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Unshattered: Surviving My Mother's 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse
What happens when your mother isn't one person, but 123?
Emma Churchman grew up as the eldest child of a woman with one of the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) ever diagnosed. Never knowing which of her mother's alters would emerge—the playful child, the raging demon, or the suicidal depressive—Emma became the family's anchor, raising her three younger brothers while discovering that chaos could become her greatest teacher.
This unflinching account reveals how a lineage of violence, suicide, addiction, and mental illness became the foundation for extraordinary resilience. Emma navigates a shattered reality—changing personalities, a mother in a padded room, a homeless father, a six-year-old brother needing protection—and transforms each devastating moment into profound wisdom about human potential.
From trauma chaplain to successful entrepreneur, Emma demonstrates how our deepest wounds become our greatest gifts when we choose to see everything as happening FOR us, not TO us. With raw honesty and revolutionary insights, she proves that what breaks us can remake us into something far more powerful than we ever imagined.
For readers of Educated (Tara Westover) and The Glass Castle (Jeanette Walls), this transformational story shows that healing from trauma isn't about surviving—it's about discovering that your greatest challenges were always your greatest opportunities.
Emma Churchman grew up as the eldest child of a woman with one of the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) ever diagnosed. Never knowing which of her mother's alters would emerge—the playful child, the raging demon, or the suicidal depressive—Emma became the family's anchor, raising her three younger brothers while discovering that chaos could become her greatest teacher.
This unflinching account reveals how a lineage of violence, suicide, addiction, and mental illness became the foundation for extraordinary resilience. Emma navigates a shattered reality—changing personalities, a mother in a padded room, a homeless father, a six-year-old brother needing protection—and transforms each devastating moment into profound wisdom about human potential.
From trauma chaplain to successful entrepreneur, Emma demonstrates how our deepest wounds become our greatest gifts when we choose to see everything as happening FOR us, not TO us. With raw honesty and revolutionary insights, she proves that what breaks us can remake us into something far more powerful than we ever imagined.
For readers of Educated (Tara Westover) and The Glass Castle (Jeanette Walls), this transformational story shows that healing from trauma isn't about surviving—it's about discovering that your greatest challenges were always your greatest opportunities.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 10, 2026
Unshattered is a 4 star, brutally honest memoir that reads like someone handing you the blueprint of a life built on chaos, survival, and sheer force of will. Emma Churchman grew up in a reality most people couldn’t imagine — a mother with 123 personalities, a father who couldn’t stay grounded, and siblings who needed her long before she was old enough to need herself.
It’s not sensationalized.
It’s not written for shock value.
It’s written with clarity, compassion, and a kind of emotional intelligence that only comes from surviving the impossible.
Emma’s childhood is a storm — unpredictable, terrifying, and relentless. One moment her mother is playful, the next she’s violent, the next she’s suicidal. Emma becomes the anchor, the protector, the adult long before she should have been. And yet, somehow, she turns that chaos into resilience, insight, and eventually a life built on purpose instead of pain.
The memoir shines brightest when Emma reframes her past — not as something that happened to her, but something that shaped the strength she carries now. It’s raw. It’s heavy. It’s transformative. But it’s also the kind of book you need to emotionally stretch before reading.
Why 4 stars?
Because while it’s powerful, it’s also overwhelming.
It’s a lot to take in.
And it’s not a book you “enjoy” — it’s one you experience.
For readers of Educated and The Glass Castle, this memoir sits comfortably in that lineage of “holy hell, how did you survive this?” stories — but with a spiritual, reflective twist that feels uniquely Emma.
A 4 star, unflinching, deeply human memoir about surviving the unthinkable and turning generational wreckage into wisdom.
It’s not sensationalized.
It’s not written for shock value.
It’s written with clarity, compassion, and a kind of emotional intelligence that only comes from surviving the impossible.
Emma’s childhood is a storm — unpredictable, terrifying, and relentless. One moment her mother is playful, the next she’s violent, the next she’s suicidal. Emma becomes the anchor, the protector, the adult long before she should have been. And yet, somehow, she turns that chaos into resilience, insight, and eventually a life built on purpose instead of pain.
The memoir shines brightest when Emma reframes her past — not as something that happened to her, but something that shaped the strength she carries now. It’s raw. It’s heavy. It’s transformative. But it’s also the kind of book you need to emotionally stretch before reading.
Why 4 stars?
Because while it’s powerful, it’s also overwhelming.
It’s a lot to take in.
And it’s not a book you “enjoy” — it’s one you experience.
For readers of Educated and The Glass Castle, this memoir sits comfortably in that lineage of “holy hell, how did you survive this?” stories — but with a spiritual, reflective twist that feels uniquely Emma.
A 4 star, unflinching, deeply human memoir about surviving the unthinkable and turning generational wreckage into wisdom.
April 17, 2026
This is an emotional, heartfelt, uplifting and inspiring personal memoir. The author Emma’s mother had an extreme case of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder). She grew up never knowing which one of her mother’s 123 alters would emerge. As the eldest of four children, Emma took over the parent role of her three younger brother’s, whilst at a young age herself. Emma shares how her chaotic childhood gave her extraordinary resilience, and how her most devastating moments gave her profound wisdom. As a trauma chaplain and successful entrepreneur Emma believes that if you choose to “see everything as happening FOR us, not TO us,”then even our deepest wounds can become our greatest gifts. Emma writes openly and honestly about her life and experiences, sharing her revolutionary insights with us. I found Emma to be an inspiring person and her memoir is both heartbreaking and heartfelt, with an uplifting and inspirational message.
November 4, 2025
Unshattered: Surviving My Mother’s 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy
of Abuse by Emma M. Churchman, MDiv
BOOK REVIEW
Not for the weak at heart, this book is heavy, and I don’t mean in a physical
sense. It’s deep.
The trauma the author, Emma Churchman, experienced growing up was astronomical. She’s more than just a survivor of mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. She is someone who thrived to become a Trauma Chaplain, Healer, and Entrepreneur, which is a testament to her strong will to live and her spiritual connection to God.
Churchman’s poignant story traces the generational sexual abuse that had been passed down in her family, starting with her great-grandmother, and her great-grandmother’s mother-in-law, on to her grandmother, and to her mother, finally resulting in Churchman’s mother adopting 123 personalities to cope with the sexual abuse she experienced.
As a result, Emma Churchman became caretaker for her entire family, and practicallythe only real mother her three younger brothers ever had. Because of her mother’s inability to function as a complete person, and her father’s rampant physical abuse, all family responsibilities fell on Emma’s shoulders.
This story is so heart-wrenching, it saddening to know that this level of sexual and physical abuse existed in one family for many generations. Even though reading about the abuse was heart-breaking, the story eventually morphed into the author’s personal journey to self-love and fulfillment.
She finally had to make a drastic decision so she could live life on her own terms. She discovered she possessed an amazing gift, which led to doors opening for her that helped others heal.
This is a wonderful story about how a woman survived and thrived after so much responsibilities were bestowed on her because of her mother’s absences, her own sexual abuse, and her father’s physical abuse. On her journey towards self-discovery, Churchman stated the following, which I found uplifting.
“Self-love is not a destination, but a daily practice. It’s choosing to speak kindly to yourself when the world feels hard.”
There were a couple of issues I had with this otherwise intriguing tale. The story jumped from one timeline to the next without warning. I was a bit confused because the story didn’t flow well sometimes. Also, there are a lot of sexual and physical abuse situations, which may be uncomfortable for some readers.
I give this book five stars and recommend it to anyone who is looking for hope after living through traumatic experiences. It will show you that the human spirit is resilient, no matter what life throws at you.
of Abuse by Emma M. Churchman, MDiv
BOOK REVIEW
Not for the weak at heart, this book is heavy, and I don’t mean in a physical
sense. It’s deep.
The trauma the author, Emma Churchman, experienced growing up was astronomical. She’s more than just a survivor of mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. She is someone who thrived to become a Trauma Chaplain, Healer, and Entrepreneur, which is a testament to her strong will to live and her spiritual connection to God.
Churchman’s poignant story traces the generational sexual abuse that had been passed down in her family, starting with her great-grandmother, and her great-grandmother’s mother-in-law, on to her grandmother, and to her mother, finally resulting in Churchman’s mother adopting 123 personalities to cope with the sexual abuse she experienced.
As a result, Emma Churchman became caretaker for her entire family, and practicallythe only real mother her three younger brothers ever had. Because of her mother’s inability to function as a complete person, and her father’s rampant physical abuse, all family responsibilities fell on Emma’s shoulders.
This story is so heart-wrenching, it saddening to know that this level of sexual and physical abuse existed in one family for many generations. Even though reading about the abuse was heart-breaking, the story eventually morphed into the author’s personal journey to self-love and fulfillment.
She finally had to make a drastic decision so she could live life on her own terms. She discovered she possessed an amazing gift, which led to doors opening for her that helped others heal.
This is a wonderful story about how a woman survived and thrived after so much responsibilities were bestowed on her because of her mother’s absences, her own sexual abuse, and her father’s physical abuse. On her journey towards self-discovery, Churchman stated the following, which I found uplifting.
“Self-love is not a destination, but a daily practice. It’s choosing to speak kindly to yourself when the world feels hard.”
There were a couple of issues I had with this otherwise intriguing tale. The story jumped from one timeline to the next without warning. I was a bit confused because the story didn’t flow well sometimes. Also, there are a lot of sexual and physical abuse situations, which may be uncomfortable for some readers.
I give this book five stars and recommend it to anyone who is looking for hope after living through traumatic experiences. It will show you that the human spirit is resilient, no matter what life throws at you.
April 18, 2026
This book contains a lot of triggers so please read them before considering reading.
Emma Churchman has suffered a lot during her life, but so has the rest of her family, it goes back generations and each one had its own version, but Emma is determined to break the cycle and end this abuse and use her experiences to help others as a trauma chaplain and entrepreneur.
In this book, Emma talks through her childhood, but also that of her brothers, as well as the past generations to explain why and how much this trauma was passed down. The other thing this book talks about is Emma's mother and how she coped with the abuse and was eventually diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, or later dissociative identity disorder and she had the most complex number of personalities there, 123 in total.
These personalities came out at random and each had their own emotions, age, physical appearance and accent, but Emma had to learn to anticipate the shifts, manage the personalities who came out, as well as being a mother to her brother's, complete her education, be there when her mother was institutionalised and manage the chaos and fallout that this had on her family.
This book is an emotional rollercoaster as you read through the actions, consequences and chaos which brought Emma to where she is now and is not for the faint of heart, but the examples of resilience, self advocacy and personal strength within give hope that no matter the situation, changing your mindset can make any situation a positive learning experience instead of a negative one.
Emma Churchman has suffered a lot during her life, but so has the rest of her family, it goes back generations and each one had its own version, but Emma is determined to break the cycle and end this abuse and use her experiences to help others as a trauma chaplain and entrepreneur.
In this book, Emma talks through her childhood, but also that of her brothers, as well as the past generations to explain why and how much this trauma was passed down. The other thing this book talks about is Emma's mother and how she coped with the abuse and was eventually diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, or later dissociative identity disorder and she had the most complex number of personalities there, 123 in total.
These personalities came out at random and each had their own emotions, age, physical appearance and accent, but Emma had to learn to anticipate the shifts, manage the personalities who came out, as well as being a mother to her brother's, complete her education, be there when her mother was institutionalised and manage the chaos and fallout that this had on her family.
This book is an emotional rollercoaster as you read through the actions, consequences and chaos which brought Emma to where she is now and is not for the faint of heart, but the examples of resilience, self advocacy and personal strength within give hope that no matter the situation, changing your mindset can make any situation a positive learning experience instead of a negative one.
April 19, 2026
Having read Unshattered by Emma M. Churchman, I can say it’s one of the most powerful memoirs I’ve encountered in years. From the first thought of “What happens when your mother isn’t one person, but 123?” I was pulled into a world of chaos, heartbreak, and astonishing resilience.
Churchman’s storytelling is unflinching. She doesn’t soften the edges of her childhood: the unpredictability of her mother’s alters, the padded rooms, the absent father, the responsibility of raising her brothers. Yet what struck me most was not the trauma itself, but the way she transforms it into wisdom. Her perspective, that life happens for us, not to us, feels revolutionary when you see the depth of pain she endured.
The book is beautifully written, raw but never hopeless. I found myself pausing often, not because it was too heavy, but because her insights demanded reflection. She shows how wounds can become gifts, how brokenness can remake us into something stronger. By the end, I felt both devastated and uplifted, convinced that resilience is not just possible but inevitable when we choose to see differently.
My verdict: ★★★★★
Unshattered is more than a memoir, it’s a beacon of hope. Emma M. Churchman proves that even the most shattered realities can be remade into extraordinary strength. This is a book I’ll carry with me for a long time.
Churchman’s storytelling is unflinching. She doesn’t soften the edges of her childhood: the unpredictability of her mother’s alters, the padded rooms, the absent father, the responsibility of raising her brothers. Yet what struck me most was not the trauma itself, but the way she transforms it into wisdom. Her perspective, that life happens for us, not to us, feels revolutionary when you see the depth of pain she endured.
The book is beautifully written, raw but never hopeless. I found myself pausing often, not because it was too heavy, but because her insights demanded reflection. She shows how wounds can become gifts, how brokenness can remake us into something stronger. By the end, I felt both devastated and uplifted, convinced that resilience is not just possible but inevitable when we choose to see differently.
My verdict: ★★★★★
Unshattered is more than a memoir, it’s a beacon of hope. Emma M. Churchman proves that even the most shattered realities can be remade into extraordinary strength. This is a book I’ll carry with me for a long time.
April 18, 2026
What makes Unshattered powerful on its own is the author’s honesty, but it hit even harder for me because so much of her experience echoes things I’ve lived through. Growing up with childhood trauma and generational mental health struggles changes the way you read a story like this; you don’t just understand it, you feel it.
Being the oldest, feeling like you have to protect your younger siblings, trying to hold a family together that’s already cracking; that part landed in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there. The pressure, the responsibility, the way you grow up too fast because you think you have to be the strong one…the book captures that weight with a kind of clarity that’s rare.
And what really stayed with me is how both the author and I ended up finding healing not just for ourselves, but through helping others heal too. There’s something powerful about recognizing that you didn’t fall into the statistics or the expectations placed on you. You chose a different path. You built something better. You’re still building it.
That’s why this memoir hits so deeply, it’s not just her story. Parts of it feel like mine too.
Being the oldest, feeling like you have to protect your younger siblings, trying to hold a family together that’s already cracking; that part landed in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there. The pressure, the responsibility, the way you grow up too fast because you think you have to be the strong one…the book captures that weight with a kind of clarity that’s rare.
And what really stayed with me is how both the author and I ended up finding healing not just for ourselves, but through helping others heal too. There’s something powerful about recognizing that you didn’t fall into the statistics or the expectations placed on you. You chose a different path. You built something better. You’re still building it.
That’s why this memoir hits so deeply, it’s not just her story. Parts of it feel like mine too.
April 14, 2026
Unshattered: Surviving My Mother's 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse by Emma M Churchman. This is one of the most emotional books I have read. Its the autobiography of the author and this woman endured more in her childhood than most people endure in a lifetime. Emotional, Physical and Sexual abuse all while raising and protecting her siblings. Emma's mom has multiple personalities and the children have to learn to navigate each one. Emma being the oldest is the protector of her three young brothers and pretty much a mom to them. Their dad is homeless and not any help so Emma is on her own. Emma learns as she gets older that sometimes even though they are family you have to cut ties anyway. Emma has learned more in her childhood than a lot of people learn in their life. She has gone on to help others as a Trauma Chaplain and businesswoman. Learning to help others with their trauma instead of becoming a victim is very powerful in this story because it would be so easy to take the victim route but she totally owned her experience and is doing great things with it.
April 10, 2026
This is a very moving and emotional story about the authors life growing up and the trauma caused by her mother’s 123 personalities.
It is a story that is very emotional to read about the authors struggle dealing with emotional and sexual abuse as well as surviving her mothers different personalities all the time trying to maintain some sense of a normal life for her younger siblings. It is an eye opening story about how the author overcame all the things she went through to finding her place in the world and turning her trauma and past into a tool for helping other people heal. It was interesting to read about her mother’s different personalities, the cause of them, what each one protect her mother from and the effect each personalities had on the author and her siblings.
It was an eye opening and inspiring read seeing the authors journey and how she turned the trauma into healing.
It is a story that is very emotional to read about the authors struggle dealing with emotional and sexual abuse as well as surviving her mothers different personalities all the time trying to maintain some sense of a normal life for her younger siblings. It is an eye opening story about how the author overcame all the things she went through to finding her place in the world and turning her trauma and past into a tool for helping other people heal. It was interesting to read about her mother’s different personalities, the cause of them, what each one protect her mother from and the effect each personalities had on the author and her siblings.
It was an eye opening and inspiring read seeing the authors journey and how she turned the trauma into healing.
May 6, 2026
This book was an amazing listen. Memoirs are my favorite books to read, and I'm fascinated by the world of mental health and dissociative disorder. I found as the book continued, I resonated so much with the personal struggles that she has had, especially when she spoke of relationships. I can only hope that I give my children the type of love that prevents them from making terrible choices in a partner based on trauma induced by their parents and environment. I really love how Emma was so transparent, and also very thorough in her memories. That was remarkable to me, because my own trauma has made me dissociate in some ways in order to cope, but the intense trauma that she and her family endured was nowhere near mine and I was able to recover. I resonate directly with her issues with her mother and I'm grateful she used her trauma to help others and to heal. I too have decided to take my past and bring love to my children, myself, and others!
April 10, 2026
What a wonderful book. Emma’s story is one that will linger with you long after you have finished the book. It is a story of survival. A story of being exposed to horrific abuse and escaping it and the healing process. Emma essentially raises her three younger brothers as her mother’s mental illness/multiple personalities leave her incapable of caring for anyone. Even herself. Reading about all of the different personalities, and how the children had to learn to deal with each of them and an abusive father is heartbreaking. The book teaches you that sometimes family ties have to be severed in order to survive and how guilt and trauma can take over your life. Be warned that the book has graphic violence as well as sexual abuse in it. It in no way is sensationalized, it simply depicts life as Emma and her brothers knew it and how Emma struggled to heal and break the cycle.
April 15, 2026
3 – 3.5 Stars
Unshattered by Emma Churchman is a raw and courageous memoir – as the author shares an extraordinary and deeply personal story of growing up with a mother who had one of the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder) ever diagnosed. I found Ms. Churchman’s willingness to ‘lay everything out on the table’ and be so vulnerable and honest to be incredibly commendable - while her story also offers a rare, intimate look into the complexities of living in the shadow of trauma.
Unshattered is a heartfelt and important story that explores resilience, healing, and the human capacity to endure. It’s not a flawless read, and contains deep and heavy subject matter - but it’s a brave and honest account — and it is that bravery and honesty that is its greatest strength.
Happy Reading…
Unshattered by Emma Churchman is a raw and courageous memoir – as the author shares an extraordinary and deeply personal story of growing up with a mother who had one of the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder) ever diagnosed. I found Ms. Churchman’s willingness to ‘lay everything out on the table’ and be so vulnerable and honest to be incredibly commendable - while her story also offers a rare, intimate look into the complexities of living in the shadow of trauma.
Unshattered is a heartfelt and important story that explores resilience, healing, and the human capacity to endure. It’s not a flawless read, and contains deep and heavy subject matter - but it’s a brave and honest account — and it is that bravery and honesty that is its greatest strength.
Happy Reading…
April 18, 2026
I knew going into this book that it would be emotional because the synopsis already paints such a vivid picture, but I didn’t know exactly how hard it was going to hit me. I shed my fair share of tears through this brilliant and deeply personal story. While the author describes a terribly challenging childhood, they also lean heavily into how they transmuted all of that energy and experience into a beautiful healing journey. I thought about this book for days after I had finished it because it is so well written that it lingers for some time. Although this one his so many personal chords for me, I believe it is an extremely beneficial book for everyone to read, no matter their background or experience with traumatic events. It is so inspirational and may pull on your heartstrings more than you expect. I highly recommend giving it a chance!
April 18, 2026
Unshattered is the second book I've read by Emma Churchman. This heartfelt, raw, honest look into surviving generational abuse and trauma was powerful and, at times, overwhelming. But, the unapologetic, matter-of-fact way in which Churchman recounts the events of her childhood is, at once, heartbreaking for its truth and refreshing for its real take on something that most people avoid discussing. Churchman weaves her story through the eyes of a child, while also adding her adult perspective. The inspirational journey and strength it took for Churchman to parent her younger brothers, survive abuse as well as endure the multiple personalities of her mother, live and thrive, and break generational trauma cycles is awe-inspiring and impactful. I highly recommend Unshattered by Emma Churchman.
April 15, 2026
Unshattered by Emma M Churchman
5 Stars
This is a touching and very emotional read. My heart went out to her the entire time. She went through so much trauma at such a young age. It’s heartbreaking that she didn’t get to have a real childhood. She had to be a mother when she needed one.
What really stood out to me is how incredibly brave and strong she is. It took decades, but she found the will to survive and ultimately break the cycle of abuse. That kind of resilience is powerful and inspiring.
I also learned a lot about healing from this book, and some of it really resonated with my own experiences. It’s not an easy read—it’s very heavy because of the content—but it’s definitely worth it.
5 Stars
This is a touching and very emotional read. My heart went out to her the entire time. She went through so much trauma at such a young age. It’s heartbreaking that she didn’t get to have a real childhood. She had to be a mother when she needed one.
What really stood out to me is how incredibly brave and strong she is. It took decades, but she found the will to survive and ultimately break the cycle of abuse. That kind of resilience is powerful and inspiring.
I also learned a lot about healing from this book, and some of it really resonated with my own experiences. It’s not an easy read—it’s very heavy because of the content—but it’s definitely worth it.
April 17, 2026
Unshattered: Surviving My Mother’s 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse by Emma Churchman is a really powerful and emotional read that pulls you in right away. She shares her story in a super honest, no-filter way, and it’s honestly hard to imagine going through what she did growing up. What stands out most is how she turns all that chaos and pain into something meaningful and even inspiring, without sugarcoating anything. Sometimes it can feel a bit intense or heavy, and a few parts could’ve been slowed down to let things sink in more, but overall it’s a strong, hopeful memoir that leaves you thinking about resilience and how people can grow through even the toughest situations.
April 18, 2026
This book gives readers a look behind the curtain and into what goes on in a dysfunctional family and how some members cope. Emma explains and relives much of the trauma she endured growing up in her family and how she coped with everything. We are along for the ride as her memories are shared and we feel the pain right alongside the children. This book will pull at your heart to see what the young children had to deal with and how they coped. Emma finds the strength to be what everyone needed and became the care tacker of not only her younger brothers but of her mother as well, never knowing which personality would show and when. This was an interesting look at Emma and the journey of her life.
April 15, 2026
This book is one of the most inspiring stories I have ever read. From the moment you start reading, you really get a sense of the author and her resilience. And, throughout the story, you build up this picture of a young girl forced to adapt to her circumstances and who turns it into something so moving and motivational.
As reading is my “escape” I don’t often pick up books like this but something about this particular story really caught my attention. I found myself wanting to know more about the author and how she created something so positive out of the chaos she grew up in. This is one of those hauntingly beautiful books that I would highly recommend.
As reading is my “escape” I don’t often pick up books like this but something about this particular story really caught my attention. I found myself wanting to know more about the author and how she created something so positive out of the chaos she grew up in. This is one of those hauntingly beautiful books that I would highly recommend.
April 16, 2026
As soon as I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it. Psychology has always fascinated me, and I remember learning about Sybil in college psych classes. Multiple personality aka dissociative identity disorder is something that has always interested me. What the human mind can accomplish is amazing. Unshattered is a written memoir of the daughter of someone with 123 unique personalities. She walks us through the trauma of her childhood, into adulthood. She demonstrates how she broke the cycle of abuse (mental, physical, sexual, substance) and became something successful. This book is heart wrenching, but also so gripping. Really big trigger warnings, as its pretty descriptive.
April 19, 2026
Wow …. I cannot say it enough if you love memoirs pick this book up today! The things that these children experienced at the hands of their family, the safe place they should have but would never get. Emma’s writing was captivating and pulled you right in and held you tight through the first page till the last. How given the traumatic cards she was dealt she came out the other side and made it out.
It’s a powerful story about abuse, mental illness. How as older siblings we do our best to shield them from what’s happening. How we can be a victim to our trauma or come out the other side stronger.
April 9, 2026
I enjoyed reading this book. This is a little different book than I normally read but I am happy I picked it up. This is a book about healing from trauma. A book that will show you that you can be resilient despite your trauma. This author believes that what you have been through is not a challenge but an opportunity. I also found that this author made this book easy to read and understand. I felt that this book also had an emotional side to it as well. This is an interesting book and it is one that I highly recommend.
April 13, 2026
I am a psychology major and have always found the human mind and healing very interesting topics. While reading this book I felt so connected to Emma and how she felt multiple times throughout her life and within her book. There were many times I have faced trauma after trauma but just remained the caretaker and responsible one like she had to be and this book really hit home for me. I am glad she was able to find her path and heal as well as help others heal. I enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend to others, especially those in the health field.
April 17, 2026
Unshattered: Surviving My Mother's 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse by Emma Churchman is a truly raw and emotional recount of, well, a lot. There is so much I could say but it would never truly prepare you for the emotional turmoil that this book contains. However, I deeply deeply relate and understand the chaos of survival. This memoir doesn't hold back, or sugarcoat. Its raw, its heartbreaking, its truly traumatic. This isn't just a story, so be prepared. Thank you for your courage, and your bravery to share what you have with us Emma.
April 13, 2026
Unshattered by Emma Churchman is an amazing memoir. The courage this women has just astounds me! I have not read a book like this since I read “A Child called It”. I don’t even have words other then you will cry and have your heart break for Emma and the family, and cheer so much. Emma transforms her trauma with such vision and is so fearless in her pursuit of healing. I could not put this book down.
April 16, 2026
Wow! This is very interesting and horrific at the same time. To grow up and think that is normal is sad. Luckily the author was able to transform herself to a better more fulfilling life. I knew some of this from reading her the Deep End of Hope book as she touches some on her family in that story. She truly has a gift for storytelling as she delivers this one authentically. I learned a few things and just astounded at others.
April 18, 2026
Wow!! 123 personalities? Emma Churchman takes us through the trauma of living her mother who apparently has them. She shows us that generational abuse can be continued or a person can escape it. Emma is from a long line of abusers, whether it's emotional, physical or sexual in her family, but she decided to "escape" from the legacy her family holds and heal.
This book is written very well, but be warned there are some graphic descriptions of the abuse.
This book is written very well, but be warned there are some graphic descriptions of the abuse.
April 18, 2026
This is a great eye opener for the everyday life of someone that has lived with someone with multiple personality disorder. It gets down to the nitty gritty of why people do what they do. This particular book is the story adaptability, resilience, and the courage to forgive. It shows how you can live through something so atrocious and come out the other side a stronger, braver, more compassionate person. It has a lot of triggers but if you can get past that this is a must read.
March 4, 2026
So interesting! Definitely couldn’t put this book down! Learned alot about mental illness so helpful in understanding how it effects families.
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