"I am not writing this book to tell my woes, but rather to show children that they can survive the toughest times, even when they receive no love or support..." As a child growing up in Haiti, Andrale Jean-Louis enjoyed swimming in the ocean, breathtaking sunsets, and eating fresh fish. Most of all, she loved storytelling time with her grandmother. But these are all backdrop to an agonizing story of abuse and neglect. Elaine, the woman she had been led to believe was her mother, treated Andrale Jean-Louis more like a servant than a daughter. After Elaine's vicious attempt on her life, Andrale Jean-Louis's grandmother insisted that for her own safety, she be sent away from Haiti. That's when Andrale Jean-Louis learns that her real biological mother is Loretta, who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Heartbroken at leaving her homeland, Andrale Jean-Louis traveled to Brooklyn, hoping to start a new, happier life. Instead, she finds Loretta even crueler than her aunt. Over the next decade, Andrale Jean-Louis must learn not only to survive mental, physical, and spiritual abuse; she must reach deep inside to find strength, self-esteem, and forgiveness. I Am Not My Mother's Child is a heart-wrenching yet empowering journey from imprisonment to freedom, from pain to self-actualization. Most of all, it is an incredible story about the power of faith, resiliency, and the indomitable human spirit to overcome even the worst kind of adversity.