American Daughter

A Memoir

De: Stephanie Thornton Plymale, Elissa Wald

Narrado por: Mozhan Marno

The sharp and surprising true story of a woman who finally sets out to understand her past, and the mother she had one day hoped to forget. Full of unexpected twists and unbelievable revelations, American Daughter is an immersive memoir that will have you on the edge of your seat to the very last page.

For years, Stephanie Plymale, successful CEO and interior designer, kept her past a fiercely guarded secret. Only her husband knew that her childhood was fraught with every imaginable hardship: neglect, hunger, poverty, homelessness, truancy, foster homes, a harrowing lack of medical care, and worse. Stephanie, in turn, knew very little about the past of her mother, who was in and out of jails and psych wards for most of Stephanie's formative years. All this changed when a series of shocking revelations forced Stephanie to revisit her tortured past and revise the meaning of every aspect of her compromised childhood.

American Daughter is the extraordinary true story of a young girl growing up on the wrong side of the American Dream. Stephanie has slept in blankets on the floor of crowded apartments, lived in the back seat of a car with her siblings, and spent decades looking over her shoulder at a mother who might just as easily hug or harm her. American Daughter is at once a moving account of a troubled mother-daughter relationship and a meditation on resilience, transcendence, and ultimately, redemption.

Amazing story, beautifully written

What a tale of resilience, of sadness without a tinge of anger or pity. The ending was one of the best I’ve read or listened to in a long time.

Another great crazy childhood bio

If you liked Glass Castle and Educated you’ll like this one too. I’m always so fascinated by these types of biographies. I thought this book was going to be exactly like Glass Castle, in a way it is, but also so much different. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book (I needed a break from my typical psychological thriller).

very engaging

I was spellbound from the beginning. It really enforces "don't judge a book by it's cover". You really don't know what someone has lived through and how it affects them. A must read for Social Worker, law enforcement. and anyone in the judicial system. You will learn that you can do "more".

Great book!

Very engaging story. Tragic yet uplifting. A wild ride from beginning to end. Shows the destructivness of trauma and abuse but also the power of love and forgiveness. Performance excellent. Absolutely would recommend.

I believe this is my favorite ever

just listen! there is too much to say about this book. I can't imagine anyone not being touched.