Review by Booklist Review
Comedian and TV writer Chinn had her world turned upside down by two life-changing events when she was 10. Her parents announced they were divorcing, and she discovered her first pimple. The divorce led to a move across the country from southern California to Florida; the pimple led to years of serious cystic acne that Chinn would go to great lengths to battle. In Florida, Chinn finds herself among a tough crowd of girls who regularly drink, smoke, and fight. Chinn's world is once again shattered when her beloved brother Max is diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor, which leaves him blind and, ultimately, in a slow physical decline. While shuttling between her parents in Florida and Los Angeles, Chinn tries all kinds of treatment for the skin condition that continues to plague her and exact a significant mental toll. She first decides to pursue an acting career, which is complicated by her skin condition, before discovering that her passion is writing. A natural-born storyteller, Chinn writes with humor and heart about the emotional burden of living with a conspicuous skin condition, the challenges of being a mixed-race person who appears white, and the tragedies her family endures. Readers will be rooting for her to find clear skin and happiness.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Chinn, a TV writer and actor, rivals the likes of Samantha Irby and Casey Wilson with her cringeworthy embarrassments, self-reflection, and self-deprecation while growing up a biracial Scientologist. If tragedy plus time equals comedy, then this book has that formula perfected. Chinn's memoir is surreal in its reality, offering a completely unique perspective of healing, both of the epidermis and the core. From underage drinking, Jell-O wrestling, and watching her teenage brother battle a brain tumor, to--as Chinn describes it--suffering from something worse than famine and nuclear war: severe acne through adulthood. Chinn's account of her formative years is as unique as it is tragic. This off-the-wall, borderline manic romp through unstable relationships and warped priorities is unlike most any other memoir headed for the shelves. VERDICT It should be a welcome addition to any collection seeking uncommon admissions of all-too-common trauma, suffering, and lessons learned. This is sure to speak to those who struggled with personal tragedy, dysfunctional family, and hormones.--Alana R. Quarles
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