Bittersweet: A Story of Abuse and Recovery, is an autobiography that reads like a novel. In it, Emma Avery tells of her journey through childhood rejection, sexual abuse, and brutal physical and emotional violence at the hands of adults who should have known better. Through it all, Emma maintains her composure, her determination, and most of all, her peace. In Bittersweet, she tells us how she survives and thrives.Emma Avery is a bilateral double leg amputee from the age of 16 who has worked as a laborer, a nail technician, a janitor, and a peer mentor. Community Living Services, an agency that provides services to people with life challenges and has been an important support resource for Emma, has provided substantial financial support for this project. Bittersweet is her first book.