This is a fantastic followup to Reversible Skirt. We dip right back into McHale’s incredible memories. She’s great at keeping a steady rolling, flowing pace while never dropping us out of the sensations and emotions, the poignant poetry of a younger self she sees with astonishing clarity. We’re right there with her as she faces the conundrums, the horrors and the vital discoveries of growing up and entering the world. The teenage “her” has had to grow up fast, but she rises from the hard knocks, with aplomb, humor, a deep sense of empathy and a razor wit. ( )

The summer of free love, sex and rock music set the background for Laura’s descent into self-torture as she moves from being a teenager to a young adult. Exploration with sex and drug lead to an abusive relationship far from the Catholic life she was expected to live. This memoir covers Laura’s life between June 1963 and September 1972, her relationships with a stepmother, sisters, and several men. This is an ugly coming of age story set during a time of national and personal crisis. ( )

Resilient Ruin is a captivating coming-of-age story about a teenager who breaks away from her abusive stepmother and spirals downward into depression, drug and alcohol abuse, risky sexual behavior and involvement in a cult.

I was hooked into this story from the first page and carried along to the end by a fast- paced plot, believable, dynamic characters, and vivid sensory details. I came of age in the 60s so could easily relate to the times. As a reader, I felt like I was watching a movie from that tumultuous time as scenes came alive to me. McHale Holland’s writing is rich in detail and flows seamlessly, leaving the reader feeling not only engaged in the story but a part of the story. Her main character is feisty and rebellious with an edginess that foreshadows an underlying resilience. So no matter how many fixes she gets herself into, she leaves you with the feeling that she will eventually find her way. She delivers on her title as she survives, finds forgiveness for her abusive stepmother and moves on to live a productive, fulfilling life.

This memoir is a study of the impact of the times (60s and 70s), the loss of biological parents, the effect of abuse on a teenager and the resilience of the human spirit. Beyond being a riveting story, it will give hope to teens who are struggling with coming of age and their parents. It also will also serve as a valuable resource for caregivers who work with the at-risk teen population.

A riveting coming –of-age memoir about surviving abuse and finding forgiveness. ( )