A debut memoir traces the long-lasting consequences of childhood trauma.Childs's startling and evocative autobiography begins thus: "I am fifty-two years old and have changed my name seven times so far." What follows is the story of those name changes, and of the life changes that prompted them. Childs was born in Liverpool, the mixed-race result of her white mother's extramarital affair. Her mother kept a slovenly house and neglected her children. Occasionally, Childs was placed in temporary foster care, but she was always returned to her mother's squalid surroundings until social services finally moved her to the Park Hall Children's Home, which was run by Irish nuns. Though the nuns were emotionally distant, and Childs found their Catholic morality foreign and arbitrary, she settled into a routine, and began, if not to flourish, at least to function. Just as she had found her niche, she was shuttled into a horrific situation with a manipulative foster mother. All in all, her childhood was "a series of starvations." Eventually, Childs enrolled in a two-year college nursing course. On the surface, things were looking up: No one knew her background, and her classmates were friendly and nice. But Childs's life caught up with her. She began cutting herself (treating her razor blade with sacred reverence, wrapping it "in white tissue paper like a delicate, fragile piece of china") and binging and purging. A breakdown, a suicide attempt and a stay in a psychiatric hospital followed. By the end of this searing account, Childs's recovery seems simultaneously remarkable and unfinished. Her blunt, straightforward prose is eerily effective, and there are moments of real literary sophistication; her recollection of a childhood attempt to steal apples from a tree reads like a subtle commentary on the famous scene in which Augustine steals from a pear tree.Grueling, but riveting. (Kirkus Reviews)

That some children survive is a miracle; Rosie Childs?s autobiography is testament to that.

'By the time I was seven years old, I understood that we were neglected by my mother who was absent from the house most days and most nights. We rarely received a bath or a wash and I presumed that the fact that my skin was several shades darker than the other kids' in my street was all down to accumulated grime rather than because of my different ethnic origin.' Rosie Childs was the talk of her Liverpool council estate when she was born, because she was black. Her mother and her mother's husband were both white and from birth she was stigmatised for this proof of her mother's infidelity. Suffering neglect from her mother, a prostitute and alcoholic, Rosie was left in a bare, filthy council house to fend for herself and her siblings until, aged nine, she was placed in the care of an order of upright and often cruel nuns. She finally embarked on a settled life as a nanny and pre-school teacher, but she couldn't escape from herself and the black cloud of her childhood. After suffering a breakdown, Rosie was placed in a series of dehumanising psychiatric hospitals for years, until she was helped to remember the horrifying secret of the childhood she thought she had buried forever. Now, with support as Rosie Childs, she has moved on, and is truly happy at last.

Despite her difficult childhood and more than two decades crushed inside the psychiatric system, Rosie has not only survived but emerged with her powerful spirit intact. Rosie has come to terms with her life and is positive about the future in Liverpool.

The book is written with journalist Diane Taylor, who met Rosie when hosting creative writing workshops for Crisis during Christmas 2003. She was shocked by what Rosie had gone through, and amazed by the warm woman in front of her, who despite such a difficult background, had turned into a living message of hope and courage.

Crisis, where Rosie and Diane met, is the national charity for single homeless people and works year-round across the UK helping people fulfil their potential and transform their lives. Crisis helps rebuild the lives of homeless people by helping those trapped in the cycle of homelessness and raising awareness of their plight. The charity estimates that there are around 380,000 hidden homeless people in Britain, living in hostels, temporary bed and breakfast accommodation and squats, or sleeping on the floors of friends and family. Rosie is donating money made from this book to a special project with Crisis.

Ghostwriter Diane Taylor is a journalist who writes for the Guardian, Observer and Independent. She met Rosie when Rosie spent time at the Crisis women's shelter in London.

2008-02-27 what an emotional journey..

I was so touched and moved by this book,i was facinated and totally living Rosies lifes ups and downs,the drama,lonilesness,loveleness,abuse and eventually contentment and understandment of her behaviour and self hatered...i was in deep thought many days after i finished reading this book and was so greatfull of my childhood..totally facinating,wonderfull book!!