Lauri's Pick for September:
Baba's Daughter: Memoirs of a Persian-American Girl
by Jessica Shahriari Nicely
When Jessica Shahriari Nicely stepped onstage in the Miss USA pageant,
she was a young woman who projected poise and confidence to the world.
This image, however, masked the pain and anguish of growing up in a
turbulent home ruled by an alcoholic, abusive father. Even early on,
Jessica knew that life with her Iranian father was not typical, nor was
it normal for a mother to abandon her family. And yet normalcy was
something this girl yearned for, something that spurred her to dream and
create a detailed vision for her future—a vision that became her
lifeline.
In these pages, Jessica bravely tells her story. She
recounts a childhood marked by loss and punctuated by physical violence,
emotional abuse, and shocking neglect. She describes letdowns from
helping professionals and rays of hope from extended family members and
friends. You’ll learn how she developed the fortitude and incredible
spirit to not only endure incredible suffering in her home but to emerge
a happy, productive adult.
