Melissa Dalton-Bradford

I know others were not fond if her writing style and imagery, but it was a much-needed shot in the arm for my own writing. Not that I'll copy her, just that I appreciated her approach to describing places and events. That's a major weakness of mine.

As for the story, I expected a very inaccessible tome about this privileged family with a perfect mom who lives this charmed life. Instead, I read a story that felt so real. I didn't move around globally, but until recently I had moved every 2-4 years of my life. It was nice to read about real struggles and how she approached them. I wish I had read it (or that she had written it) before I put down roots--my life as a nomad would've been more fulfilling if I'd had her example.… (more)