Felicia Sullivan was a very brave little girl. In her memoir, The Sky Isn't Visible From Here: Scenes From a Life, she tells us the story of her tumultuous childhood, with a mother addicted to drugs. With a close aunt also addicted to drugs, and no father around, Felicia was left with few, if any, positive role models in her life. After making a life of her own, and successfully entering the Ivy League, Felicia's mother simply vanished soon before she graduated. To this day, Felicia has not heard from her. After having battled her own addictions, Felcia's story is one of survival.

After years of surviving her mother, Felicia learned to survive herself. Watching as her mother grew addicted to drugs, and experieced wild mood swings, Felicia's mechanism for coping became escape. Escape into her own little fantasy world when she was little. Once she got older, the escape was into her own blurry world of black-outs where she easily drank 2 bottles of wine and did countless drugs each day. But through it all, Felicia was able to pull herself up and out of the mire, and forge ahead. Determined to make something of herself, Felicia took her life in her own hands and came clean.

As a mother, this book really tugged at my heartstrings. I found myself thinking, "How could any mother..." and then I stopped as I realized that our own childhoods play such a part in who we are. Felicia's mother grew up being ignored, and didn't have a close relationship with her own mother. This book has inspired me to be a better mom to my kids, because their childhood will surely affect their lives, the lives they touch and the lives of their children.

Like a modern day fairy tale, The Sky Isn't Visible From Here tells the story of a heroine who overcomes all obstacles and becomes a noble woman, sure of who she is, and successful to boot. Through it all, Felicia has grown stronger and I acknowledge her for having the will to create a better life for herself. Felicia, you are an inspiration! Kudos to you!

Thanks to the Parent Bloggers Network for bringing us a great read! They're giving away a copy here, so you have a chance to win one for yourself.