At twelve years old, I had already survived more than most do in a lifetime.
Raised by a drug-addicted, alcoholic mother, I was beaten, starved, and kept only for welfare checks and food stamps. Violence was routine, love was absent, and racism shadowed every corner of my world…but there was one place I could escape — between the pages of borrowed books. Stories became sanctuary, teaching me there was a world beyond pain and that I could choose a different path!

This unflinching memoir pulls back the curtain on the first twelve years of my life — years defined by cruelty but transformed by resilience. It is a testament to the power of hope, the refuge of imagination, and the unbreakable will to survive. For anyone seeking a story of grit, healing, and the human spirit’s ability to rise above, this is a journey you will not forget.

Roland Amariah Gonzales

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