Written in a child's voice, this memoir tells of Jennifer Lauck's life from age five to about eleven.

Jennifer deeply loved her mother. But her mother was sick and could not always take care of her. Over time she was in the hospital more and more frequently, until she died. Jennifer and her older brother were then cared for by their father, who was often not home. Then he introduced them to Deb, and in time Deb and her father are wed.

From the start Deb and Jenny did not get along. Deb had odd ideas about how children learn, in part learned from the cult religion she followed. She also clearly favored her own three children over her husband's two. Jenny often felt like she wasn't a part of anything, that nobody really saw her, except to blame her for something she didn't understand. She resisted vocally much of the time but even when she tried to "cooperate" her efforts were not acknowledged.

Her life became worse and worse, until she was essentially abandoned, forced to make her own way, earning her living and finding her way to school when she could. It was only through a stroke of luck that she escaped this bizarre arrangement.

The story reveals how Jennifer learned not to trust and then to trust again. She says the writing was cathartic, as one would imagine it would be, although reliving some of the worst times was difficult. Her childhood shaped her personality and showed her that she was stronger than the adversities that set upon her. ( )

i'm not sure that this is all true but even as a novel it's good. are memoirs ever 100% true? ( )

Wow, what emotions this can bring to your heart. A 5 year old girl, Jenny, looses her momma to illness. A mean cousin reveals to her she's adopted. Her step-brother, Bryan, ignoring her. Father remarries, step kids not nice, neither is the step mother. Dad dies of heart attack. Step mother denies them from seeing fathers relatives, keeping them only for the SS money. Bryan holds back his anger and does what the step mother, Debb, tells him to do. Jenny tries but can't help it if she doesn't understand what is expected without instructions. So much happening to this little girl that it breaks your heart reading it. Thank goodness her grandparents come to the rescue!! ( )

This book grabbed me, shook me and when I wouldn't let go, sunk it's teeth in and devoured me. SOOO why didn't I give it 5 stars?

Well I always give 5 stars to any author that deals with abuse etc and the healing from telling their story. A bravery that goes beyond any star point system. However, the BOOK has to be spot on with no questions as to its accuracy.

This is a Memoir/ Bio and in such terrible tales effect the other people involved in the telling of that tale. I have a really hard time with books of this caliber telling me the truth from a child of tender years as being the truth beyond a doubt. I don't remember such things at that age but then I wasn't abused either. So for me unless it is explained like diaries or court documents or another's testimony etc. it is all suspect as to how the author can recall such vivid memories from an age that one usually cannot recall.

Do not get me wrong the book was excellent and the trials the author went thru were unspeakably cruel. Read this book, weep for a little, then sing with joy that the author was able to paint a rainbow at the end. But to get a five star put in the book somewhere the "how" the memories were brought to the surface. ( )

The title is the reason I bought this book, of course, and am I ever glad I did! It was wonderful! It's like a modern time Cinderella, except you keep waiting and waiting for her life to turn around. When her parents die she is taken in by relatives that seem to do it more for the social security check than anything else. It is written from her child viewpoint without whining and very matter of fact. I can't wait for her next book/sequel.... ( )