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Come Back: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Hell and Back

October 11, 2006 by Janice

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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“It is its own religion, this love. Uncontainable, savage, and without end, it is what I feel for my child…

Mia is fifteen now, and she and I are in the clouds above Austria. The sun has not risen and she is spread across her seat and mine, asleep. I watch her sleep, as I have done nearly every night of her life. We are on our way to eastern Europe. Not to see castles or rivers or onion-domed villas. Not to see long-lost family. Not even to see each other. I am leaving her there.

Mia will be locked up. She is broken now. Thin, pink scars beribbon her thighs and stomach, her ankles are bruised by a felon’s leg shackles, her wrists by handcuffs. She is medically malnourished and made up like a whore. Inside, she is dark and damaged and gone. I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again, my one true child. My desperate hope is that she can be repaired, even badly patched. Mostly, though, I simply hope they can keep her, that she does not escape, as she has done again and again and again and again. Each time to do worse things with worse people, criminals finally. The only thing left would be death, hers or someone else’s.

I look down at her, both of us just skin and bone and thin, little breaths. What’s left of me staring at what’s left of her.”

Come Back -- MemoirAnd so Claire begins their memoir – the story of desperate love as a mother moves the world to save her damaged and dying daughter. Claire and Mia tell their story with contrasting entries in their own voices, taking us through their lives and inside their souls. It is a masterfully written account of the devastation of incest and teenage drug abuse, and the self-discovery that leads to healing.

But this is not just another great story, Come Back is an intense experience that will change you forever and, if you let it, make you into a better person and a better parent.

It is simply a must read for parents of children who have been abused or who are trapped in addiction, sex or crime, but it is also for those of us who are not facing those challenges. Each one of us carries hurts and experiences from our past that cripple us as people, partners and parents. Mia and Claire’s story tears through all our lies and shows us who we are and pushes us to change. It is therapy – halfway through the book I noticed myself chewing on my fingers, working through my own history as Mia and Claire slugged their way through theirs.

And, of course, you won’t want to put it down. It is a gripping, brilliant and inspiring true story that beats anything Hollywood could produce. You definitely don’t want to miss it.

Come Back -- MemoirThis past week I had a chance to chat with Claire and Mia Fontaine, mother and daughter, and co-authors of their memoir Come Back. Tomorrow’s post will feature that interview.

In the meantime, for more information on Come Back visit their website www.claireandmia.com. You can also visit Claire at her blog Claire Du Jour – A Writer’s Eye on Life.

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Wordless Wednesday
Interview with Claire and Mia Fontaine
Co-authors of “Come Back”

About Janice

Janice is co-founder of 5 Minutes For Mom. She's been working online since 2003 and is thankful her days are full of social media, writing and photography.

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6 Comments

  1. Sarah Kathryn says

    May 14, 2008 at 1:30 am

    Inspiring, moving, beautifully written. I cried and laughed and felt like I was there. I can relate so much to this book, and for the ways I could not relate I feel lucky to be blessed with insight into this journey and reminded that even when things are scary and dark.. there IS still light at the end.

    Reply
  2. Angel Cope says

    October 13, 2006 at 5:59 pm

    Although I have not had the privelge of reading the book yet, I wrote about their book after seeing them featured on Good Morning America. Discussing that I Am The Mirror My Daughters Look Into. I will not forget when Claire said, it was not what she told her daughter to believe about herself, but Mia got her identity from the way Claire viewed herself. That was poignant to me, a mother, who struggles with my own self esteem.

    Reply
  3. eph2810 says

    October 12, 2006 at 9:14 pm

    Thank you Janice for sharing this review. I saw the link on Diane’s blog…I will have to check your links over the weekend and will be back tomorrow to read the interview.

    Reply
  4. Christina says

    October 12, 2006 at 12:22 am

    Sound’s like an awesome book. How beautiful they are. I hope all is well now. May God Bless them.

    Reply
  5. Ruth says

    October 12, 2006 at 12:07 am

    i would love to read this book. thanks for the review!

    Reply
  6. Barb says

    October 11, 2006 at 11:37 pm

    I’m so stunned, I don’t even know what to say. I will read this book.

    Reply

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