publishing
Copyright 2015 by E.M. Youman
ASIN: B0190MWXLC


The Truth About Sugar is a tragic short story that occurs in a child psychologist’s office where a
small girl named Becca is to be evaluated by a Dr. Campina.  The story is told largely in the first
person by her step-father with some direct dialog from Dr. Campina and Becca, and the step-
father remembers some dialog with Becca’s mother, Molly, her ex-husband, Theo, and a couple
of others.  Becca, who has been acting out and throwing tantrums, has problems relating to
others.  Her mother, Molly, by all the evidence presented, is a manipulating slut who probably
never wanted children.  The reader gets the impression that Becca was not wanted by her mother.
Rather than address Becca’s problems, Molly responds by drugging and placating her demands
in order to maintain Molly’s own status quo.  When her current husband, Becca’s step-father
finds she does not want children, she abandons Becca and leaves him to cope with Becca without
explanation.  Theo, Molly’s ex-husband, is a boxer that shares his house with several other men. 
His attitude toward Becca is negligent at best.  However, the step-father reaches out to him in
desperation for help with Becca.  The result is one of a continuing series of disasters fueled by
Theo and Molly’s negligence that leads to the session with Dr. Campina.
E. M. Youman has produced a believable short story that will shock many readers.  The
characters are all too human and possess many of the human character flaws common in many
parents today.  This short story should appeal to those who love psycho-drama and stories about
human tragedy.  Generally well written, it contains some typos but nothing too distracting.  The
reader always has an inkling of Becca’s problem, but the exact source isn’t apparent until the
end. All in all, a good story that maintains the reader’s tension throughout.

4 1/2-Stars,
Clabe