When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down. Narrowly escaping by breaking a window and jumping out head-first Krystal suffered burns, smoke inhalation, and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her sister. That Evans has written such a warm and disarmingly funny memoir about what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is nothing less than astonishing.
This is a spellbinding story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from a summer camp for burn victims, to putting up with a succession of her mom's increasingly shady friends and partners, Krystal and Katie's childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.
But, writing with joy, skill and candour, we witness Krystal growing as a person from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today.
At the same time, funny, tragic and inspiring, it is the story of a family dangerously close to the edge, and of a girl struggling to make her way into adulthood, once the smoke clears.
What did I think?
Krystal Evans is a stand-up comedian so it's comforting to know that it all turns out ok in the end for her as her memoir is completely heart wrenching. I wanted to reach into the book and give young Krystal a big hug as her family suffered such a devastating tragedy.
When I was reading this true story, I really wished it had been fiction as it broke my heart when Krystal lost her little sister Katie in the fire that destroyed their home. It must have been very cathartic for Krystal to write this book and I was in tears at the end as her story really got to me. It will be heartening for Krystal to know that Katie's memory will live on in the hearts of every reader who picks up this book.
It's often difficult to read Krystal's story but she makes it as lighthearted as she possibly can with a sprinkling of humour here and there. It's not a funny story by any means but it is written in such an entertaining way that it is very easy to read.
Heartbreaking and inspirational, The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp is an emotional and powerful true story that will stay with me long after I turned the final page.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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