The Difficult Girl by Helen Morse

Wow was my first thought when I reached the last page of this extraordinary memoir. With The Difficult Girl, author Helen Morse takes her readers on a journey through her childhood and the difficult, dysfunctional-beyond-measure family who peopled it. It’s disturbing, often strange, most definitely tragic, and, in the end, powerful in the courage shown by herself as she navigates her survival into adulthood with her heart and soul still intact.   

I had trouble getting this story out of my thoughts for many days after I finished it. My mother used to love telling me that being rich does not necessarily equate with guaranteed happiness. This tale shows this and more with no frills and no sensationalism—just pure, authentic, masterful storytelling at its best. Despite the heart-wrenching tenor of a life filled too often with neglect and emotional pain given out by parents incapable of showing love, its themes are about seeing people for who they are and what they are capable of, strength, forgiveness, and the power of kindness. Riveting is another word I would use to describe this book. This is a five-star-plus read that you don’t want to miss. Congratulations to this author on a most beautifully written debut.