In her memoir, Sanford recounts her life from childhood to adulthood with profound honesty. She was born into a white and wealthy family, but her life was not picture perfect. The author details her father's abusive behavior toward her mother. Little did she know that a teenage girl would come into her life and change it. One summer, when Sanford was twelve years old, she met Mary, a fifteen-year-old black girl who worked for Sanford's parents. Both girls became fast friends despite their race and class. These women would go through marriage, divorce, and single motherhood, and these events would bring them closer. Throughout her journey, the author would begin to understand her white privilege and find her voice.

From the beginning, Sanford expertly explores the relationship between white employers and black domestic workers. For instance, Mary called Sanford's parents by their last name while they called her by her first name. Another example of the class separation between them was that while Mary could ask questions, she could not start a conversation. Her employers saw her as invisible and a piece of furniture. In addition, the author points out that she and Mary lived in a racially segregated world where they did not have the same rights. For example, whites were allowed to go to the beach and the swimming pool during this period, while blacks were forbidden to go to these places. Readers will appreciate this memoir because Sanford does not hold back her feelings. When she describes her friendship with Mary, one can feel they both care about each other.

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