Runaway Girl

Title: Runaway Girl    

Author: Carissa Phelps

Publisher: Penguin      

Price: $26.95               

Release: 7/5/2012      

Source: Publisher        

 
Ashley Say's: Hardback        

Audience: Adult                               

Synopsis: 

   Carissa Phelps was a runner. By twelve, she had run away from home, dropped out of school, and fled blindly into the arms of a brutal pimp, who made her walk the hard streets of central California. But even when she escaped him, she could not outrun the crushing inner pain of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. With little to hope for, she expected to end up in prison, or worse.

    But then her life was transformed through the unexpected kindness of a teacher and a counselor. Miraculously, by the time Carissa turned thirty, she had accomplished the unimaginable, graduating from UCLA with both a law degree and an MBA. She had left the streets behind, yet her path would eventually draw her back, this time working to help homeless and at-risk youth find their own paths to a better life.

    This is Carissa’s story, the tale of a girl who lost herself and survived, against all odds, through the generosity of strangers. It is an inspiring true story about finding the courage to run toward healing and summoning the strength to light the way for others.

My thoughts:

    I do not usually read non-fiction but something about this book interested me. We always hear the horror stories about runaway girls who become messed up women but we rarely see the triumphs. Carissa's story was truly inspirational.

    Coming from a troubled home into the big, bad world Carissa had so much to learn. She didn't always learn her lessons the easy way and had to face one brutality after another. The fact that she was able to pull through and become a beautiful, strong woman is astounding. Her story is a great inspiration that I would recommend to all my adult readers.