Darkness and light fuse together in the fiery account, When To Run, Born Scared by Stephanie King. Part maddening and part saddening, King lays out the incessant traumas and periodic triumphs in a tortured life. With a racist, heartless father, an equally sadistic older sister, and a loving mother that lacks the courage to stand up for her younger daughter, Stephanie is born into a life that nobody envies. Rather than a haven of peace, her childhood home is a den of lies, abuse and unhappiness. Forced into very adult situations and decisions long before the age of consent, King recalls sexual abuses, encounters with drugs and multiple threats on her life. All of this is piled onto a painful spine disorder and what can only be described as deep depressive episodes.
A compassionate doctor empowers Stephanie with the truth that she can be either a victim or a survivor, and King’s tenacity to survive proves that she takes the advice to heart. Unfortunately, a compromised upbringing does little to push her toward healthy decisions. So much bitterness, brought on from relentless years of abuse and torment, shape the ups and down of this woman’s story. She runs away from home with no money and little hope, but finds sanctuary with caring strangers. Later, she gets involved with drug dealers and is even pursued by the Mafia, but is able to cultivate some lasting friendships as she works toward loftier goals. Through one disaster after another, Stephanie is forced to accept that she will have to fight for every small victory. Emotional and gripping, the horrors of her life are hard to bear, even painful to read at times. And whether you find yourself sympathizing with or frustrated by the protagonist, this horrific tale is sure to light a fire within. Perseverance is tested to the limit in the harrowing account, When To Run, Born Scared.
