This book will muster more emotion out of you than you thought possible. The fact that it's a true story just makes it that much more intense.

Jeannette Walls writes her memoirs of growing up (literally) dirt poor, with irresponsible, immature parents. Her father's an alcoholic, her mother wants to be free of a real job and dreams of becoming a famous artist. Neither of which pays the bills. Or puts food on the table. Jeannette, her sister and brother, grow up with not much more than nothing.

The book follows her from when she was about three years old, up until she reaches adulthood. Through that time, her family abruptly abandons their living quarters and drives to another small, run down town several times, each time seemingly worse than the last.

The descriptions in this book are so vivid and clear. They'll disgust you at times and just appall you at others. Some of the "houses" this family lived in shouldn't have even counted as dwellings of any kind. One of them had no plumbing, no electric, no water, not even a front door. The necessities this family went without are just amazing. They had no air conditioning, no refrigerator, and no heat. There'd be days at a time where they'd have absolutely no food in the house and the kids would have to pick through the trash. They went days, even weeks, without bathing or washing their clothes.

I do promise you, however, that this book has a happy ending. It's my favorite part. This book is so inspiring and heartwarming, you won't regret reading it.