Book Recommendation: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Book Recommendation: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

If you grew up in a family where appearances didn’t match reality, or where what outsiders saw was very different from what you experienced behind closed doors, The Glass Castle will likely resonate with you.

Jeannette Walls tells the story of her unconventional and often chaotic childhood, raised by parents who were brilliant and charismatic but also neglectful and unstable. To the outside world, her family could seem fascinating and creative. Inside the home, though, there were deep fractures, unspoken pain, abuse, and secrets that shaped her and her siblings in profound ways.

Walls successfully holds both truths at once: the love she felt for her family and the very real harm they caused. The Glass Castle is a reminder that you’re not alone in growing up with contradictions, like a family that seemed “special” or “together” in public, but behind the scenes, was unsafe, neglectful, or unpredictable. It’s a window into how secrecy and image management in families can distort reality, making children doubt their own experiences.

Through this work, Walls reclaims her voice, tells the truth about what happened, and builds a different life without denying the complexity of love and loyalty.