Born in Brooklyn in 1930, Muriel Pomerance had her early years shaped by the rich culture of Brighton Beach. She absorbed the social mores expressed through the Hollywood movies of the day and experienced the cultures and ideas brought by the influx of new people alongside the coming of World War II.

But when she was fourteen years old, everything changed.

It was then that Muriel met two incredible people who would ultimately encourage her to reject the assigned roles of her contemporaries and carve a different path for herself.

Her fascinating story includes a disappointing...