Runaway Girl Escaping Life on the Streets

An inspiring story of redemption, from a young girl who grew up on the streets but found the strength to succeed At age twelve Carissa Phelps ran away from abuse and neglect at home, lived on the streets, and was discreetly abducted and sold by a savage pimp. She was repeatedly sent to juvenile hall and group homes that would house her, but rarely see to her needs. Yet with a few helping hands, she accomplished the unimaginable, earning both a law degree and an MBA from UCLA. Her accomplishments meant she could leave the streets behind, but her success only drew her closer to other children in need; she is now a mentor, a crisis counselor, and an advocate for runaway and homeless youth. This is the tale of a girl who, against the odds, found her strength and faith in the kindness of strangers. Like the multimillion-copy bestseller The Glass Castle, this memoir moves us through the power of its unflinching candor and generosity.

Carissa Phelps is an attorney, a social entrepreneur, and a youth advocate. She is CEO and founder of Runaway Girl, FPC, a California flexible purpose corporation.

Larkin Warren’s recent book collaborations include Mary Forsberg Weiland’s Fall to Pieces andElyn R. Saks’s bestselling The Center Cannot Hold.