Come Back: A Book Review
I received an email from Claire Fontaine, the author of Come Back: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Hell and Back, at the beginning of July. She read a post that I’ve written about my “book club” and would liike to know if I’d like to review her book for my supposedly “book club.”
I was flattered, puzzled and apprehensive at the same time and decided to send Ms. Fontaine an email to let her know that:
- I’m not a book critic.
- My book club consists of my family members, i.e. siblings, spouse, in-laws, nieces and nephew.
- And “why me”?
- The book already received rave reviews from book critics, so why would my review matter?
Her daughter, Mia Fontaine, who is co-author with her Mom, replied to my email and here’s what she wrote:
- “You’re our main demographic, families with children whom we can reach out and offer what we’ve learned.”
- “We’ve been finding that blogs with their exploding popularity, have been a great way to reach people.”
Mia also wrote that they have contacted moms whose blogs they find relevant, amusing and as her Mom puts it “someone that you wished lived on your block”.
WOW! Hee hee, they found me funny and my blog relevant. Where do I sign up for this book review? Within a week, I received the said book from their publicist for my objective review .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s my review of Come Back: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Hell and Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine.
Although I steer clear of the “non fiction” shelf when buying books, I kept an open mind while reading Come Back. Claire and Mia tell their powerful story in first-person accounts with Mia’s sections in italicized. It is a story of every parent’s worst nightmare, losing grip on your own lovable child to the deadly world of drugs.
Mia’s entrance to the seedy world of drugs, and self-mutilation stemmed from a childhood of sexual abuse by her biological father, who was a drug addict and a family history of bizarre sexual behavior towards one another.
After several unsuccesful attempts in getting Mia cleaned from drugs and multiple runaways, she was sent to live with Claire’s sister in Indiana. Unbeknownst to her Mom and aunt, Indiana has the worst drug problems in the U.S.
Claire and Mia’s stepdad, Paul, finally had Mia sent to a school, Morava, in Czech Republic to be “reprogrammed”. It’s a progressive “boot camp” where fifty teenagers who have similar history as Mia’s learn to detox, self assessments, and accountable for their past spiraling downfall, with limited freedom.
Unfortunately Morava was closed down due to false accusation of patients abuse, so Mia was sent to a school in Montana. This is where Mia dealt with her past abuse head on and where she learned to “come back” to her Mom, who also went through her own self assessment in a brutally honest way.
As I was reading this book, I found myself immersed in Claire’s horrific journey, empathizing and applauding her at the same time, from one mother to another. I find myself laughing, crying, and feeling exhausted along with both of these women’s experiences. The mother and daughter’s love for each other is intensed and infinite.
I was skeptical in reading this book, but oh how it changed my perspective on drug addict teenagers and parenting. I learned that you have to be vigilant and persistent with your children. It makes me think of all the heart broken parents with lost children out there who are trying to find their way home. Claire’s unwavering love for her daughter and ability to go through a transformation of herself, deserve high praise and respect. And a lesson learned for every parent.
Both writers are very eloquent in their personal accounts and I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially parents or someone who’s thinking of having children.
I received an email from Claire Fontaine, the author of Come Back: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Hell and Back, at the beginning of July. She read a post that I’ve written about my “book club” and would liike to know if I’d like to review her book for my supposedly “book club.”
I was flattered, puzzled and apprehensive at the same time and decided to send Ms. Fontaine an email to let her know that:
- I’m not a book critic.
- My book club consists of my family members, i.e. siblings, spouse, in-laws, nieces and nephew.
- And “why me”?
- The book already received rave reviews from book critics, so why would my review matter?
Her daughter, Mia Fontaine, who is co-author with her Mom, replied to my email and here’s what she wrote:
- “You’re our main demographic, families with children whom we can reach out and offer what we’ve learned.”
- “We’ve been finding that blogs with their exploding popularity, have been a great way to reach people.”
Mia also wrote that they have contacted moms whose blogs they find relevant, amusing and as her Mom puts it “someone that you wished lived on your block”.
WOW! Hee hee, they found me funny and my blog relevant. Where do I sign up for this book review? Within a week, I received the said book from their publicist for my objective review .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s my review of Come Back: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Hell and Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine.
Although I steer clear of the “non fiction” shelf when buying books, I kept an open mind while reading Come Back. Claire and Mia tell their powerful story in first-person accounts with Mia’s sections in italicized. It is a story of every parent’s worst nightmare, losing grip on your own lovable child to the deadly world of drugs.
Mia’s entrance to the seedy world of drugs, and self-mutilation stemmed from a childhood of sexual abuse by her biological father, who was a drug addict and a family history of bizarre sexual behavior towards one another.
After several unsuccesful attempts in getting Mia cleaned from drugs and multiple runaways, she was sent to live with Claire’s sister in Indiana. Unbeknownst to her Mom and aunt, Indiana has the worst drug problems in the U.S.
Claire and Mia’s stepdad, Paul, finally had Mia sent to a school, Morava, in Czech Republic to be “reprogrammed”. It’s a progressive “boot camp” where fifty teenagers who have similar history as Mia’s learn to detox, self assessments, and accountable for their past spiraling downfall, with limited freedom.
Unfortunately Morava was closed down due to false accusation of patients abuse, so Mia was sent to a school in Montana. This is where Mia dealt with her past abuse head on and where she learned to “come back” to her Mom, who also went through her own self assessment in a brutally honest way.
As I was reading this book, I found myself immersed in Claire’s horrific journey, empathizing and applauding her at the same time, from one mother to another. I find myself laughing, crying, and feeling exhausted along with both of these women’s experiences. The mother and daughter’s love for each other is intensed and infinite.
I was skeptical in reading this book, but oh how it changed my perspective on drug addict teenagers and parenting. I learned that you have to be vigilant and persistent with your children. It makes me think of all the heart broken parents with lost children out there who are trying to find their way home. Claire’s unwavering love for her daughter and ability to go through a transformation of herself, deserve high praise and respect. And a lesson learned for every parent.
Both writers are very eloquent in their personal accounts and I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially parents or someone who’s thinking of having children.
Sounds good. I’ll check it out.
And of course you’re funny and relevant, you silly thing!
Wow that is so cool that you did this! I loved your review.
The book sounds fascinating and sounds like a good idea to share with teens as well. I’m amazed at how many testimonials I read claiming from parents that they had “no idea” their kids were on drugs and that they couldn’t believe it was happening in their family.
That scares the crap out of me!
When I was 8, I read Go Ask Alice, a supposed true diary of a teenager experimenting with drugs. It scared the hell out of me- I never did any experimenting. Plus my dad would have tied me to a tree and beat me silly.
I will add this book to my readinglist. Thanks for the review.
Hey, I just briefly met Claire Fontaine at the BlogHer conference. Mostly we chatted about how much I liked her name…which is a pseudonym.
You are amazing! The book sounds interesting, if not tough to read. As for the woman who wants you to live on her block, I am honored to live on yours!! Keep up the fabulous work.
Your review sounds good ! I have to get this book in my list too