~ Review: The Women Who Raised Me ~

THE WOMEN WHO RAISED ME - Victoria Rowell Amistad Press 0-06124-660-3 May 2007

SYNOPSIS:  In this deeply moving and heartfelt memoir, Rowell shares her astonishing story of growing up in the foster care system, and pays tribute to her personal champions--the remarkable women who loved, nurtured, taught, and challenged the young girl to become the person she is today.

MAINSTREAM FICTION |4++| Marguerite Lemons

REVIEW:  THE WOMEN WHO RAISED ME is the autobiography of the life of Vicki Lynn “Victoria” Rowell.  Victoria takes you through the sometimes painful journey of her life that began at birth and continued on until her 43^rd year; when a close friend realized the depth of her pain, and in a symbolic gesture, gave Victoria the one thing she had always lacked but truly wanted; a family she could identify with and a place to call home.

Victoria Rowell, successful actress and classically trained ballerina, takes you on an emotional journey through her life within the foster care system.  She talks openly about her mother’s mental illness, the rejection of her and her sisters by her mother’s family, her struggle to understand and cope with an embarrassing medical condition, as well as, her struggles to understand herself.  Victoria introduces you to the women who fought for her, raised her, and trained her, by their actions and through their history, how to be a strong woman.  They taught her to stand up for herself while laying the solid foundation upon which she would eventually build her life. 

Ms. Rowell opens her heart and soul in this book.  She tells you the good, bad, and ugly parts of her life.  There are times when you want to laugh and others when you want to cry.  There are times when you really can’t believe the government cares so little about the best interest of a child, and times when you applaud the diligence of the social worker’s fighting on her behalf.  Victoria was blessed with loving foster mothers, but her angel was truly Agatha.  Agatha was able to see the future actress, ballerina, mother, and advocate for foster children; when other’s only saw a peculiar but lovable child.

reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 20th May 2008