Riding the Cyclone

When Lauren Ruth Wiener was six, her mother died without warning. More interested in dating than child-rearing, her father left her in the care of a violent, unhinged nanny. A riveting first-person account, Riding the Cyclone careens like the Coney Island roller coaster from gut-wrenching sadism to hilariously caustic commentary as Lauren tries to make sense of her world. Growing up in extreme isolation amid suburban affluence, she suffers from the profound disconnect between appearance and reality. Seeking freedom from her terrifying home in an idyllic private high school, Lauren finds her inner chaos mirrored in the upheavals of the '60s. "A beautiful and unusual coming of age story." - Alison Baker, author, Loving Wanda Beaver