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Spare Changing for Trauma: A Memoir of Pain & Healing
Over the years I have been pleaded with to write a book about my traumas, as well as a book about herbalism. I quickly discovered that there are some plant allies I simply can't talk about without sharing the very traumas that led to our deepened connection. With this in mind, I have written something that I'm not sure has ever been done before:
A personal memoir of my homeless teenage years (age 13-18) and an herbal healing book, rolled into one.
I don't see how I would be able to do it any other way. You see, my traumas are not something I separate from my healing - whether it's physical or not. It just doesn't work that way for me.
They are one and the same.
This book will not be an easy read. It will not read like poetry or beautiful realizations - if that is what you are hoping for.
It will read like the brutal life of a young girl unknowingly enacting out bloodline trauma while unable to face her own lifetime's worth. A young girl that gravitated to the dangerous, the dirty, and the scars she felt the need to collect.
It will read like serious wounds healed - broken bones and shattered notions of self vomited onto pages, with no fair warning given to the horrors witnessed.
It will be embarrassing for me to share my own poor decisions as a teen. It will also be healthy for me to have a place for these things to rest outside of my own tired mind.
There will be tears. There will be a deep look at the plants involved in each story. There will be know-how and recipes shared. There will possibly even be newly gained understanding of who I am as a person, and why plants will always be the company I prefer.
There will be, most importantly of all, healing.
Herbs to be discussed are Yarrow, Plantain, Dandelion, Elderberry, California Poppy.
A personal memoir of my homeless teenage years (age 13-18) and an herbal healing book, rolled into one.
I don't see how I would be able to do it any other way. You see, my traumas are not something I separate from my healing - whether it's physical or not. It just doesn't work that way for me.
They are one and the same.
This book will not be an easy read. It will not read like poetry or beautiful realizations - if that is what you are hoping for.
It will read like the brutal life of a young girl unknowingly enacting out bloodline trauma while unable to face her own lifetime's worth. A young girl that gravitated to the dangerous, the dirty, and the scars she felt the need to collect.
It will read like serious wounds healed - broken bones and shattered notions of self vomited onto pages, with no fair warning given to the horrors witnessed.
It will be embarrassing for me to share my own poor decisions as a teen. It will also be healthy for me to have a place for these things to rest outside of my own tired mind.
There will be tears. There will be a deep look at the plants involved in each story. There will be know-how and recipes shared. There will possibly even be newly gained understanding of who I am as a person, and why plants will always be the company I prefer.
There will be, most importantly of all, healing.
Herbs to be discussed are Yarrow, Plantain, Dandelion, Elderberry, California Poppy.
- GenresMemoir
305 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2019
20 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 15, 2020
Heya so I'm the human who wrote this book but good reads refuses to let me "claim it" or fix the incorrect title that should be:
Spare Changing For Trauma: A memoir of pain & healing
Anyhow that's my current input ;)
Spare Changing For Trauma: A memoir of pain & healing
Anyhow that's my current input ;)
January 26, 2020
The author writes as she speaks. At first I wasn't sure if I'd be able to emotionally handle the traumas that the author would share (having no idea what they were or how much she would reveal). I have to say that though her writing is raw, she skillfully manages to illustrate these memories without traumatizing the reader in the process. Long after reading her flashbacks, I definitely was left ruminating over them for days.
Because after each short flashback the author goes into detail about the plant ally highlighted from that story, the reader has a moment to process the experienced traumas and be educated. I read many chapters in one sitting and could have easily read it in its entirety in one sitting if I were a faster reader.
The last part of the book is a how to make your own, tinctures, infused oils, creams etc. I'd like to say, after reading this book I am much more cautious about who I would buy homemade products from (even from stores) and that Essential Oils are not safe and should be avoided. The author clearly has a formidable knowledge and practice in making said offerings.
Because after each short flashback the author goes into detail about the plant ally highlighted from that story, the reader has a moment to process the experienced traumas and be educated. I read many chapters in one sitting and could have easily read it in its entirety in one sitting if I were a faster reader.
The last part of the book is a how to make your own, tinctures, infused oils, creams etc. I'd like to say, after reading this book I am much more cautious about who I would buy homemade products from (even from stores) and that Essential Oils are not safe and should be avoided. The author clearly has a formidable knowledge and practice in making said offerings.
January 16, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. It is a great book on healing and educational on herbs you can forage and use for medicine. I have been following April for a couple years and I love her writing so much. I was floored to find out she was writing a book. Not many books have brought tears to my eyes and this book did just that. In the most beautiful healing sort of way. I have a whole new respect for this woman and relate to her story in ways I never thought would be. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy and through it realize you are smart enough to gather and use herbs. It will also teach you how to ethically do so. I am now on to reading Braiding with Sweet grass which April had recommended. April knows so much. She is a very intelligent herbalist and it goes much deeper than words on a page. I can tell this is embedded in her DNA. Her compassion for plants, animals, and humans is felt with the heart.
May 16, 2020
Beautiful. It was raw, informative, sad, and hilarious all at once. April cuts no corners and spares no feelings but makes you feel like you’re sitting there with her, listening and learning. I truly value this book and her words, and I can’t wait to try to make some tinctures and elixirs of my own. Thank you so much for this, April
June 26, 2020
This is a gritty memoir about April's life as a teen, on the road, and her experiences, trauma and the plant medicines that helped her heal. A sucker for a good real story and for herbs and their amazing powers I thoroughly enjoyed this book. April is a gifted wordsmith.
September 5, 2020
April Graham writes creatively & her story is real. Her memoirs are a bare all true account of her survival across America 'Spare Changing for Trauma: A memoir of pain & healing' is a good read & I gave this book 5 stars. The excellent content on her lifes passion for herbalism, her thrilling survival stories & her young years 'flying signs' across some of the harshest roads in America had me laughing & crying. You can easily connect with April during your reading. From the start, you feel as though you are alongside her on her journey. This beautiful, at times brutal story can open & change your mind about the plant world. 'A weed is not a weed' as I told my husband who also enjoyed reading this brilliant book. He also started his passion for gardening again! So it is an inspirational read too. April freely speaks about her bloodline trauma, survival & her memoirs of her grandmother's knowledge within the folklore realms of plant medicine. I enjoyed spare changing for trauma: a memoir of pain & healing because it is helping us both during these trying & changing times we all live now. A well crafted book that I have now purchased a second to pass on. I keep all my treasured books & never lend them. This book belongs in all good libraries, home libraries and book stores. This story needs to be read & passed on. A good read for autobiography, herbalisim, plant research, how to make & learn more from this amazing human called April. Go check her out, she is a wealth of information.
September 6, 2020
This book is life changing—much like the experiences detailed in this book were for April. When I heard she was writing a book I was so excited because she is so knowledgeable, but I had no idea that the plant information would not be my main takeaway from this book. Part reference book and part ethnography, this book has become a staple in my bookcase—easy access for all the plant knowledge and the stories forever ingrained in me.
Overall, I think this book serves a really important purpose. Yes, she is sharing incredible plant knowledge. But that is not the main point to me. The main point is that this shows the unfiltered reality of GIRLS living in homelessness (not even women, as she was 13 when she became homeless). Often, when one looks at the ethnographies available from anthropologists regarding homelessness, it is often men, or at the least it is about men and women well into their adult lives. These stories, as you read, you must remind yourself that this was a young teenage girl this was happening to. Even if you don’t care a single bit about plants (although I venture to guess April will change your mind by the end of this book!) this book is incredibly important for everyone to read (especially every American, as homelessness is rarely discussed among our political issues despite being a reality for MANY Americans). It will give you insight, knowledge, and raw emotions that, for me, just further increased my empathy for all homeless persons.
Could not recommend this book enough!
Overall, I think this book serves a really important purpose. Yes, she is sharing incredible plant knowledge. But that is not the main point to me. The main point is that this shows the unfiltered reality of GIRLS living in homelessness (not even women, as she was 13 when she became homeless). Often, when one looks at the ethnographies available from anthropologists regarding homelessness, it is often men, or at the least it is about men and women well into their adult lives. These stories, as you read, you must remind yourself that this was a young teenage girl this was happening to. Even if you don’t care a single bit about plants (although I venture to guess April will change your mind by the end of this book!) this book is incredibly important for everyone to read (especially every American, as homelessness is rarely discussed among our political issues despite being a reality for MANY Americans). It will give you insight, knowledge, and raw emotions that, for me, just further increased my empathy for all homeless persons.
Could not recommend this book enough!
September 5, 2020
This book is one of my favorite books I've ever read, and I also consider it the most important book in my herbal library. While she only covers a few plants, April goes in depth into everything from ethical wild harvesting to making things in a safe way. Quite simply I have found all of my other herbal books lacking of this information in comparison. Really just a phenomenal book and a phenomenal woman and teacher. Read it for the memoir, but if you are even a little bit curious about herbalism, you would do yourself a huge favor to read this book. I will be eagerly looking forward to the day she writes another.
April 8, 2021
April is a master teacher and storyteller weaving her brutally honest personal stories into teachable moments that you will remember. She has a way of breaking down herbalism into simple, easy to comprehend lessons that anyone can relate to. Her sense of humor is wonderful and she had me laughing several times throughout the book. Her honest, no nonsense approach is utterly refreshing. This is a must read for anyone looking to get knowledge and insight into herbalism, responsible harvesting and safe preparations.
June 18, 2021
Thank you for this knowledge. All I see now when I go outside are plant allies: plantain and dandelion everywhere, but I know not to harvest them where they grow here in suburbia. I understand why even the sight of a bottle of essential oil gives me nausea and migraines. I had an a-ha moment reading the label on some Metamucil lol. This book offered me an amazing new lens on which to view the world around me, especially when people in this world want to over complicate and practically hide this information.
September 7, 2023
I really enjoyed Aprils stories and knowledge. I’ve highlighted tabbed and made note of so much from this book and what she had to teach from her own life. I would love the opportunity to hear more of her life/ a more in depth memoir because she’s so interesting and has so much wisdom.
I loved all the plant knowledge she put in the book and appreciate her encouragement to believe you are smart enough to work with plants. This book was an all around testament to what a smart and resilient woman april is!
I loved all the plant knowledge she put in the book and appreciate her encouragement to believe you are smart enough to work with plants. This book was an all around testament to what a smart and resilient woman april is!
September 5, 2020
This book is written out so well!!! I love hearing the stories that April has associated with the different plants that helped her at her time of need.. She's an awesome writer!!! This book is full of useful information and a glimpse into April's trauma.. I can not wait till she wtites another book because I am so gonna be here for it!! 😍🌱🌻✌
December 22, 2020
April writes from the gut and spares no emotional expense when telling her stories. If you want something truly eye opening, painful, heart wrenching, educational, inspiring and full of knowledge this is a great book.
Can’t wait for her to read another one.
Also visit her store where you can buy amazing tinctures, balms, butters, etc
https://sheisofthewoods.org
Can’t wait for her to read another one.
Also visit her store where you can buy amazing tinctures, balms, butters, etc
https://sheisofthewoods.org
September 5, 2020
Exceptional read. April writes how she speaks, which makes it even more personal. This is the story of a woman who has fought her whole life to get where she is, mixed in with the plant allies that have shaped her path, and in some cases, saved her life. Call it an herbal memoir.
September 6, 2020
A truly wonderful, touching, loving and heroic journey through trauma, memories and the plants who were there along the way. I was there, watching, crying, freezing and laughing with April the whole time. What an amazing memoir. Highly recommend.
August 10, 2020
[4.5]
A truly remarkable memoir
A truly remarkable memoir
September 6, 2020
Awesome book. Pain , trauma but pulled together with herbalist survival!! Author is a for “real” person sharing a part of her life that many couldn’t imagine.
June 26, 2023
Full of BULLSHIT!!!!!
Don't fall for these scammers!!!!
Don't fall for these scammers!!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews