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Jumper's memoir is one about identity and forgiveness. Jumper was born on the Hollywood reservation of the Seminole Tribe, but at just six months old, her parents divorced, and she was whisked away to her grandparents' house. It wouldn't be until she was a teenager that she would meet her father and a sister she never knew about.
She grows close to her father and learns more about the Seminole Tribe. Her adult years aren't without sadness. Her parents pass, and she has to deal with big changes. And it doesn't help that her parents' spouses are involved. It's not easy, but life is never easy. Jumper shows how it's her faith that helps her through the hard parts. One of the sweetest parts of this memoir is how she describes her relationship with her now-husband, Luke.
Jumper's writing is solid. The way it is written reads like a popular literary fiction bookâhard to put down. Jumper describes her family, especially in her early years living with her grandparents, Papa and Granny, so vividly. She tells readers that they have strong personalities, but does a good job of showing it too. What is also interesting is the way that Jumper describes her mother with such empathy while showing how her low self-esteem affected their relationship, especially after her marriage. Her mother had Karl, but that didn't help with the jealousy either. The same goes with her father, whom readers learn more about, including his drinking problem and how it's related to the Vietnam War. He had his own Karl, in the form of Catherine, though Jumper describes how they were like best friends until her father died. It's a heartbreaking moment that many readers will probably relate to. Relatability is what makes this memoir stand out from the crowd.