Moxie Matters: True Tales of Rolling Through a Messy, Muddled, and Magical Life

by Karen Brothers

“I head out the back door and down to the second-to-the-bottom step where I sit and lace up my matching-to-my-outfit blue, gym shoe roller skates. Looking up at the blue skies, I just know it’s going to be an amazing day.”

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the 70s, Karen lives a charmed and spunky life right out of the gate. Leading her friends and neighbors on real-time adventures, she bravely and hilariously plows through life on her groovy lace-up roller skates. Always on the lookout for fun, her energy and delight invite anyone and everyone to experience joy along the way…until a crack in the foundation threatens to crumble her vivacious spirit.

Suddenly, life isn’t all that it seems, and under the weight of silence and secrecy, Karen’s carefree outlook erodes. Her coming of age takes an abrupt and unexpected detour as cancer becomes her mom’s constant companion. While Karen pours herself into everything high school offers in order to numb the pain and fill the void, she soon finds that moxie and mayhem often co-mingle.

Will Karen’s moxie be buried with her mom or will it rise again? Grow up with Karen and be enveloped in her moxie-filled adventures.





Karen Brothers is a writer, editor, and storyteller, born and raised in Oak Park, mere blocks from Chicago. She spent her career creating and developing projects with VeggieTales and The Action Bible, and loves time with her three adult daughters and on the pickleball court. Karen and her husband live in Charlotte, NC.

300 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2024

Reviews

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought back so many fun memories! I almost forgot about Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom on Sunday nights that then lead into Disney. It was a time my whole family sat glued to the television as well. Going out and playing until the street lights came on or until someone’s mom rang the dinner bell. Playing kick the can, going home for lunch and eating in front of the TV. Karen brought all the feelings of childhood flooding back step by step! I assure you we would have been friends because I played the same way she did! Thank you for sharing all your Moxie!!

[Ivana Catic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking up this book I was a bit worried I would not get the pop culture references as I didn't grow up in the US. Within the first several pages, I forgot all about that and I felt like I was growing up with Karen. The stories told transcended cultural differences; I was often very vividly reminded of my own childhood experiences & emotions I experienced. All in all, a fantastic read, and a great reminder of how just how much we have in common regardless of our backgounds. This book will make you want to be Karen's friend!

[Angila Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen did a great job of bringing back memories from our childhood that we may have forgotten. Her story & zest for life was spunky just like myself. Beautifully written and touching points through difficult times!

[Tracy Silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a blast from the past! I’m the same age as Karen, so all the 70’s and 80’s references made me chuckle. I mostly laughed when reading this memoir, but I shed a few tears too.

[DAWN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen is a very gifted storyteller! Highly recommend listening to the audiobook as the author expertly narrates her stories.

[Donna Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening of the book was really well done, and I think would be a great springboard to a substantial book club discussion, comparing our young lives with Karen's, and possibly exploring the differences because of most of us being 10 years older than she. But then, as it went on , it became less creative, and more mundane, esp. with the drinking college days, and the sorority/fraternity college stories. More than halfway in it spent a lot of time on mom's health, which made it a tough read for me (losing two very important relatives in a matter of a couple of months this year). Finally, I missed a high point and a good sound ending that would send the reader off with some good themes to learn from the book. One huge plus, though, is the connections most readers can make in the book. Because I was a teacher, the opening stories in the classroom reminded me of my kindergarten and early school days, and I enjoyed those parts. Those are the reasons for my score of 3 out of 5.