What We're Reading in December
DECEMBER 2021: Wildflower: A Tale of Transcendence
by Dr. Teresa Van Woy
Spending the night in Juvie wasn't the worst thing to happen to seven year old Teresa that summer. When her much-anticipated cross-country vacation turns to abduction, Teresa is forced to care for her mother, sister and twin brothers. Homeless, abused, and afraid in the slums of San Francisco's Tenderloin district, Teresa finds joy in her adventures while fantasizing of a better life. Keeping this dream alive throughout her childhood is what drives her to end the cycle of abuse and poverty.
Discussion Points:
Beginning with a tumultuous exodus from Florida to San Francisco with her eight siblings in a travel trailer, chaotically organized by her mentally ill mother, Dr. Teresa Thompson Van Woy’s Wildflower shows us the life of an abused child and the healing power of love. Do you believe in the healing power of love?
With unflinching honesty, Dr. Van Woy describes bearing the brunt of her mother’s abuse while trying to seem normal. Why is it so important for someone to feel normal and fit in?
Ultimately her book is an anthem to rising above fear and anger into kindness, happiness and success as an adult. Can you see a turning point?
Wildflower reminds us of the power of small acts of kindness and the resilience of the human spirit. What is an example of a small act of kindness?