Blackbird is an emotionally gripping, riveting, well-written story by a woman who remembers her childhood from preschool age, when her mother was dying of cancer, to age eleven. In those few years, Jennifer experienced death of both parents, alienation from remaining family, cruelty from a stepmother, abandonment, and numerous other traumatic experiences, only one of which would scar most people for life. The fact that Jennifer came through this awful childhood to become the young woman that she is and write this gripping memoir is amazing, to say the very least. This tale was so very sad, depressing, grim, and even horrifying in places that it was hard to believe that it really happened. Realizing that Jennifer really did go through all of these things in her lifetime made the book that much more grim and dismal to think about. I admire Jennifer's writing style and her ability to survive. Most children would not survive this horrible, horrid, humiliating childhood.

What a story!! This book reads like a novel! I too saw the author on Oprah and went out to purchase it. I read the entire book in one day, I just couldn't put it down. I found myself thinking about myself at her age and would I have been able to take care of myself as she did. I am waiting for the sequel I can't wait to find out what happened in her life to bring these memories to paper. Jennifer your parents would be proud of the woman you became!!

After seeing Jennifer Lauck on Oprah I began my search for this book. Once in hand, I read it in a period of 14 hours almost right through since I was unable to put it down, and unable to stop my tears. How desperately I wanted to take this poor child in my arms and hold her forever. It brought great comfort to remember her on Oprah...that she has survived, but even so I had to keep flipping to the back cover to see her smiling face to assure myself that her suffering is over now. I became so angry at society - I am sure there were many opportunities for adults to notice this child and her situation, but no one helped. This book reminded me of my own childhood pain, and helps me to perfect some of my parenting skills, and I truly hope that this book will serve the ultimate purpose and awaken us to the plight of children. Jennifer's story is heartbreaking, but she is not alone in a world that still largely minimizes children. Thank you dear sweet Jennifer for telling your story, and I truly hope that your words reverberate throughout the world as they allow insight into lonliness, grief, rejection and abandonment as seen through the eyes of a child. I tremendously look forward to the sequel.

Those who read Lauck's first memoir, Blackbird, will expect to find a continuation in Still Waters of the upbeat note on which that first book ended. They would be wrong. Life did NOT go well for Jennifer Lauck when she was picked up at the bus station by her grandfather and left eventually at the "safe haven" of her aunt and uncle's home. Although by the conclusion of Still Waters, we are asked to believe Lauck, with the help of New Age spirituality, has at last made peace with her tragic past, one can't help believing that it wasn't the power of hope that carried her to a relatively triumphant adulthood: it was the power of rage.

I loved this book just as much as I loved Blackbird. I'm only sorry that Jennifer's story stops here and the only way we can read more of her memoirs is if she writes them 30-40 years from now after she's lived an even fuller life!!!! Perhaps Jennifer can write a novel now based on her life or the people she has met along her travels. One of the things I liked about both books was that they read like novels. Several times while reading, you could easily get lost in characters and story lines and think that this story was a fascinating novel - but then you remind yourself that it's not fiction - just a story of a fascinating life!!!! Congratulations Jennifer - you are a brave, young soul who has lived enough to last three liftimes - Perhaps that what you did - you are living life not just for yourself, but for your mother, father & brother too. I deeply admire you and hope you continue to write - I'm sure it has been healing just as much reading it has made me realize how little we need today to feel fulfilled and loved. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fascinating read - whether it be fiction or nonfiction. As I said before, it's not a typical memoir, if you don't normally read biographies or memoirs, you can easily pretend this is a novel and you will enjoy it that much more!!

This book, picks up where Blackbird left off, and follows Jennifer through the trials, and tribulations she endures, in a "home" with relatives who do not value children, or children that are not their "own". Ms. Lauck is a wonderful writer, and draws you into her story from the first page. Through it all, Jennifer Lauck shows the reader what a survivor she is, and makes you cry with her, hope with her and pray that she someday soon, gets herself out of her awful situation.I did not put "her" story down, and read until late into the morning hoping & praying that she would triumph, and come to know real love. She is not whiny or woe is me, despite reason to be, and I would recommend this book to those of us, that THINK we had it rough as a child.