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Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes celebratory, this work is always raw and authentic, a snapshot of the author's own "Road to Damascus" and spiritual awakening. Despite providing a comprehensive progression of her life since childhood, Walker-Powell has a knack for also sharing unforgettable scenes that capture an entire phase of her life.
At its core, the question subtly floated throughout the text is how to fight something that you cannot see. For the author, her upbringing was not rooted in God's Word. However, divine angels like Ms. Richardson, the babysitter, were seared into her mind. Though at the time Walker-Powell was only entering her rebellious phase—punctuated by a memorable school fight where her brother didn't come to her rescue—she had what everyone wants: Dee, a quality friend who would stand by one through the test of time. Moreover, her experiences made her realize the necessity of being independent.
Through the perspective of a teenager who is drawn into her own intricate web of complexities, the reader is immersed in pivotal moments of history. For example, in the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, the author becomes both a witness and a participant in the chaos that follows. Following a hasty marriage and a chaotic reception, Walker-Powell and her newly formed family settle into a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. What ensues is a series of highs and lows that culminate in the pure, emotional bliss of singing and dancing in the church and being drawn to tears upon imagining the pain the Lord endured to save her, no matter the mess her life had become. In many ways, this is the highlight of this volume, setting the stage for the next book in her life's story. For a work that covers so much of the author's life, there is never a dull moment. Walker-Powell's remarkably free-flowing and simple to absorb book is profound in its lessons that point toward the path of God's Word.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review