David T. (zoburg) reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on
Helpful Score: 2
A very moving story about a young mother who finds herself homeless with 3 kids. It is a story of falling through the cracks of society and digging your way out. A story of the kindness of others when you least expect it.
This is a highly recommended book!
This is a highly recommended book!
Jacky K. (Jacky) reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on + 174 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A very readable book that matter of factly relates events that could very easily happen to anybody. That the author can relate her history without a trace of bitterness or self pity is a tribute to her ability to rise above.
Nick and Jamie B. reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I thought this book was good. It shows that anyone can become homeless, no matter what your background is. It gives an good insight into the life of one woman, struggling to make ends meet with 3 children under the age of 5.
Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
Helpful Score: 1
Michelle Kennedy was a promising young student at American University when she married her husband Tom. After she has dropped out of college to become a full time mother, Michelle's husband decides that their family is too dependent on material things and announces that he has quit his job. He moves the two kids and Michelle (who is pregnant with their third child) to northern Maine, where they live in a rustic cabin with no running water or electricity. Michelle is determined to keep their family intact despite the increasingly irresponsible behavior of her husband, but after an accident that occurred which Tom was supposedly supervising the kids she decides that she and the children would be better off rejoining society.
Michelle drives her children to the coast of Maine, where she plans to find a job and get an apartment. She finds work as a waitress, but her small hourly wage and tips are barely enough to feed her young family, let alone pay for child care and a security deposit on an apartment. Though she receives virtually no financial assistance from her husband, Michelle's pride prevents her from asking for money from her parents, so she and her kids find themselves homeless and living out of the car.
Once I started this book I could not put it down - I stayed up until 2 am hoping for a happy ending. Michelle's story demonstrates how difficult it is for the working poor to survive, and how few bad decisions or a streak of bad luck could put almost anyone in the same position. This is a very moving story.
Michelle drives her children to the coast of Maine, where she plans to find a job and get an apartment. She finds work as a waitress, but her small hourly wage and tips are barely enough to feed her young family, let alone pay for child care and a security deposit on an apartment. Though she receives virtually no financial assistance from her husband, Michelle's pride prevents her from asking for money from her parents, so she and her kids find themselves homeless and living out of the car.
Once I started this book I could not put it down - I stayed up until 2 am hoping for a happy ending. Michelle's story demonstrates how difficult it is for the working poor to survive, and how few bad decisions or a streak of bad luck could put almost anyone in the same position. This is a very moving story.
Sharon C. (sierrastar) -
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great book and once I started it, I could not put it down. After living in an abusive life Michelle took her children and left that life to start a new one with her children. With no money or a home to go to she found a job but had to live in her car with her children for quite a while. It was hard but Michelle was going to keep her family together. This is a must read for anyone wanting to read a true story of homelessness, broke and dispair....the ending is great too!
A W. (aprilw) reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on
I thought this was a very good book. It shows the reality of how making a few bad decisions can ruin a life.I personally wanted the author to just "get it", she seems a little slow in the common sense department, but she does what she knows best at the time. A truly sad story with a nice ending.
This story is a reminder of how easy it is to slip from a comfortable, uneventful life into a life where every day is a struggle. Hearing Ms. Kennedy's story brings home the saying that most of us live only a paycheck or two away from hunger and homelessness.
Susan W. (scaddybo) reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on + 130 more book reviews
Very moving story!
A very interesting story about how a young mother finds herself homeless and how hard it is to crawl out of it.
Marlene R. (luvmyboysCA) reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on + 4 more book reviews
One of the best books I'ver ever read. Hard to put it down!
Amy S. (frugalgoddess) reviewed Without a Net : Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story on + 4 more book reviews
This book is hard to put down. I finished in a few days. It was tragic that people and families struggle to find adequate affordable housing. NOt in america should anyone have such a hard time to find a place to live. Michelle has written other books. I find her intelligent, truthful speaking about her hardships and that so many people put her down for. We all can learn something here and we all make mistakes.
