Piece by Piece - A Memoir of Survival, Resilience, and the Power of Creativity, Sheryl Hauk shares a deeply honest account of surviving childhood sexual abuse and turning that pain into purpose, creativity, and hope.

The book moves the way memory does, through moments and snapshots. Hauk takes readers from her childhood in Hawai'i, surrounded by the beauty and culture of 'ohana, to courtrooms, hospitals, classrooms, and even state government offices. Behind the peaceful island setting, she was living through private trauma. She does not describe the abuse in graphic detail, but she gives enough insight for readers to understand the weight of what she endured at the hands of her father; a man who appeared respectable to the outside world. What stays with you isn't shock, but the quiet truth about silence, not being believed, and finding a way to survive anyway.

As the book progresses, we see Hauk grow into a devoted mother of four, a passionate music teacher who pours herself into her students, and an advocate determined to change laws that protect abusers. Her personal court case, along with her efforts to extend the statute of limitations for survivors, becomes a powerful turning point. Through this work, she shows that healing is not just personal, it can also help others.

Hauk's writing is reflective and conversational. It feels as though she is sitting across from you sharing her story in an honest, open and emotional way. On occasion, she employs humor. Not to make light of what happened, but because sometimes laughter is how people survive. That balance between heartbreak and humor makes the book easier to carry, even when the subject is heavy. It allows readers to sit with difficult truths and come away with greater clarity and understanding.

Some of the most powerful parts of the memoir focus on choice: choosing to show up for others, choosing to speak in court, choosing not to let trauma define her, and choosing to be a survivor, not a victim. This idea sits as a cornerstone of the book.

Piece by Piece will resonate deeply with survivors, parents, educators, advocates, and anyone navigating the long arc between harm and healing. It is a story about courage without drama, advocacy without showmanship, and creativity as a path toward restoration. Above all, it is about building a meaningful life, one piece at a time.

About the Author

Sheryl Hauk grew up in Hawai'i, a haole shaped by a culture that taught her resilience, belonging, and the power of music and ohana (family). Her life unfolded in parallel with Barack Obama's in Honolulu-both shaped by the island's rhythms, its unspoken expectations, and the ocean that grounds and humbles. Those early lessons in balance, identity, and empathy became the foundation for a lifetime spent building connection through music and storytelling.

Sheryl dedicated more than forty years to music education, serving as a conductor, clinician, and Fine Arts Coordinator while mentoring thousands of students who found their voice under her direction. Many have gone on to national stages and professional careers in music, theater, and the arts, including actress and singer Ryan Destiny, composer and conductor Christian Kolo, vocalist Chelsea Helm, and Broadway actor Danny Kornfeld.

Her choirs have performed across the United States-from concert halls and jazz festivals to national ceremonies and state events-and her work as a music educator has been honored for its innovation and excellence. Sheryl has received the MSVMA Lifetime Achievement Award, been named a Grammy Teacher of the Year Quarterfinalist, and was recognized as a Life Changer of the Year nominee. She has also served as an adjudicator and guest conductor for state and national music organizations, helping shape the next generation of music educators and performers.

Beyond the podium, Sheryl is a survivor and an advocate for justice. She produced the podcast It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child and has testified before legislators to help change statutes of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Her commitment to using her voice for change-whether in the classroom, the courtroom, or the community-has made her an enduring advocate for those learning to speak their truth.

In Piece by Piece, her debut memoir, Sheryl brings that same honesty, dark humor, and hard-won resilience to the page,Review by Book Excellence

Piece by Piece - A Memoir of Survival, Resilience, and the Power of Creativity, Sheryl Hauk shares a deeply honest account of surviving childhood sexual abuse and turning that pain into purpose, creativity, and hope.

The book moves the way memory does, through moments and snapshots. Hauk takes readers from her childhood in Hawai'i, surrounded by the beauty and culture of 'ohana, to courtrooms, hospitals, classrooms, and even state government offices. Behind the peaceful island setting, she was living through private trauma. She does not describe the abuse in graphic detail, but she gives enough insight for readers to understand the weight of what she endured at the hands of her father; a man who appeared respectable to the outside world. What stays with you isn't shock, but the quiet truth about silence, not being believed, and finding a way to survive anyway.

As the book progresses, we see Hauk grow into a devoted mother of four, a passionate music teacher who pours herself into her students, and an advocate determined to change laws that protect abusers. Her personal court case, along with her efforts to extend the statute of limitations for survivors, becomes a powerful turning point. Through this work, she shows that healing is not just personal, it can also help others.

Hauk's writing is reflective and conversational. It feels as though she is sitting across from you sharing her story in an honest, open and emotional way. On occasion, she employs humor. Not to make light of what happened, but because sometimes laughter is how people survive. That balance between heartbreak and humor makes the book easier to carry, even when the subject is heavy. It allows readers to sit with difficult truths and come away with greater clarity and understanding.

Some of the most powerful parts of the memoir focus on choice: choosing to show up for others, choosing to speak in court, choosing not to let trauma define her, and choosing to be a survivor, not a victim. This idea sits as a cornerstone of the book.

Piece by Piece will resonate deeply with survivors, parents, educators, advocates, and anyone navigating the long arc between harm and healing. It is a story about courage without drama, advocacy without showmanship, and creativity as a path toward restoration. Above all, it is about building a meaningful life, one piece at a time.

About the Author

Sheryl Hauk grew up in Hawai'i, a haole shaped by a culture that taught her resilience, belonging, and the power of music and ohana (family). Her life unfolded in parallel with Barack Obama's in Honolulu-both shaped by the island's rhythms, its unspoken expectations, and the ocean that grounds and humbles. Those early lessons in balance, identity, and empathy became the foundation for a lifetime spent building connection through music and storytelling.

Sheryl dedicated more than forty years to music education, serving as a conductor, clinician, and Fine Arts Coordinator while mentoring thousands of students who found their voice under her direction. Many have gone on to national stages and professional careers in music, theater, and the arts, including actress and singer Ryan Destiny, composer and conductor Christian Kolo, vocalist Chelsea Helm, and Broadway actor Danny Kornfeld.

Her choirs have performed across the United States-from concert halls and jazz festivals to national ceremonies and state events-and her work as a music educator has been honored for its innovation and excellence. Sheryl has received the MSVMA Lifetime Achievement Award, been named a Grammy Teacher of the Year Quarterfinalist, and was recognized as a Life Changer of the Year nominee. She has also served as an adjudicator and guest conductor for state and national music organizations, helping shape the next generation of music educators and performers.

Beyond the podium, Sheryl is a survivor and an advocate for justice. She produced the podcast It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child and has testified before legislators to help change statutes of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Her commitment to using her voice for change-whether in the classroom, the courtroom, or the community-has made her an enduring advocate for those learning to speak their truth.

In Piece by Piece, her debut memoir, Sheryl brings that same honesty, dark humor, and hard-won resilience to the page,