The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle
by Jeanette Walls

2011 New York Times Bestseller List

Teens

The Glass Castle is a memoir of Jeanette Walls' childhood.  The book begins with her earliest memories of her dress catching fire when she was cooking hot dogs at the age of three and continues with detailed memories that will shock most readers.  Jeanette grew up in a dysfunctional home with an older sister and a younger brother and sister.  I would characterize her parents as being brilliant nonconformists.  Although they loved their children, Rex Walls' alcoholism and Rose Mary Walls' depression led to poor decisions that often put the children in grave danger.  The family was frequently on the move to evade bill collectors and often went without food and other bare essentials.  The children learned to be self sufficient and looked forward to the day when they could leave home.  Despite all this, the author does not seem to harbor ill feelings for her parents.  She seems to accept them for who they are and appreciate what she was able to learn from her childhood.

This book captivated me from the very beginning.  I found it hard to imagine the unconventional way this family lived and how the children were treated.  At the same time, I sensed the love that they had for one another and felt the parents had instilled good qualities in their children.  This book is on the New York Times Bestseller's List and has also been added to the Outstanding Books for the College Bound.  I would recommend this book to mature high school students.