CONFESSIONS OF A HELMET-FREE CHILDHOOD

TRUE-ISH TALES OF AN ANALOG UPBRINGING

by Cinnia Curran Finfer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 10, 2020

A nostalgic debut memoir about marketing communications consultant Finfer’s upbringing.

Finfer delivers 13 vignettes that eloquently capture the essence of childhood, as when she writes, “Bouncing through life as best we could, being a kid could be humiliating one day, exhilarating another…with a whole lot of ordinary days thrown in between.” Her stories range from the ridiculous to the triumphant, beginning with an account of a fall she suffered while being chased by her crush during a game of tag. She comes across in these anecdotes as a mischievous kid who was willing to fib to get out of a math test and steal her neighbor’s fireworks, as long as no one got hurt. Most of these charming vignettes will be familiar to those with similar suburban upbringings: Pin the tail on the donkey was the game at every birthday party, and bringing a pet home unannounced was still a trick that every kid attempted. Each tale also highlights common childhood obstacles. In “Challenged a Bus Route Bully,” for example, Finfer recounts a timeless encounter with “bigger, older, stronger, or weirdly aggressive characters” riding the bus. She describes herself in a relatable way, as “little for my age and far from athletic, having an unusual name, wearing glasses, and sporting an exotic dental appliance,” noting that “I am a rich target for some mean-spirited stuff.” The author is consistently funny throughout this book, reminding readers that childhood bruises don’t always have to be so serious. The tales may not be profound, but they still convey some fine lessons, noting that “by getting it wrong, we find our way to the right.”

A charming, if slight, remembrance about the foibles and fun of kid life.

Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-73430-740-5

Page Count: 68

Publisher: Finfer Group Inc

Review Posted Online: Jan. 31, 2020

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION