... forthright prose and clear, insightful observations about experiencing and learning from trauma. The memoir reads almost like a novel, and each voice that emerges through the dialogue shimmers with complexity ... While the moments of racial and gender-based violence are difficult to read, the book ultimately promotes a sense of hope and healing.
... absolutely stunning ... cinematic detail and novelistic prose ... This memoir is an important read for several reasons. It shows how complex trauma shapes a person’s life and psychology ... It also shows how important public schools and libraries are as places to cultivate children’s creativity and intelligence, particularly for low-income and BIPOC children. And finally, in its portrayal of a Black family’s dynamic women, it offers a vibrant portrayal of survival and love.
... indelible ... Taylor’s narrative is peppered with canny and insightful reflections ... This powerful examination of survival and self-forgiveness is an emotional reckoning.
... sometimes brutal, sometimes tender ... Though aspirational, Taylor doesn’t buy the line that hard work always leads to success ... An affecting memoir of overcoming adversity when every deck is stacked against you.
