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Three More Words
In the sequel to the New York Times bestselling memoir Three Little Words, Ashley Rhodes-Courter expands on life beyond the foster care system, the joys and heartbreak with a family she’s created, and her efforts to make peace with her past.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent a harrowing nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes. Her memoir, Three Little Words, captivated audiences everywhere and went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Now Ashley reveals the nuances of life after foster care: College and its assorted hijinks, including meeting “the one.” Marriage, which began with a beautiful wedding on a boat that was almost hijacked (literally) by some biological family members. Having kids—from fostering children and the heartbreak of watching them return to destructive environments, to the miraculous joy of blending biological and adopted offspring.
Whether she’s overcoming self-image issues, responding to calls for her to run for Senate, or dealing with continuing drama from her biological family, Ashley Rhodes-Courter never fails to impress or inspire with her authentic voice and uplifting message.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent a harrowing nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes. Her memoir, Three Little Words, captivated audiences everywhere and went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Now Ashley reveals the nuances of life after foster care: College and its assorted hijinks, including meeting “the one.” Marriage, which began with a beautiful wedding on a boat that was almost hijacked (literally) by some biological family members. Having kids—from fostering children and the heartbreak of watching them return to destructive environments, to the miraculous joy of blending biological and adopted offspring.
Whether she’s overcoming self-image issues, responding to calls for her to run for Senate, or dealing with continuing drama from her biological family, Ashley Rhodes-Courter never fails to impress or inspire with her authentic voice and uplifting message.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2015
57 people are currently reading
2290 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Rhodes-Courter
9 books237 followersAshley Rhodes-Courter is the quintessential American success story. Born in 1985 to a single teen mother, by the age of 3 she was in Florida’s foster care system where she spent almost ten years being shuttled between 14 homes—some quite abusive—before being adopted from a Children’s Home at the age of twelve. Early in her life she felt compelled to advocate for herself and the other children she lived with, particularly in the abusive foster homes.
On June 1, 2003, the New York Times Magazine published her grand prize winning essay about her adoption day. She expanded her essay into a memoir, Three Little Words, which was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2008 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Her memoir is currently being made into a major motion picture. The book has been adopted by schools and communities as part of One School, One Book initiatives across the country.
On June 1, 2003, the New York Times Magazine published her grand prize winning essay about her adoption day. She expanded her essay into a memoir, Three Little Words, which was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2008 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Her memoir is currently being made into a major motion picture. The book has been adopted by schools and communities as part of One School, One Book initiatives across the country.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
January 15, 2016
I first read Ashley Rhodes-Courters first book Three Little Words while I was working as a high school library media specialist. This is a book that tells a horrific story of a young girl growing up in Florida's foster care system in the mid-80s and early 90s. It was assigned to me as a consideration for our state reading list. I was one of the readers who recommended it, and then argued successfully that it be included on the list. At the time I read the book I was not living in Florida. It just so happens that Ashley grew up about 20 miles from where I'm living now. I rarely if ever pass up an opportunity for an author visit, seeing a local, very successful author in person was a real treat. I was anxious to find out what happened to her since the ending of Three Little Words. I was wowed and reassured by the Three More Words follow up. Her life since the publication of her first book has been almost as amazing as her life before was horrific. At barely 30 years old she's a testimony for foster children who have turned it around. Her professional career has been spent advocating for the rights of children in the foster care system. She's passionate, caring, and articulate. If you want to be inspired by a young person who is living her life's goal then read this book. Ashley, I Love You and and what you are doing to make the world a better place for children.
April 19, 2015
For those who read Rhodes Coulter's first book, this is required reading. Not only has Ashley lived an exemplary life, she has brought her life, burnished by the horribly flawed Florida foster care system by becoming a foster parent, an adoptive parent, and a biological parent herself. Her husband. Erick, may deserve sainthood for being the rock on which her life is built. Her ongoing troubled relationship with her mother and biological brother are the counterpoint to the successes of her life. The stories of the children Ashley and Erick foster will break your heart in ways you didn't think possible. All in all, Ashley's life and book provide the reader with a roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows. Despite her contention that there is hope for every child if only the right family is found, Ashley is a shining example of beating the odds and then fighting hard for the children who come after hood. Well written, moving, infuriating, and rewarding, Rhodes Coulter is inspirational and aspirational to all who read the book. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2015
Such a great follow-up to her first memoir. This one recounts her life as an adult where her other book left off & her experiences as a foster parent in Florida. This book really shows the need for more people advocating for kiddos safety & their best interests. I hope this book will continue to raise awareness & motivation to better the system.
March 2, 2017
Encouraging and educational
Working in the foster care system myself, this book has given me a chance to see the system from another point of view allowing me to be more aware in my career.
Working in the foster care system myself, this book has given me a chance to see the system from another point of view allowing me to be more aware in my career.
November 26, 2019
Man, oh man. This book makes me want to be a foster parent. I can't actually do it. But I wish I could. There is just NO REASON that children should be subjected to the type of treatment that is described in these pages.
September 9, 2016
Very hard to read at times, but so glad this book took over my life for the past few days. Just as her first memoir.
April 18, 2019
I have to admit that I skimmed this book in one evening. I'd read her earlier memoir--beautifully-written, heartbreaking, horrifying--and wanted to know the end of the story. Well, it hasn't ended yet. This sequel shows that real life doesn't tie up neatly into happy endings, especially for someone so passionate and well-intentioned as Ashley Rhodes-Courter. But this is an excellent and painfully honest memoir about someone who has refused to stop growing and who was courageous enough to face down her painful demons and accept foster children into her new life. Unfortunately, as this book proves, the foster care system is still letting children fall through its enormous cracks.
February 28, 2016
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
I have only read a few memoirs, and honestly, not everyone could be a master of writing one. Ashley Rhodes-Courter provides a sequel to her first novel/memoir, Three Little Words, and even though I have not read the first book, it is easy to catch up with what I missed—it did not seem much. Everything became so clear to me from the start, and Ashley's story is beautifully written and absolutely heartfelt. Also, it is not like I felt like this was a book, a novel, whatever you would like to call it. This was a true, special story about a woman who encountered so much in her life that changed her and her life greatly, and made her the way she is.
Three More Words is something I cannot precisely summarize. It is a story about someone's life. Of course there are details missing, events that were not perfectly explained like the actual situation. But actually, Ashley went through so much, and here is a snippet of it, from my viewpoint. Ashley actually was a foster child, being put in so many homes and never feeling like something was permanent. In this novel, she writes about the later half of her teenage years and how she became who she was at the moment. She talks about her husband, her children (and the foster ones that came along the way) and what she wants to do to help children in need. It is a powerful motion.
Ashley is such an inspiring woman. I have never known much about the reality of the foster-care system, and from this 320-paged memoir, I have learned so much. Even after knowing a child for a few weeks, people grasp a connection to the little ones who have been abandoned, abused, or unloved, or even all three of those together. It cracks your heart—and knowing that Ashley encountered this and tried to change the way things were for others was beautiful. It is beautiful. We have discovered so much useful information about this woman and what we could do to help. I am not saying that we have to be foster parents. But donating, seeing children like they are all worth it and equal, those are the things that could help readers achieve things little by little. The title of this novel is such an extra touch for readers leaving them thinking about the truth behind it all afterwards.
I love the style of this story. Everything was fast-paced, with the right amount of details for readers to understand and most of all, I was absolutely intrigued. I absolutely recommend this—everyone could find a perfect thing about Ashley's story. She's an incredible writer, and I would go read anything she writes.
Three More Words is a story, a real life story told from the perspective of a woman who has overcome it all. There are moments where you think about survival, about hardships, about unbelievable things that people have to go through. I need three more words... three hundred even.
I have only read a few memoirs, and honestly, not everyone could be a master of writing one. Ashley Rhodes-Courter provides a sequel to her first novel/memoir, Three Little Words, and even though I have not read the first book, it is easy to catch up with what I missed—it did not seem much. Everything became so clear to me from the start, and Ashley's story is beautifully written and absolutely heartfelt. Also, it is not like I felt like this was a book, a novel, whatever you would like to call it. This was a true, special story about a woman who encountered so much in her life that changed her and her life greatly, and made her the way she is.
Three More Words is something I cannot precisely summarize. It is a story about someone's life. Of course there are details missing, events that were not perfectly explained like the actual situation. But actually, Ashley went through so much, and here is a snippet of it, from my viewpoint. Ashley actually was a foster child, being put in so many homes and never feeling like something was permanent. In this novel, she writes about the later half of her teenage years and how she became who she was at the moment. She talks about her husband, her children (and the foster ones that came along the way) and what she wants to do to help children in need. It is a powerful motion.
Ashley is such an inspiring woman. I have never known much about the reality of the foster-care system, and from this 320-paged memoir, I have learned so much. Even after knowing a child for a few weeks, people grasp a connection to the little ones who have been abandoned, abused, or unloved, or even all three of those together. It cracks your heart—and knowing that Ashley encountered this and tried to change the way things were for others was beautiful. It is beautiful. We have discovered so much useful information about this woman and what we could do to help. I am not saying that we have to be foster parents. But donating, seeing children like they are all worth it and equal, those are the things that could help readers achieve things little by little. The title of this novel is such an extra touch for readers leaving them thinking about the truth behind it all afterwards.
I love the style of this story. Everything was fast-paced, with the right amount of details for readers to understand and most of all, I was absolutely intrigued. I absolutely recommend this—everyone could find a perfect thing about Ashley's story. She's an incredible writer, and I would go read anything she writes.
Three More Words is a story, a real life story told from the perspective of a woman who has overcome it all. There are moments where you think about survival, about hardships, about unbelievable things that people have to go through. I need three more words... three hundred even.
July 17, 2020
A very eye-opening view of what it’s like to be a foster parent. I couldn’t put it down although the writing style left much to be desired.
Note: I did not read her first book and had no trouble simply diving into this one.
Note: I did not read her first book and had no trouble simply diving into this one.
August 23, 2015
FirstReads sent me this book to preview in exchange for an honest review. I had just finished Rhodes-Courter's first book, Three Little Words, before starting on this sequel. Both books are well written accounts of the author's experiences with the foster care system. In the first book, the author details her experiences of living with 19 foster parents before her adoption at age 12. In Three More Words, the author details her experiences of being a foster mother and later a therapeutic foster parent to numerous infants and toddlers. In addition to this, the author simultaneously runs for office and earns a MSW while giving numerous speeches on adoption. There are no holds barred in either book. The author is honest in her appraisal of her own biological mother, biological brother, the foster care system, foster parents, and later, the biological parents of the kids she was asked to care for. I did appreciate her epilogue in which she provides updates on all of the book's "characters". There are indeed very sad and tragic points in the book, such as when one of her former foster kids is killed by a biological relative after being reunited with her birth family. There are also many parts of the book where the reader, author, and kids all celebrate such as when one of the babies is official adopted by Rhodes-Courter and her husband. I think this material would be suitable for pre-teen, young-adult readers and should be required reading for anyone considering becoming foster parents and/or adopting. I eagerly await her next sequel.
April 2, 2019
This is Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s second memoir. It follows her life after she was adopted by Gay and Phil Courter. She shares her college experience, and learning how to present herself in the way she wants to be perceived. She meets Erick, the man that would later become her husband, and learns how to love. The details of her wedding are recounted in her memoir. We see the relationship with her biological family bend, twist and become stronger and more present throughout the memoir. When she marries Erick, they decide to become foster parents themselves. They work really hard to do right by their foster kids. Ashley gives all if them what she had been denied growing up.
I really loved this book. I’m not really big on reading, nor do I have the time, but I finished this book in two days. It is nonfiction, which I tend to lean mire towards, but I really like the way Ashley is still a storyteller. I enjoy books that constantly have me feeling some strong emotion, and this book definitely delivers. The way these kids are treated is absolutely infuriating, and the fact that it’s true makes the story even more upsetting. It doesn’t matter your age, race, gender, background, or reading preference. The book is incredibly moving, and has elements that will resonate with each of the demographics listed previously. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
I really loved this book. I’m not really big on reading, nor do I have the time, but I finished this book in two days. It is nonfiction, which I tend to lean mire towards, but I really like the way Ashley is still a storyteller. I enjoy books that constantly have me feeling some strong emotion, and this book definitely delivers. The way these kids are treated is absolutely infuriating, and the fact that it’s true makes the story even more upsetting. It doesn’t matter your age, race, gender, background, or reading preference. The book is incredibly moving, and has elements that will resonate with each of the demographics listed previously. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2015
The author gives a view of a world many of us never see. A former foster child (see her first book), this book updates her life from college to marriage to becoming a foster parent. If it was meant to encourage others to be foster parents, the descriptions of the difficulties with child services bureaucracy and other issues didn't make it look like an appealing prospect. On the other hand, as a statement piece to lobby for change and the author's future political ambitions, it worked fine.
The story has a tone of unapologetic honesty, from long term personal issues from the trauma of her early years, to relationships with her adoptive and biological families, and the (anonymized) stories of children she has fostered. It's easy to ignore what you don't see and experience - the author is giving others an opportunity to see the world experienced by many of the 400,000 or so children currently in foster care, and those who came through the system. It's difficult to read the book without wanting something better for them, and for our communities.
The story has a tone of unapologetic honesty, from long term personal issues from the trauma of her early years, to relationships with her adoptive and biological families, and the (anonymized) stories of children she has fostered. It's easy to ignore what you don't see and experience - the author is giving others an opportunity to see the world experienced by many of the 400,000 or so children currently in foster care, and those who came through the system. It's difficult to read the book without wanting something better for them, and for our communities.
June 30, 2015
I can't honestly recommend it for the YA market. The book itself is certainly readable though it doesn't come close to being as well written as the Dave Pelzer books (A Child Called It, etc.). The author can put together a story, and has quite a story to tell: As a parent myself, I was inspired and amazed by this former foster child's success and her willingness to take on many severely abused foster children herself. But it's in no way a YA book, and was obviously marketed as such only because her last book, about her experiences growing up in foster care, WAS a YA book. It's absolutely from the point of view of an adult, and I don't believe teens will be interested will be in her discussions of getting a lap band, settling down with her husband and learning to enjoy a safe romantic relationship, confronting her birth mom at her wedding, caring for foster babies, building up an inspirational speaking business and so forth.
December 12, 2018
Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a girl who had been put into foster care at age three. She fights through many struggles and goes through many different foster homes, but when she finally finds her forever home, she doesn’t fully trust them. It takes her a few years and some better dieting choices to finally fully put her trust in them. As she gets older, her birth mom begins to try and spend more and more time with her. Just as Ashley begins to think better of her mom, she sees more and more of her true colors. Along the way, she, and her husband, helps young foster kids through any trauma they have, trying to ensure they have a good home to go to.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a real eye opener. It really shows me that there are hard harder struggles in life than what most people complain about on a day to day basis. She really showed the challenges she faced and I really love her big impact on others.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a real eye opener. It really shows me that there are hard harder struggles in life than what most people complain about on a day to day basis. She really showed the challenges she faced and I really love her big impact on others.
January 18, 2017
Rhodes-Courter broke my heart again. The last few years, I have more and more seriously been researching foster care as an option. Reading about Rhodes-Courter's childhood in the foster system, and her subsequent adoption in Three Little Words broke my heart. Reading about her experiences as a mother navigating foster care, adoption, and advocacy further cemented in my heart that the world needs more foster parents willing to love. This is a must read for anyone considering foster care and adoption.
"People are always asking us how we dare foster. 'We couldn't fall in love with a child and then let him go,' they say.
'Yes, you could, if it were best for the child,' we reply." p286
"People are always asking us how we dare foster. 'We couldn't fall in love with a child and then let him go,' they say.
'Yes, you could, if it were best for the child,' we reply." p286
July 10, 2015
While I won't say that this book is a good as its predecessor, I will say it's great reading for anyone who wonders about foster care and how they can help the children involved. Most of these situations are so much more complicated than the ones she describes (and I'm sure there's much more to those), but putting all aspects of even one child's experience in a book would be almost impossible due to both confidentiality and sheer scope. Overall, as someone who found her first memoir inspirational, I found this book to be very motivational.
July 5, 2015
As a teacher, this is an encouraging and easy read for my students. This book shows kids that no matter what, one can overcome people's expectations. I plan on teaching this in the upcoming school year. If anyone has ever worked with student's in "the system" this is definitely something to read to gain the parent's perspective. I enjoyed the first book and now this one will be on our school's recommended reading list.
September 20, 2017
The writing style matured and it was even better than the authors first book.
January 5, 2019
Great sequel to Three Little Words. You could feel the raw emotion of the author! The joys and struggles as a foster/adoptive parent.
June 24, 2019
Another excellent book
Rhodes-Courter is an excellent writer. I was recommended her by another GAL CAM and I’m really pleased. Thanks for sharing your story, Ashley.
Rhodes-Courter is an excellent writer. I was recommended her by another GAL CAM and I’m really pleased. Thanks for sharing your story, Ashley.
December 19, 2022
Three More Words took me into the world of foster children and foster parenting and gave me insight that both saddened and amazed me. While the author isn’t a particularly literary writer, she gets to the point and her story reads well and easily and definitely gets to the heart of the matter. This is her second book, talking about her experience as a foster parent, while her first (which I haven’t read) covers the period in which she herself was in the foster system. It’s a truly compelling story and gives me great admiration for the folks who fight so hard for children and are willing to sacrifice their own time and comfort to ensure other people’s kids get the lives they deserve. I admit I could never be one of those people — fostering is fraught with too many emotional minefields for me — but, wow, did I ever get to admire those who do this job and do it right. Actually, it’s because they don’t see it as a job that makes them so successful. It is a purpose. Great read.
April 9, 2025
The sequel to her first memoir, Three Little Words, this one offers even more closure and inspiration. Three More Words delves into the intricacies and deep frustrations that are sewn into the child welfare system, while also highlighting how rewarding, fulfilling, and healing the same system can become.
I believe it’s important for young people to read stories like these and be empowered that their age does not have to limit them in a pursuit of change and wellbeing. Courter was merely 30 at the publishing of this book and had already fostered over 20 children! I myself am only 22 and have been a CASA volunteer advocate for almost a year! It can be done! One child helped is the world made better <3
I believe it’s important for young people to read stories like these and be empowered that their age does not have to limit them in a pursuit of change and wellbeing. Courter was merely 30 at the publishing of this book and had already fostered over 20 children! I myself am only 22 and have been a CASA volunteer advocate for almost a year! It can be done! One child helped is the world made better <3
January 7, 2022
As someone who is dealing with the child welfare system with my nephews right now, everything in this book is accurate... even in 2022 in a state over a thousand miles away from Florida. I have not found a book I relate to so much with my family. The courts bend over backwards for the biological parents... and the kids are put last. Prior to having personal experience in this system I would not have believed the claims in this book, but everything the author states is true. I could not put this book down, every family and foster family dealing with the foster care system in the United States needs to read this book.
June 3, 2021
Ashely’s story is amazing and I loved reading about her journey from foster youth to foster parent. The only thing I didn’t always love was her attitude towards bio parents and reunification, but I’m not a foster parent yet so not really someone to give judgement.
September 9, 2024
I think everyone should read this book, as well as her first book. These are so eye opening and heart wrenching. I don’t have words to explain how I feel but I just think everyone should read this.
July 25, 2022
It took me way too long to pick this book back up after starting my graduate school program, but I finally finished it and Ashley really knows how to tell her story. Such an amazing and tragic journey to hear about.
September 27, 2023
What a beautiful inspiration to so many!
February 14, 2023
This is one I will think about for a long, long time. I found her observations on the professions and roles that most impact children in foster care fascinating and insightful.
July 1, 2015
**Original Review posted here.
I was interested in reading this memoir because this genre has been intriguing me ever since I heard about My Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, and thought that I should throw some of these books into my mix. So it was perfect that Simon & Schuster would send along Three More Words. I was going to start at the beginning with Ashley Rhodes-Courter's first book, Three Little Words but I was on a tight schedule with everything and wouldn't have had the time to read that one along with book #2 before it was released, so I caught up as much as I could online. Googling her story, reading excerpts, reviews, I figured I wasn't missing out on anything that was crucial going into book 2.
The story behind Three More Words is a good story but to be honest, I found the writing a little dry and it did not flow very well. I found it very hard to get into her story. It read almost like point form, and it seemed to bounce all over and unfortunately it didn't grip my attention. I flipped to the pictures and saw enough there to kind of figure out most of the story. Sadly, I was kind of glad when I flipped to the last page and could move on to something else. I haven't read a lot of memoirs, because I am worried about my attention span with them, but this has been the first one that hasn't been able to hook me until the end. Don't get me wrong, the story that Ashley Rhodes-Courter is telling is a great one. The foster care system and how it deals with these poor children being torn from their only family (brothers/sisters if they have them) and moving them from one place to another is tough but no one is truly alone. What Ashley Rhodes-Courter is doing - the public speaking, writing books, advocating for others and showing them that they can beat the foster care system is inspiring. I would encourage anyone who needs to, to reach out and read this book, contact her or someone like her and know that there is hope for adoption, a life and a happy ever after.
While Three More Words was not the book for me, I know it will change the lives of many others out there, and that is all that matters.
I was interested in reading this memoir because this genre has been intriguing me ever since I heard about My Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, and thought that I should throw some of these books into my mix. So it was perfect that Simon & Schuster would send along Three More Words. I was going to start at the beginning with Ashley Rhodes-Courter's first book, Three Little Words but I was on a tight schedule with everything and wouldn't have had the time to read that one along with book #2 before it was released, so I caught up as much as I could online. Googling her story, reading excerpts, reviews, I figured I wasn't missing out on anything that was crucial going into book 2.
The story behind Three More Words is a good story but to be honest, I found the writing a little dry and it did not flow very well. I found it very hard to get into her story. It read almost like point form, and it seemed to bounce all over and unfortunately it didn't grip my attention. I flipped to the pictures and saw enough there to kind of figure out most of the story. Sadly, I was kind of glad when I flipped to the last page and could move on to something else. I haven't read a lot of memoirs, because I am worried about my attention span with them, but this has been the first one that hasn't been able to hook me until the end. Don't get me wrong, the story that Ashley Rhodes-Courter is telling is a great one. The foster care system and how it deals with these poor children being torn from their only family (brothers/sisters if they have them) and moving them from one place to another is tough but no one is truly alone. What Ashley Rhodes-Courter is doing - the public speaking, writing books, advocating for others and showing them that they can beat the foster care system is inspiring. I would encourage anyone who needs to, to reach out and read this book, contact her or someone like her and know that there is hope for adoption, a life and a happy ever after.
While Three More Words was not the book for me, I know it will change the lives of many others out there, and that is all that matters.
November 23, 2016
Courter, Ashley Rhodes Three More Words, 320 pgs. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015. $18.99. Language: PG Mature Content: PG-13. Violence: PG.
This book is a must read. I haven’t read her first book, Three Little Words, but can’t wait to get my hands on it. I wasn’t sure with it being a memoir whether or not I would “get lost” in the storyline as I often do with fiction. But it wasn’t very far into the book that I realized I couldn’t put it down. Not only is the story fascinating and emotional, but Courter’s style of writing makes you feel like you are living her life alongside her. This is an inspirational story of Courter’s life beyond the foster care system and her efforts to make peace with her past. Courter writes: “People in stable families have no understanding of chaotic ones. The stronger members feel compelled to protect the weaker ones. Sometimes children parent their siblings or even take charge of their parents to keep them out of trouble and prevent the family from being split up by authorities. Nobody from an upper-middle-class, intact family could imagine the terror of never knowing whether you will live under the same roof as the rest of your family the next day.” Powerful statements like, “We were all politely playing our parts, yet there had been no moments of shared insight, apologies for mistakes, or promises of renewed future connection,” caused me to reflect on my own life, on how I might have handled life in her situation, and ultimately find gratitude for the childhood I was fortunate enough to experience.
HS- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
This book is a must read. I haven’t read her first book, Three Little Words, but can’t wait to get my hands on it. I wasn’t sure with it being a memoir whether or not I would “get lost” in the storyline as I often do with fiction. But it wasn’t very far into the book that I realized I couldn’t put it down. Not only is the story fascinating and emotional, but Courter’s style of writing makes you feel like you are living her life alongside her. This is an inspirational story of Courter’s life beyond the foster care system and her efforts to make peace with her past. Courter writes: “People in stable families have no understanding of chaotic ones. The stronger members feel compelled to protect the weaker ones. Sometimes children parent their siblings or even take charge of their parents to keep them out of trouble and prevent the family from being split up by authorities. Nobody from an upper-middle-class, intact family could imagine the terror of never knowing whether you will live under the same roof as the rest of your family the next day.” Powerful statements like, “We were all politely playing our parts, yet there had been no moments of shared insight, apologies for mistakes, or promises of renewed future connection,” caused me to reflect on my own life, on how I might have handled life in her situation, and ultimately find gratitude for the childhood I was fortunate enough to experience.
HS- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
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