Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

Waking Mathilda by Claire Crisp recounts the chain of events from 2009 when she took their youngest two-year-old daughter to the National Health Service in England to be innoculated against swine flu. It was not long after that Mathilda’s whole persona changed from a lively toddler to one who did not sleep, suffered terrible nightmares, fell down when walking and regressed developmentally. Thus began a life of doctors, clinics, hospital appointments and numerous tests, none of which could pinpoint the condition. At home, lack of sleep impacted the whole family including father Oliver and Mathilda’s older brother and sister. Claire Crisp recounts how she tried to juggle homeschooling, running a household, holding her family together while being a full-time carer for Mathilda with practically no sleep at all.

While reading this book I could feel the pain suffered by all five family members, it came across loud and clear. Waking Mathilda is beautifully written. Claire Crisp takes us into her home and shares their frustrations and pain as she faces one obstacle after another. She shares the terror she felt, watching her young daughter in severe pain, yet unable to do anything to relieve her suffering. To watch her youngest writhing in agony, day after day, was a test beyond human endurance. We can only admire her patience and tenacity as one doctor after another sweeps aside her concerns, even suggesting she attend parenting classes, or undergoes psychological counseling for what was obviously a physical condition, not a mental one. Their lack of empathy is simply incredible and a sad reflection on the UK NHS. Only one doctor, from India, was the first to diagnose that Mathilda suffered from narcolepsy – the inability to sleep – caused by that same innoculation the NHS had encouraged parents of young families to have administered.

This is a heartwarming tale, despite the anger and frustration that even the reader must share, of a family pulling together through dark times, changing jobs, moving house and finally relocating overseas. Their faith, extended family, and friends all helped them through their worst hours. Narcolepsy is untreatable, those brain cells controlling sleep have been destroyed forever, yet Claire and her husband never gave up hope and did everything in their power to provide the medication that Mathilda so desperately needed. Beautifully written, this book touched me deeply. It illustrates the depth of parental love, and yet despite the frustrations and setbacks, it’s the story of a family who never gave up hope.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Anyone who has ever had to take on the onerous task of being chief caregiver to parents, once they have become incapable of fully looking after themselves, will fully relate to Virginia A. Simpson's memoir, The Space Between. In my own late adult years, I faced this same challenge with my mother, for about the same length of time as "Ginni" did, and like the author, I nearly fell apart at the seams with the load I had chosen to carry. And yet, just as Virginia found, that load brought about one of the best times in my entire relationship with my mother. It was a time when, at last, we came to know so much more of each other than we had during all the The Space Between our mothers' healthy days and subsequent decline, a time when honesty mattered more than keeping face and always being strong.

This is the story that Virginia A. Simpson shares in The Space Between. With the help of Linda Joy Myers of the National Association of Memoir Writers, Simpson has "gone deep", where one should go when writing a memoir. By doing so, by baring her innermost thoughts, fears, and regrets about her past relationship with her mother, and through this chance that life has now given them both, they get to know and understand each other so much better. Virginia discovers the real reasons why her mom was the way she was and why she, in turn, became who she is. And the most important thing they each discovered was that all along, they had indeed truly loved each other, but too many things had gotten in the way of expressing it. That was exactly what I had experienced with my mother.

I am a huge believer in the importance of writing memoirs. It is stories like The Space Between that puts into print what everyday people live with and feel. The world wide web can fill us in on what we need to know when we become chief caregiver to someone we love. But it is memoirs like The Space Between by Virginia A. Simpson that will tell us how it really feels to step into that role.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Some people call it ‘survivor’s guilt’, that violent sense of abandonment from reality, that robot-like functioning in a world that carries on, the survivor forever feeling guilty for having survived when all around him or her have died, have been sacrificed. The generation that followed the Second World War is full of stories of children abused by parents who suffered, in one way or another, the tragedies of such a horrific war. Jewish children, born of parents who survived the Holocaust, were brought up in a home full of ghosts and guilt, a melancholy full of fear and anger. While the world recalls in horror the events of the Holocaust itself, the world also overlooks the aftermath, the victims of the victims, the children of the survivors.

Florence Grende’s heartrending account of her Jewish upbringing, a child of Holocaust survivors, weaves a story of pain and sorrow, fear and anger, and the hidden melancholy (the Dee Melchome), the depression that makes monsters out of otherwise ordinary people. The Butcher’s Daughter is a memoir that speaks for those too traumatized to voice their stories: the survivors and their children. The story is unveiled in patches, fragments of a fragmented childhood and an uncertain survival even in the land of plenty and opportunity, America. And the symbolism of the torn black ribbons worn at Tateh’s funeral, the story, which at first appears fragmented, becomes a testament of the sorrows of not just one generation, but two: the Holocaust survivors and their children.

And through it all, the ever-uttered words, “Ess. Ess.” (Eat. Eat.) Survivors who have faced starvation enforce the importance of eating – and eating lots – on those they love. It’s a means to protect those remaining loved ones. The author claims that she “grew up among the dead”, and, in many ways she did. In between the lines of her story unravels the story of her parents; Tateh, who was a Guerrilla in the Polish woods, fighting back and providing food for the starving Jews hiding in the woods, and Mameh, who, as a young girl, survived the harsh Polish climates by hiding in a dugout in the woods. Tateh and Mameh lost family in the Holocaust, but they survived. They married after the war, but they never seemed happy or content with each other.

Food, the ever present need of nourishment, something that was sorely missing while surviving in the woods, reappears frequently in the story. Food is the sustenance that binds body, mind, soul and the unity of friends and family. In her mother’s notebook, the author finds incomplete recipes, which reminds her of “the spaces within and between us. Only the basic amenities moved our brief conversations – stock greetings, inquiries into health, family news: never a topic that might carry the weight of emotion, the hint of vulnerability, or the gift of the personal.”

This story is much more than just a memoir. It’s a testament: a statement of a life shattered because of a brutal war. Hitler’s evil affected more than just those who lived through it. His evil stretched into the next generation, not just amongst the Jews, but also amongst the children and the grandchildren of high ranking Nazis. A powerful story told with compassion. A must-read.

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

The Sportscaster's Daughter is a moving memoir by Cindi Michael, the daughter of legendary sportscaster George Michael. Anyone looking at Cindi would see a person with a charmed life, a loving husband, beautiful children and a successful career.
She seems to have it all yet she still longs for the love of her estranged father, having been abruptly ousted when she began to show independence and refused to bend to his controlling demands. Still, throughout her twenties, she longs to find out how did things go so wrong? How did her father turn from the man who fought for sole custody of her and her siblings, saving them from a neglectful home, to one who would become verbally and emotionally abusive at every turn. Despite it all, Cindi still remained hopeful of a reconciliation, all the way up to George Michael's death and the shocking realization that she had been written out of his obituary.

The Sportscaster's Daughter by Cindi Michael is a tale of forgiveness and self acceptance. I'm not an avid sports listener by any means so I feel that I was able to dive into The Sportscaster's Daughter without any preconceived notions of the man who for a time was such a dominant figure in her life. While that lack of knowledge was a boon as I was able to fully grasp the scope of Michael's story and see how much the need to please and prove herself affected many decisions in her life, I also felt that a lot of the emotional impact in this memoir was predicated on knowing at least a little about George Michael himself. Still, I found myself rooting for Cindi at every turn, hoping that she would find the stability and love she so desired, to find her own triumph despite the rejection she faced. The Sportscaster's Daughter by Cindi Michael is a great read for anyone looking to dig deeper into the legend, to find not a god, but a man with flaws like everyone else. A man whose flaws hurt the people who loved him most.

Reviewed by Sarah Rollins for Readers' Favorite

Weedmonkey by Lisa V. Proulx is a moving memoir which tells the story of how a little girl called Virgie was brought into the world amidst the remnants of what was the old south, amongst wealth, judgement, poverty, and injustice. Virgie’s mother is considered a town whore, her father works in the mines, and the story continues with Virgie herself left to look after her brothers and sisters, moved from foster home to flop houses, and exposed to situations that you would never dream a young girl (or anyone) should ever be forced to face.

Lisa V. Proulx writes with heart and soul as she tells Virgie’s story. Her writing style brings you into the story, and for some moments I almost forgot that this was a non-fiction book. Her words pulled you into Virgie’s plight and you felt the emotions of the young girl, her hatred for what life had dealt her, her disappointment for what she has missed in her youth, and yet her strength to go on, and become a different person from the mother she knew and grew up with. Weedmonkey is a true story which will make you smile and cry as you follow young Virgie, understand her background and her ability to rise above the life she was forced to live. A truly touching memoir, written with passion by the author who undertook this project after it was started by her own mother. A definite must-read for anyone who enjoys books of this era or non-fiction stories that demonstrate true strength.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Love, Bill: Finding My Father Through Letters from World War II by Jan Krulick-Belin is a collection of heartrending and poignant memories the author has of her father, Bill, which she shares with readers through this book. The author’s love for her father is evident through her words, and she speaks of how she tried to keep him alive after his death so that he would not slip away completely from their memories. The author’s collection of get-well cards from grade 1 kept him in her thoughts and she always looked at these as her last link to him. Fifty years later, another set of letters brings him back into her life by telling her things about her and her father, which her mother was not able to tell her during her lifetime. It is a story of love, romance, family, persistence, patience, discovery, and family ties that will touch the hearts of readers on many levels.

The author puts her father’s memories into words beautifully and this resonates well with readers. The narration is detailed and descriptive, and the author takes readers on an unexpected and remarkable journey of her life. The amazing letters, the spiritual undertones, the Jewish connection, and lastly descriptions of World War II make the book an amazing read. The pictures in the book will help readers connect better with the characters, and the letters written by her father to her mother speak of the love they shared for each other. The author gives a voice to her father’s life and tells readers how he made an impact while he lived, and the way he loved her mother and their family. The memoir has been beautifully executed and readers can feel the love and family bonding clearly through the author's words and expressions.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

In this truly inspirational memoir, author Elizabeth Gross details the agonizing reality of learning about terminal cancer. As an active mother and loving mother, Gross is thrown into the debilitating world of chemotherapy, multiple medical procedures, humiliating diagnoses, and trial and error testing. Forced to rely upon medical knowledge and misguided conclusions, Gross states, “The medical industry, … seemed to forget we should be, and could be, in a symbiotic relationship. Perhaps, reading this, someone will remember that, and make a change.”

As the victim of a “silent disease”, Elizabeth Gross discovers the injustices that accompany such a condition. As she throws herself into a mission that envelops the entire family, Gross fights the onset of depression and self-obsession in her pursuit of meeting her daughter’s hero, Taylor Swift. Recognized the world over as a widely known philanthropist, Taylor Swift holds the key for a positive outlook on the Gross family. While the search for Taylor Swift gains momentum, Elizabeth, Page, and Mark Gross redefine the challenges of facing a life-threatening disease.

Dream Accomplished: A Story of Cancer, A Mother’s Love & Taylor Swift by Elizabeth Gross is told with positive energy and believable dialogue that only a person in her position could understand. As a fellow warrior of an invisible disease (I was diagnosed with MS in 2001), I strongly relate to the statement: “You must have something as of yet undiagnosed. On I persevered…” As a mother, Gross puts her daughter’s hope before facing her own deadly challenge. I so enjoyed reading this author's journey.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Olive Picker: A Memoir by Kathryn Brettell is a great book that will make you believe in strength and courage. Kathi’s life has never been easy, but this hardcore woman has kept her head held high and made sure that she had positives in her life along with the negatives. You will join Kathi on her journey where she fights domestic abuse, rebuilds her confidence, and becomes the person she is today.

Her story is heartbreaking, but her recovery is inspiring and very, very brave. The way she has written the book makes you understand her personality and how she is a fighter. The book is sometimes sad, sometimes happy, and sometimes hysterical. But when you are reading it, you will never ever feel pity for her, and that is because she never feels pity for herself. She is a strong, resilient woman and it shows in her words.

It is written perfectly; you can feel her emotions, feel her fear, and the way she makes up her mind. You can actually imagine her voice reading her words to you. It is very powerful and very dynamic. Reading the book was almost like meeting her in person. I guess some people are just gifted like her. After reading this book, you will learn to appreciate yourself, learn to love yourself for who you are, and never settle for anything less than what you deserve. You will cherish your mind, body, and soul because you will know that it is a gift.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Veronica's Grave: A Daughter's Memoir by Barbara Bracht Donsky is the compelling memoir of a woman coming to terms with the loss of her mother. In the process of discovering her mother, she ends up discovering herself. The author speaks about her lost childhood, the loss of her mother, breaking away from a family that raised her with a lot of secrets, and finally going out into the world and getting educated. This poignant story will reach out to readers and take them through her trials and triumphs, sorrows and joys, and her coming of age.

The book is heartrending and the author's narration is descriptive, drawing readers into her world, her emotional pain, and her angst. The pictures shared in the book help readers connect with the author, making her life more tangible to them. The author also shares the problems she faces with her father and her step mother, and how she moves away from her family secrets and guilt to be her own person. The pain of the author is palpable through her words, and shows how the people in our lives can directly and indirectly influence us and cause an impact on our lives. It's a good book for everyone, especially parents as it reminds them that they need to hear their children at any and every age. The author does an excellent job in capturing the sights and sounds of her life through this memoir.

Reviewed by Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite

Cancer. The very word strikes fear into the heart of many. And for parents, the thought that cancer might affect one of their children, well, it's a thought that can actually make the blood run cold. In There is a Reaper: Losing a Child to Cancer, author Michael Lynes generously shares the story of his family's experience with cancer. When his five-year-old son, Christopher, always a vivacious and rambunctious boy, starts exhibiting signs of illness, an illness that at first is mysterious and goes unnamed, his parents are plunged into the nightmare of the unknown. Eventually Christopher is diagnosed with cancer and sadly succumbs to this demon of a disease. Michael continues with the family's journey from their overwhelming grief and then their eventual return to a semblance of normalcy and healing.

Every person should read There is a Reaper: Losing a Child to Cancer. Every single person. I don't know anyone who has not been touched by cancer in some way, and author Michael Lynes has written a thoughtful, touching and emotional book that gives us an insider's look into both the world of medicine and the world of a family shattered by this disease. I learned so much from the experiences he shared, and I feel that I just might be able to relate and interact with a family that has undergone a similar loss through learning from this book. I will think about this book for a long time to come, and simply could not recommend it more highly. To Michael Lynes, I thank you for sharing such a personal and intimate story with the world, and please know that your work has the potential to educate and change your readers forever.