 |
Like many people, Stevens
experienced a difficult childhood. Her mother was strict and her
biological father was absent, and so she embraced the opportunity to
live with her grandmother when she was still quite young. Eventually,
Stevens does have the chance to meet her father, but that only leads to
more disappointment. In the meantime, Stevens struggles to define her
self-identity while dealing with issues that are common for teens, such
as difficulties with her love life, along with problems that are
somewhat less common, such as homelessness after a house fire.
As time passes, Stevens marries and has two children. She suffers
another tragedy in the death of her son from sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS) and her husband must endure well-intentioned police
investigations in the wake of the unexpected death.
Although this book appears to be intended as a self-help manual, it’s
much more of an autobiography of a woman looking for redemption.
Stevens tries to empower readers not to run from their past and their
mistakes, but to embrace them as part of an overall self-identity. She
encourages readers to continually move forward with the hope of
creating a better life for themselves. The content could have benefited
from being focused more on offering practical advice and a little bit
less on the author’s personal difficulties. At times, the narrative
reads more like a revenge publication against certain family members.
However, the effectiveness of the publication may lie in simply
reminding the reader that he or she is certainly not alone in dealing
with life’s struggles.