Ashley C. Ford recounts her upbringing in Indiana, defined by the absence of her father who remained incarcerated for the majority of her youth. She navigates a complicated relationship with her volatile mother while grappling with her changing body, the trauma of sexual assault, and the heavy weight of family secrets. The narrative centers on Ford’s search for identity as she idealizes a man she barely knows, only to eventually confront the specific nature of the violent crime that led to his imprisonment.
Readers seeking an unvarnished look at how incarceration shapes the domestic lives of those left behind will find a detailed account of cycles of poverty and familial tension. The book serves people interested in the intersection of Black girlhood and the American justice system. It offers a practical perspective on how a child processes adult wrongdoing and the difficult psychological steps required to reconcile a parent’s love with their harmful actions.
Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
