39th of 42 children, with countless half-siblings to boot, Ruth Wariner grew up in a polygamous Mormon enclave in Mexico. Confronting the horribly difficult aspects of her formative years, this is a brave and hard book to read. You want to throttle Ruth's mother who didn't protect Ruth or her siblings from Lane, Ruth's step-father and expected her unconditional support and help. What shines through the darkness is Ruth's tenacity, and her true love for her family and mother, despite all.

Man this book is depressing. That said, it is uplifting in the sense that despite it all, Ruth is living a life she wants, and was able to get out. I was really touched by her credit to her grandparents, who she lived with for a brief time when she was young as being the example she could look to that she could get out.