The author of this memoir, Ward documents the lives of five men close to her who die abruptly alongside her own life from birth to the present day. An intelligent lover of books from a young age, Ward escapes the harsh realities of life as a Black woman in the Deep South through literature. This often results in intense feelings of alienation as Ward repeatedly categorizes herself as an outsider. She searches for acceptance throughout her memoir, driven by a sense of doubt and uncertainty that follows her into adulthood.

The eldest of four siblings, Ward adopts the role of caretaker from a young age, quickly experiencing the transition from child to adult as she navigates the violence around her and the instability of her family life. As an adult, Ward grapples with grief and numbs her intense emotions with alcohol. She expresses gratitude for her mother’s sacrifices, which provide her with the opportunity to attend a private Episcopalian school and Stanford University. She ends her memoir determined to impart her mother’s resilience to her own daughter.