Book Review from Maria Ashford with Book-shelfie.com

"Foster’s writing is remarkably clear-eyed given the traumatic experiences she describes. She resists both self-pity and neat redemption narratives, instead focusing on documenting how poverty shapes children’s development and family dynamics. Her academic training and PhD adds analytical depth without dampening the memoir’s emotional impact."

"The book’s examination of religious fundamentalism’s appeal to the poor is another insightful element of this memoir. Foster shows how economic instability made her parents susceptible to fringe beliefs and cult-like groups promising certainty in an uncertain world. Their brief involvement with a polygamist Mormon sect illustrates how desperation can drive people to embrace extreme ideologies."