Tara’s father’s paranoia drove her and her family out of society and into the mountains as he contrived government conspiracy theories and preached conservative Mormon teachings. This memoir explores Tara’s experience struggling between her familial loyalty and her own desire for something greater in life. Her childhood is plagued with unstable relationships, accusations, shame, dangerous work, conservative preachings, and conspiracy. Her family is committed to living without any ties to the government or society; her mother learned the art of midwifery and used herbs to treat the countless wounds Tara and her brothers suffered working for their father. As Tara grows older, she watches her brothers leave home and pursue greater lives while she is left with a crumpling family. She begins to question her own ties to her home, was her “home schooling” enough? Would her loyalty to her father be enough to keep her in his scrap fields for life? Could she ever fit into society? This book describes Tara’s journey uncovering an unfamiliar world, stuck between familial loyalty and societal influences as she struggles with the effects of her childhood.
I would recommend this novel. Tara’s account of her life enraptures the audience as she explores her childhood. She illustrates the influence of her childhood as her father’s teachings permeate every judgment she makes as she is exposed to society. Her loyalty to her father’s way of life is challenged by her own experiences and beliefs, she struggles with into this internal conflict. As she describes her experiences, you will feel awe, joy, horror, and shock. I loved this novel and enjoyed every moment of her candid accounts as she shared her beautiful, heartbreaking story.
-Anonymous
