Idiot: Dear Kami

This book follows a young woman on a painful journey of self healing and discovery. Eva Langston had a troubling upbringing with an abusive stepfather and a loving mother who couldn’t keep her safe. The story begins with Eva in rehab and foster care after a presumed self-harming episode. It follows her through her time in therapy, foster care, and an adoptive home where she is able to heal and experience safety. The story is told in first-person through journal entries to her “best friend” Kami. Much of her early story is pieced together through entries that detail episodes of significant events in her life. The writing style was stilted and jumpy. I did not find Eva’s experiences believable in many ways (and I have been in foster care and adopted by a loving family). There were too many times when her experience just didn’t seem realistic, and she adjusted too easily to some big changes in her life. I did not appreciate the strong language and use of profanity, and I do not believe it added to the story. I do not recommend this book for anyone but adults who like these kinds of stories.