First published 2005
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents who were larger-than-life characters: a brilliant but alcoholic father and an eccentric artist mother. As the family frequently uprooted and fled bill collectors, Jeannette and her siblings learned to fend for themselves, scavenging for food and seeking shelter in their dilapidated homes. Yet through it all, Jeannette finds joy, wonder, and a resilience that carries her through to adulthood, in this unforgettable true story of surviving against all odds.
Genres: coming-of-age, memoir, biography-memoir, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Setting: Welch, West Virginia, United States, New York, New York (State)
341 pages · Virago
Content warnings: abuse, alcohol-abuse