Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls : A Memoir

Intro; Praise for Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls; Half Title; Dedication; Title Page; Contents; Epigraph; A Note from the Author; Preface; Part I. The Feels of Love; Uncle Nuke; Pencil; Why You Like It; Even the Dogs; Just One Look Is Worth a Thousand Words; Womanly Things; Show Name; Cry Baby; Bugs; The Lizard; Chicken & Stars; Rewired; The Feels of Love; Part II. The Greeter; Cousin Cindy; Can I Pet Your Back?; Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls; How to Survive in Boca Raton; The Greeter; People Like Them; Brothers; Big Hair, Big Hearts; I'm Still Here; Another Word for Creep;"Frank and funny and powerful and surprising. An utterly gorgeous debut."--Lauren GroffOne of the most anticipated books of 2019-Electric Literature, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, The Millions, Hyphen, Lit Hub, Nylon, The AV Club, The Advocate, The Rumpus, The Week, Books are Magic, Reading Women, AlmaAcclaimed literary essayist T Kira Madden's raw and redemptive debut memoir is about coming of age and reckoning with desire as a queer, biracial teenager amidst the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, Florida, a place where she found cult-like privilege, shocking racial disparities, rampant white-collar crime, and powerfully destructive standards of beauty hiding in plain sight. As a child, Madden lived a life of extravagance, from her exclusive private school to her equestrian trophies and designer shoe-brand name. But under the surface was a wild instability. The only child of parents continually battling drug and alcohol addictions, Madden confronted her environment alone. Facing a culture of assault and objectification, she found lifelines in the desperately loving friendships of fatherless girls. With unflinching honesty and lyrical prose, spanning from 1960s Hawai'i to the present-day struggle of a young woman mourning the loss of a father while unearthing truths that reframe her reality, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls is equal parts eulogy and love letter. It's a story about trauma and forgiveness, about families of blood and affinity, both lost and found, unmade and rebuilt, crooked and beautiful. "The book I wish I'd had growing up." -Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name Best Books of 2019: Esquire O, The Oprah Magazine Variety Lit Hub Book Riot Electric Literature Autostraddle Finalist: NBCC John Leonard First Book Prize Lambda Literary Award New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Selection Paste Best Memoirs of the Decade Elle Best Books of the Season Washington Post Best Books of the Month Indie Next Pick Indies Introduce Pick "A fearless debut." - New York Times "[A] gorgeous reckoning." - Washington Post "Flat out breathtaking." - Lit Hub "Gripping and gloriously written." - Elle "Utterly unforgettable." - NYLON "Unnervingly satisfying." - Oprah Magazine "Deeply compassionate." -NPR.org "Truly stunning." - Cosmopolitan Acclaimed literary essayist T Kira Madden's raw and redemptive debut memoir is about coming of age and reckoning with desire as a queer, biracial teenager amidst the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, Florida, a place where she found cult-like privilege, shocking racial disparities, rampant white-collar crime, and powerfully destructive standards of beauty hiding in plain sight. As a child, Madden lived a life of extravagance, from her exclusive private school to her equestrian trophies and designer shoe-brand name. But under the surface was a wild instability. The only child of parents continually battling drug and alcohol addictions, Madden confronted her environment alone. Facing a culture of assault and objectification, she found lifelines in the desperately loving friendships of fatherless girls. With unflinching honesty and lyrical prose, spanning from 1960s Hawai'i to the present-day struggle of a young woman mourning the loss of a father while unearthing truths that reframe her reality, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls is equal parts eulogy and love letter. It's a story about trauma and forgiveness, about families of blood and affinity, both lost and found, unmade and rebuilt, crooked and beautiful. One of the Most Anticipated Books of the Year: Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, The Millions, Nylon, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, Lit Hub, Refinery29, and many more "The acclaimed literary essayist T Kira Madden's raw and redemptive debut is a memoir about coming of age as a queer, biracial teenager within the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, Florida, a place where cult-like privilege, shocking social and racial disparities, rampant white-collar crime, and powerfully destructive standards of beauty hide in plain sight. As a child in Florida, T Kira Madden lived a life of extravagance--from her exclusive private school to her equestrian trophies and designer shoes, she had plenty to envy. But beneath the surface, life in "the rat's mouth" of Boca Raton was dangerous. Left to her own devices as both parents battled drug addiction, Kira navigated the perils of coming of age too quickly, and without guidance--oblivious parents and misguided babysitters at home, tormentors at school, sexual predators at the mall, and the confused, often destructive, desperately loving friendship of fatherless girls. With unflinching honesty and moving, lyrical prose, and spanning from 1960's Hawai'i to the nip and tuck rooms of 1990s Florida to the present-day struggle of a young woman in a culture of harassment, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls is the story of families both lost and found, unmade and rebuilt, crooked and beautiful" -- Provided by publisher. The Acclaimed Literary Essayist T Kira Madden's Raw And Redemptive Debut Is A Memoir About Coming Of Age As A Queer, Biracial Teenager Within The Fierce Contradictions Of Boca Raton, Florida, A Place Where Cult-like Privilege, Shocking Social And Racial Disparities, Rampant White-collar Crime, And Powerfully Destructive Standards Of Beauty Hide In Plain Sight. As A Child In Florida, T Kira Madden Lived A Life Of Extravagance--from Her Exclusive Private School To Her Equestrian Trophies And Designer Shoes, She Had Plenty To Envy. But Beneath The Surface, Life In The Rat's Mouth Of Boca Raton Was Dangerous. Left To Her Own Devices As Both Parents Battled Drug Addiction, Kira Navigated The Perils Of Coming Of Age Too Quickly, And Without Guidance--oblivious Parents And Misguided Babysitters At Home, Tormentors At School, Sexual Predators At The Mall, And The Confused, Often Destructive, Desperately Loving Friendship Of Fatherless Girls. With Unflinching Honesty And Moving, Lyrical Prose, And Spanning From 1960's Hawai'i To The Nip And Tuck Rooms Of 1990s Florida To The Present-day Struggle Of A Young Woman In A Culture Of Harassment, Long Live The Tribe Of Fatherless Girls Is The Story Of Families Both Lost And Found, Unmade And Rebuilt, Crooked And Beautiful -- T Kira Madden. "Frank and funny and powerful and surprising. An utterly gorgeous debut . "-Lauren Groff One of the most anticipated books of 2019— Electric Literature, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed , The Millions, Hyphen, Lit Hub, Nylon, The AV Club, The Advocate, The Rumpus Acclaimed literary essayist T Kira Madden's raw and redemptive debut memoir is about coming of age and reckoning with desire as a queer, biracial teenager amidst the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, Florida, a place where she found cult-like privilege, shocking racial disparities, rampant white-collar crime, and powerfully destructive standards of beauty hiding in plain sight. As a child, Madden lived a life of extravagance, from her exclusive private school to her equestrian trophies and designer shoe-brand name. But under the surface was a wild instability. The only child of parents continually battling... Intro Praise for Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls Half Title Dedication Title Page Contents Epigraph A Note from the Author Preface Part I. The Feels of Love Uncle Nuke Pencil Why You Like It Even the Dogs Just One Look Is Worth a Thousand Words Womanly Things Show Name Cry Baby Bugs The Lizard Chicken & Stars Rewired The Feels of Love Part II. The Greeter Cousin Cindy Can I Pet Your Back? Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls How to Survive in Boca Raton The Greeter People Like Them Brothers Big Hair, Big Hearts I'm Still Here Another Word for Creep FootnoteCollected Dates with My Father Part III. Tell the Women I'm Lonely Kuleana Acknowledgments A Note on the Author Copyright Madden came of age as a queer, biracial teenager within the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, Florida, a place where cult-like privilege, shocking social and racial disparities, rampant white-collar crime, and powerfully destructive standards of beauty hide in plain sight. As a child she had plenty to envy, but beneath the surface life in Boca Raton was dangerous: both parents battling drug addiction, tormentors at school, sexual predators at the mall, and the confused, often destructive, desperately loving friendship of fatherless girls. This is her story of families both lost and found, unmade and rebuilt, crooked and beautiful. -- adapted from jacket The essayist recounts her coming of age in Boca Raton, Florida, where she was left to her own devices by oblivious parents who were battling addiction