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This week the gals at The Broke and the Bookish are asking for the Top Ten Books Which Feature Characters Who _____. I'm filling in the blank with had bad childhoods.
(I ran out of steam after eight. Frankly, it's not a very happy topic I chose!)
Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes) grew up in poverty in Ireland. And Francie Nolan (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) grew up in Irish poverty in Brooklyn.
Rick Bragg (All over but the Shoutin') grew up watching his father brutalize his mother. Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle) grew up with an unstable mother in an unstable childhood.
Roald Dahl's Matilda grew up frightfully misunderstood by her parents. Kimberly Rae Miller (Coming Clean) grew up among her hoarder parents' piles of treasures and trash.
Maya Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) suffered sexual abuse. And Anne Frank (The Diary of a Young Girl) suffered unspeakable tragedy.
I've read all of these stunning books, and they all shine with emotional growth and forgiveness and healing. Everyone here who made it to adulthood turned out okay. And even Anne Frank, who died young and at the hands of hatred, inspired millions.
Which book heroes would you add to the list?
ANGELA'S ASHES is such a heartbreaking memoir. Wow. And Anne Frank, yeah, what a terrible childhood she had! You're right -- this is a super sad topic :(
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
I'm kind of sorry I chose it. But then again, I couldn't think of 10, so that's a plus!
DeleteOh, Francie Nolan. . . . I love her! I remember when I saw the movie--I was so annoyed that she looked NOTHING like the picture in my mind!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the movie! Re-read the book over Christmas break, and it was MUCH more depressing than I remembered.
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