It was an opinion that reflected a lack of empathy for the lower class or a tone-deafness that was typical of certain economists. Still, Charles Murray’s op-ed offended the author to her core. Foster grew up the oldest of six children to two mentally imbalanced parents, who were on and off welfare throughout her early years. Schizophrenia affected her father, and her mother had an undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The combination of mental illness and a poor financial situation led to a rocky home life for the author and her siblings. The trying economic times led to her parents being let go from various jobs, and a lack of welfare benefits strained the family budget to the breaking point. The only intervention by the state was when they sought to seize the children and place them in foster homes due to their living environment.

Any memoir that features abject poverty, mental illness, and abuse makes for a difficult and harrowing read. The author’s tale is meant to serve as a revealing autobiography but also a pointed retort to the cavalier statements of Murray. The narrative explores the life of a large family in sparse conditions, where the children faced ridicule for their dire straits and were shunned even by their extended family. The author makes cogent points about the flawed government policies that left certain families cut off from needed funds. This is a significant account of the effects of poverty in Middle America and the lack of compassion shown to those who are affected.

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