At thirteen, survival was not a choice-it was a responsibility.
Licilla is brilliant and observant, but she is growing up in a world where poverty has already begun to define her future. With a father gone for weeks at a time working and a mother slipping into depression filtered by alcohol, childhood gives way to something far heavier. Quietly, and without recognition, she becomes the one who holds what remains together.
Inspired by true events, this first book in a powerful series traces the early years of a girl shaped by hardship, responsibility, and resilience. It is a story of endurance without illusion and strength forged in silence-of a life that refuses to be defined by circumstance.
For readers drawn to emotionally rich, character-driven stories in the spirit of The Glass Castle and Educated, this novel offers an unflinching look at girlhood shaped by hardship-and the enduring power of perseverance.
This is where survival became her education-and resilience became her legacy.