In This Altered Body - by Charlene Pell (Paperback)

About the Book

A gripping memoir of a catastrophic plane crash and the resilience of the human spirit.

Book Synopsis

2025 IBPA Book Award, Silver Winner for the disabled communities category.

2025 Feathered Quill Book Award Winner for the Inspirational category.

2024 IAN Book of the Year Award, Grand Prize Non-Fiction Books of the Year, Second Place.

Charlene Pell wears her scars like badges of honor-she has never hidden them.

Thirty years ago, on a sunny afternoon, Charlene was on a private flight to Cat Island, Bahamas, when the unthinkable happened: the plane, piloted by her fiancé, experienced a mechanical problem and crashed in a fiery inferno. When Charlene awoke, she discovered that 64 percent of her body had been burned, and her fiancé had died.

In This Altered Body is the compelling story of Charlene's physical and emotional odyssey to reclaim her life and identity after surviving a tragedy that left her facially disfigured and grieving. As Charlene begins the long, painful process of recovery, she fears she will never be loved again, because her outward beauty has been destroyed and our society, obsessed with flawless skin and superficial beauty, stigmatizes disfigurement. But through dogged determination, Charlene overcomes difficult obstacles both physical and emotional-and learns from the experiences of other burn survivors to never write off her dreams and to be open to possibilities . . . including love. Brimming with insight from a life of perseverance, In This Altered Body is a piercing memoir about tragic loss and the resilience of the human spirit.

Review Quotes

"As one of the surgeons who provided care to Charlene, I can without reservation confirm that Charlene's journey has been a truly remarkable and miraculous path of recovery. Here she details every grueling physical, psychological, and emotional step she has taken as she has responded to the challenge of redefining her life. This is a must read for anyone who values the human capacity for recovery and growth!" -Michael Peck, MD, FACS, former president of the Board of Trustees of the American Burn Association

"In this moving, vulnerable memoir, Pell offers an enduring contribution to the testimony of human resilience . . . Pell's bold, inspiring memoir challenges readers to deeper empathy and to confront preconceived notions and biases." -BookLife Reviews

"Charlene Pell has given us an inspiring, uplifting, motivating book about overcoming unthinkable loss and adversity. After getting burned, disfigured, and disabled by a catastrophic accident that essentially melted her lovely face and hands, she shows gob-smacking grit, fortitude, focus, character, confidence, and faith . . . In This Altered Body is a book for anyone with a big challenge, not just burn survivors and the people who love them . . . It's a great read, with powerful lessons in how to get where you need to be, all the while honoring your beautiful inner self." -Belleruth Naparstek, psychotherapist, author, and founder of Health Journeys, a guided imagery audio library

"This engrossing memoir of surviving a horrific plane crash and a series of crushing life changes shows how persistence and a willingness to try can make all the difference. Charlene Pell never gave up. She's a forceful role model for transforming tragedy into an inspiration for others." -Katherine Ramsland, bestselling author of Confession of a Serial Killer

"It is not often that I open a memoir and can't put it down. This stunning book provides an opening into the lives and souls of people who, because of severe burn injury, often live on the periphery of our society. Charlene does this by skillfully sharing her own journey of healing from severe burns-healing both physically and psychologically. Her perceptive insight and engaging style capture her experience in a way that is courageous, compassionate, and compelling. Charlene's narrative of survival is not only a testament to her own resilience but also a lesson to all of us as we connect with the vagaries of life." -Dave Sluyter, former CEO of the Fetzer Institute