This inspiring memoir by Michael Simmons highlights his mother's efforts to protect her children from her alcoholic, abusive husband. After a DWI results in him losing his job, Michael's father moves his family from Arkansas to Missouri, where losing another job means the family moves to a small house in the Arkansas countryside. His mother takes on picking cotton to earn money for the children's Christmas presents. Another job loss, another move: the stress and uncertainty in his family's life creates insecurity and loneliness for Mike. He is finally befriended by a woman who takes him to...

This inspiring memoir by Michael Simmons highlights his mother's efforts to protect her children from her alcoholic, abusive husband. After a DWI results in him losing his job, Michael's father moves his family from Arkansas to Missouri, where losing another job means the family moves to a small house in the Arkansas countryside. His mother takes on picking cotton to earn money for the children's Christmas presents. Another job loss, another move: the stress and uncertainty in his family's life creates insecurity and loneliness for Mike. He is finally befriended by a woman who takes him to...