Author Rachel Denhollader Honored with a Christopher Award

Louisville, Ky.-based author Rachael Denhollander received a Christopher Award for "What Is a Girl Worth? My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth About Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics," (Tyndale Momentum). It is one of 11 books for adults and young people by 16 authors and illustrators honored as the Awards mark their 71st year. They join the creators of nine winning TV/Cable and feature films also being honored.

The Christophers' motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,” is particularly apt in 2020 said Tony Rossi, The Christophers’ Director of Communications. The celebrated authors, illustrators, writers, producers, and directors whose works exemplify this Chinese proverb also “affirm the highest values of the human spirit,” he said.

Denhollander’s voice was heard around the world when she spoke out to end the shocking US gymnastics scandal. The first victim to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young athletes, she revealed her story for the first time. How did Nassar get away with it for so long? How did Denhollander and the other survivors finally bring him to justice? And how can we protect the vulnerable in our own families, churches, and communities? This personal narrative shines a spotlight on the physical and emotional impact of abuse, why so many survivors are reluctant to speak out, what it means to be believed, the extraordinary power of faith and forgiveness, and how we can learn to do what’s right in the moments that matter most.

Denhollander is an attorney, advocate, and educator. As a result of her activism, more than 250 women came forward as survivors of Nassar’s abuse, leading to his life imprisonment. Rachael was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year in 2018.

She also received the Inspiration of the Year award from Sports Illustrated and was a joint recipient of ESPN’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award. She regularly appears in national and international media and is a New York Times and Vox op-ed contributor.

The Christophers, a nonprofit founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, and awards programs. More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.