The Leroy Tree: A Memoir

By Anna Manning

The Leroy Tree takes us on the journey of a young girl who, in an attempt to find a way out of an alcoholic, abusive family, finds herself in a much worse predicament: pregnant at thirteen. With no one to save her and her young son but herself, she begins the long climb back up the mountain of shame and guilt-built by her mother and others-by using her dream of getting an education as a climber's axe to pull her up. Along the way, she meets a number of people, some good, some not so good, who nonetheless inspire and encourage her to continue her journey. Her focus stays on her goal, not on the obstacles, which appear before her all too frequently. She refuses to allow those obstacles to become excuses to give up; rather, she looks at them as lessons to strengthen her resolve to continue her journey. She refuses to allow her family history to be her destiny.

With fierce determination, she creates a new life for herself. She joins the U.S. Navy and finds her perfect career and a new and loving husband. Fortified with a transformed spirit, she returns to Dallas to complete the final step of her plan: to regain custody of her son, the person who matters the most to her.

In the writing of this memoir, Anna uses her astonishing ability to find purpose in the tragedy in her life. Refusing to be a victim, she transforms those tragic events into ingredients for a complex recipe: a recipe far beyond survival, a recipe for success.

A truly inspiring read for everyone, especially at-risk teens and their parents. It is an honest depiction of what perseverance and determination can accomplish, regardless of the obstacles.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0964828510
• ISBN13: 9780964828513
• Release Date: March 2011
• Publisher: Phyrstbook Publishing
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"