Augusta, Gone: A True Story

by Martha Tod Dudman

The story of a girl who is doing everything to hurt herself and a mother who would try anything to try to save her.

True, she had stopped coming down for breakfast. Stayed up in her room, ran out the door late for school, missed the bus and had to have a ride. But you think, well, that's how they are, aren't they, teenagers? And you try to remember how you were, but you were different and the times were different and it was so long ago. And she's suddenly so angry at you, but then, another time, she's just the same. She's just your little girl. You sit with her and you talk about something, or you go shopping for school clothes and everything seems all right. And you forget how you stood in her room and how the center of your stomach felt so cold. When you found the cigarette. When you found the blue pipe. When you found the little bag she said was aspirin.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Addiction, Biography Memoir, Mental Illness, Coming Of Age, Mental Health

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2001

Reviews

[Beryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of the "parent of a teenage addict" memoirs that I encountered after my daughter's death in 2001. As I read this beautifully written and thoroughly engrossing story, I wished that I had found such a book while negotiating the seven anguished and confusing years during which I tried to save my beautiful tormented daughter. There is nothing quite like a well-told story to link our lives with those of others. Reading one's own story in another's is not only immensely comforting but enlightening. Parents dealing with troubled teens often feel lost and alienated and guilty. They make the best decisions they can but are never certain they are the right ones which can often be terrifying. Do we force treatment? Do we practice tough love? Or are we unknowingly enabling our children's addictions? The line between these decisions can be so fine that tottering in one direction might skew the outcome. I recently reread Dudman's ultimately healing story and felt the same restorative hope that our children have the power to turn their lives around.

[Mia Lederer · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this one.

[Maggie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as though the author wrote the words that I can not say out loud about parenting a teenager that is walking through life the hard way. I am grateful for her honesty and bravery, this is a story many families live yet never speak of. It made me feel less alone and hopeful.

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written memoir about a single mother with an out of control teen daughter. The writing was sparing and poignant and instantly grabbed me. It was a parent’s nightmare gently unfolding. The author was so human, not only a mother but a woman, trying to keep it all together. I actually read it in a day as I found it difficult to put down.

[Eb · Rating 4 out of 5]

As stated on the back cover of the book, Augusta Gone by Martha Tod Dudman is “the story of a girl who is doing everything to hurt herself and a mother who would try anything to try to save her.” Augusta Gone is the prequel to the book Go Ask Alice. Basically it is a memoir describing the same life except this time, from the mother’s point of view. The story is told from the author’s point of view. She is a single parent who strives to give her children the perfect life, as oppose to her own childhood, which seems to be going well until her daughter reaches her teenage years. It is when Augusta turns fifteen, when she starts to spiral out of control.
The mother first finds a cigarette, followed by a glass pipe and then a small bag containing pills that Augusta swears is “aspirin.” At first Dudman doesn’t know whether confrontation is the right thing to do. She ignores these obvious warning signs, until finally she lashes out, causing Augusta to run away timelessly every time she is confronted. Dudman has a mixture of emotions surrounding whether Augusta’s behavior is a result of an overly monitored life or whether it’s from outside influences or whether it’s her own failure as a parent.
Dudman tries to think of the times she was a teenager and the hell that she raised with her parents purposefully. She has a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that her daughter would mimic her own past indiscretion, making the solution to Augusta’s problem even more difficult for her. The mood swings Augusta deals with, from being happy to one moment, to saying the worst things any daughter can say to a mother. The mother tries to put her in a few rehabilitation centers, to no avail, which makes her think that nothing can save her daughter from this downward spiral. She decides to move away with her daughter and immerse herself into her daughters’ treatment in the end.
Throughout the story, it is easy to feel immense sympathy toward the mother of a child who is doing everything in her power to hurt her while the mother is doing the opposite. This book touches upon not only the hardships of being a parent (a single mother, at that) but also the troubles of being a teenager and being naively sucked into an ominous vortex that is very difficult to escape from. With skipping school, hanging out with new friends, and doing drugs, we see the stereotypical “burn out” teenager that is regularly expressed around us.
I would recommend this book for teenage girls or mothers struggling with teenage daughters, It is relatable to teenagers disregarding the actions that Augusta executes, but the feeling of not wanting to talk to anyone and not knowing why or being completely incapable of expressing yourself can relate to many teenage girls. For mothers, I think it is great to compare your parenting with that of Augusta’s mom, and coming to a realization about the way you handle your teenager: what are some things you’re doing wrong and how can you improve on you tactics? Augusta and her mom represent a very relatable situation that most mothers and daughters face now.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Shepard
Biography
Augusta Gone tells the true to life tale of 15 year old Augusta. Telling the tale through her mother, Martha, the story goes back and forth between happier days and the presently horrifying. Their relationship in the beginning was normal and healthy. Augusta telling her mother things, reading together, enjoying each others company, it all went down hill after the divorce. Augusta ditching school, partying, coming home late, smoking, using drugs and not caring about her mother anymore. When her mother finds yelling and setting ground rules aren't sufficient, she must dig deep in herself to help her daughter survive.
This story was gripping and heartwarming that a mother would risk everything to get her daughter back. Augusta's character is someone that most everyone has come into contact with; a sibling, cousin or a friend. It's easy to turn you back on someone and say you did all you could. But that wasn't good enough for Augusta's mother, her story proves the fight for someone you love is worth the struggle.

[Jizza Mariz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Memoir is written in stream of consciousness, and all the whining has gotten into me. I understand the difficult situation that Martha is facing during the narration, and I hated the daughter more than the mother. What is the real problem here? Is it the upbringing or the daughter herself? Growing up in a country where therapies are not a common solution to personality problems (especially not to coming of age problems), I find the daughter despicable for thinking she deserves better from her mom. Sure, her mom wasn't perfect but there's no such thing as a perfect mom. But compared to what others are going through, all of her anger seemed so unjustified to me. And that makes the whining unbearable - I actually wanted the mom to give up on this stupid self-centered girl. What about Jack, the youngest child? Whoever gave a shit about him? None, because his sister is too busy being a prick. And the ending basically proved why the dilemma is shit - the daughter finally has just suddenly gotten over her self-centered teenage angst.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this immediately after reading "Go Ask Alice". It was advertised as the book Alice's mother would have written. Actually, it is the book Alice's mother wishes she could have written. Alice's mother probably wishes her story ended this way.

I didn't like the writing style. Noun verb noun. This then that. It was boring. Ten pages before the end of the book I took the dog out for a walk. I really just didn't care what happened.

[Lisa Bertagnoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read - not the writing, but the subject matter, as my family has faced a similar situation. The writing is emotional but not overly so; I applaud the author's frequent and effective use of exclamation marks. It's a fast and entertaining read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

How well do you know your teen and when do you decide that their issues are not normal teenage problems? This story travels into the worst nightmare of parents everywhere. If you do everything to give your child a normal upbringing then they turn out fine, right? Great Story

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother in pain, child gone amok, compelling read

[Jackie Wayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Telling the agonizing story of losing a child to the world of drugs and chaos and teen insanity has to be the most difficult journey any parent can make. My heart goes out to her and any mother faced with this insurmountable drama. It makes us wonder how it happens, why it happens to some while others can manuveur around the obstacles. Self worth is so entangled with the media which is a never stopping bombardment of beauty and entitlement at every swipe of the screen. Our teens today are so very vulnerable and need more than parents to get them through these difficult years. Parents become the enemy. The harder they try the more teens push them away and fall into the hands of the less desirables. Dudman's journey is well told. The outcome here comes from never giving up and continuing to try any avenue to find success. Augusta was lucky.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took longer than anticipated to finish this book because I kept putting it off to read other ones lol. It was okay, wasn’t my favorite. Frustrating overall as a story but I mean it’s based on a true story, if I’m not mistaken, so it’s what actually happened in the authors life. Which makes sense. I’m glad it ended the way it did, versus something worse. However I also wish there was more “closure” in a way at the end. Idk. *spoiler alert!* I’m curious to know if there was an actual diagnosis in Agusta’s life later on, that would explain a lot!

[Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I thought this was a good story. But, I view this in a different light - I am an adolescent medicine physician and care for these patients so it was good to get a different perspective. However, some of the author's language was very grating for me - calling people "fat" and using the word "stupid" often. I believe this was done to portray her sense of mind at this time but it also makes it hard for me to separate her using language like this all the time. Overall, would recommend but caution RE: the language.

[Charles Reimler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Analysis Of Augusta Was Negative IDENTITY Issues! Think Augusta Matured Into “Wanting To Change”, And Finally On Path Finishes Her GED, And Held A Job At End. Interesting Besides Parental Flaws; Both Parents Did ACTIONS Of Sacrificial Love For Daughter. Private Religious Education Does Help Was Missing As Provides Positive Identity “Loved By God”; Discipline; A Healthy Social Group; And Character Formation Internalization. Interesting Memoir Is Written Well, And Worthwhile Book.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2025, I found a review I had written about this book. I didn't even remember ever having read it, and therefore have only rated it 3 stars. Below is my review from 2004.

A moving book about a mother's struggle to help her drug addicted, teenage daughter, this true story is a must read for any parent with a rebellious teenager. It offers hope even as it expressed the deep despair at the fact that there is no right answer or proven solution to the problem.

[Mary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning, heartbreaking, gorgeous - and finally, happy. Dudman’s writing is perfect, and her fortitude and honesty, her story, riveted me and kept me in bed until noon finishing the book. I cried throughout her epilogue, knowing her daughter made it.

[sharron fromius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me way too long to read. I found it to be too wordy and not in a good way. The reader is left to wade through too many leaps into memories of the mothers drug use days and troubled youth. It just seemed to me to blur and dilute the real story.

[Jeanette Lukowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the time I had reached page 10, I recognized the similarities to my own memoir(s). I seriously wondered if I would be able to continue reading--but I managed because I was curious about where her story would end up; I was curious about what she would discover about her daughter along the way.

[Lamandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book fascinated me, its subject mirroring my experience raising a struggling teen daughter. The author captured the chaos, emotions and trauma involved for the entire family and the peace of letting go of expectations and allowing the child to determine their fate.

[Aundrea O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very deeply written. I love how the author writes her emotions to help you imagine what it was like for her.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me to enjoy all the ups and downs of having my daughter home, because it ends before you know it.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought this book was really interesting and had a good take on a mother mourning her daughter

[Krista · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I read less than 10 pages. The writing style is lovely and carries the book, but the mother’s ego and self-centered comments are overwhelming.

[zeina! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know if Id like this book but it honestly was so good. It’s so raw and honest

[Deztiny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty slow-paced. I read many other books from the time I started to finishing this book.

[Avery Bentsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is heartbreaking, I recommend it to all mothers and girls out there who are struggling.

[Beatriz Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro maravilhoso, dá-nos uma perspectiva diferente da adolescência.

[~*Trema*~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here is a link to my complete BOOK REVIEW:
https://anovelexperience2011.blogspot...

[Myranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martha Tod Dunman put together a very visual and descriptive novel titled Augusta, Gone. The book is about a family disrupted by divorce leaving the mother of the family and her daughter battling it out due to the heartbreaking family breakup. Coming from a divorced family, living with my single mother I admit it can be tough at times. My mother and I dont always agree on things, and when we dont agree we get into fights and bicker with eachother. For Augusta and her mother Martha, when they argue, Augusta leaves the house and sometimes doesn't return for a few days. Augusta's mother blaims herself in the rebellion of her daughter. Augusta participates in selling and using of drugs, parties, sexual activity and mis behavior due to Augustas home life. The theme of the book is no matter how far gone you think something is, you can still have hope and work towards making things right. In this case, Martha is hopelessly trying to rescue her daughters from running her life into the ground. Although I wouldn't say Martha had the best parenting skills, she is still Augusta's mom and every mothers instinct is to protect their child. The style of this book is written strictly in Martha's point of view, first person. Personally I would have wanted some insight into the mind of Augusta also, not just Martha's side of things. There is always two sides to a story and I think comparing the two could be interesting. Overall this book was fairly good. It is not the best book I've read, mainly because I prefer romantic/fictional/fantasy novels. I would recommend this book to anyone but first and foremost single mothers. I would advise reading the book with discretion, Martha tells the events with detail and any mother in their right mind would cringe at some of the things Augusta did.