Hard Poetry : A Family of Children

Rating:
Summary: Visualizing a Future
Review: Five sisters and a brother learn to survive in a family of neglect and violence fueled by alcohol and broken dreams. The story is told from the perspective of the oldest daughter as she searches for a way to fit her own strong,innate personality and curiosity into her parents' image of her. Because she and her siblings are forced to focus on daily survival in a negative, dis-courage-ing environment, as children, none of them develops a sense of future possibilities, of what they could be outside the toxicity of their home.

As adults, these children become what we call " transcenders" --- persons who transcend a toxic environment and learn to value themselves and others. What we know of transcenders is that in almost all cases, there has been at least one person in their lives who saw the good in them, who believed in their potential and who loved them. In this true story, that one person is a grandmother, a deeply spiritual woman who, with very limited resources, taught them to value themselves and to minister to the needs of others.

This is a wonderful story about the struggle and ultimate success of five sisters. Something I liked very much about this book is that the author adds the perspective of each sister in her own words -- each of whom discovered their own unique way of finding themselves -- as well as the words of the mother who's own childhood was a nightmare that she never transcended. This story is a gift of love, forgiveness and self-discovery that will benefit any reader, but especially those who can relate personally to the struggles of this family.

Candice Cook, M.S., LCSW
Mental Health Consultant/Therapist