This memoir, written by successful journalist Walls, traces her growing up as the second daughter in a family that was loyal and loving - but extremely underprivileged, always on the run, and making poor decision after poor decision. Her father, an alcoholic, and her mother, an "adventure seeker", cared for their children, but provided little for them. The book begins with Walls in a cab on Fifth Avenue in New York, looking out the window and seeing her homeless mother digging through a dumpster, and the story just explodes from there. The entire book written without self pity, despite the sometimes pitiful circumstances, and Walls' writing is completely engaging.
Overall, I would give this book an "A" as it was very interesting to see how other children survive in poverty with self-destructing parents that steal their money and don't care about their well-being or safety in the least bit. Definitely worth reading!
