by Paula McLain
First published 2004
Paula McLain tells the story of her fractured childhood spent in foster care after her parents abandoned her and her siblings. She moves from one temporary home to another, never knowing which family will take her in next or how long she might stay. Each placement brings new rules, new personalities, and new disappointments as she searches for stability and belonging. McLain navigates the complex dynamics of living with strangers who become temporary caregivers, some kind and others indifferent or harmful. She learns to adapt quickly, pack light, and protect herself emotionally while still hoping for a permanent place to call home. The memoir captures her resilience as a young person caught between childhood and premature independence, showing how she survived a system designed to help children but often failing them. Through her experiences, McLain reveals the profound human need for family connection and the strength required to keep believing in the possibility of love and acceptance.
Genres: family, autobiography, biography-memoir, foster-children, family-drama, foster-parents
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
292 pages · Paperback · Back Bay Books
Content warnings: abuse, child-abuse