In this haunting life story, the author’s earliest memories, from around age four, feature her mother’s emotional and physical abuse and codependency. Her mother rules Ossen’s home life with rapid-fire mood swings ranging from overwhelming anger and verbal abuse to brief moments of joy. Her mother’s irrational fear of illness keeps her away from school, and she spends almost her entire childhood within the four walls of her home. As she grows into her teenage years, she begins to branch out bit by bit: going on walks, running errands, and meeting a variety of questionable characters. Fortunately, she finds help in the form of several family members who take her under their wing as an adolescent.

The second part of the memoir, “Becoming Visible,” details her long road to recovery and finding herself, from seeing a therapist and going back to school, to exploring romantic relationships and marriage. The third and final part of her memoir stands as a reflective piece on her life overall. The reader processes with her as she experiences love, loss, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma on her adult life.

This is a fascinating and heart-wrenching account of one woman surviving an incredibly abusive childhood to create a life for herself. Despite its considerable length, this memoir will have readers enthralled from beginning to end. It is truly a testament to human willpower, determination, and intelligence. She recounts her story with equal parts gentleness and honesty, delicately balancing both the good and the bad in the people who shaped her life. She is fair yet kind in her reflection, speaking from a place of introspection and healing. Her words give hope to anyone caught in an abusive relationship or struggling to process past traumas. Ossen’s story provides hope that there is, indeed, a light ahead.

Return to USR Home