Seeing Eye Girl - by Beverly J Armento (Paperback)

About the Book

As the Seeing Eye Girl for her blind, artistic, and mentally ill mother, Beverly Armento was intimately connected with and responsible for her, even though her mother physically and emotionally abused her. She was Strong Beverly at school-excellent in academics and mentored by caring teachers-but at home she was Weak Beverly, cowed by her mother's rage and delusions. Beverly's mother regained her sight with two corneal transplants in 1950 and went on to enjoy a moment of fame as an artist, but these positive turns did nothing to stop her disintegration into her delusional world of communists, radiation, and lurking Italians. To survive, Beverly had to be resilient and hopeful that better days could be ahead. But first, she had to confront essential ethical issues about her caregiving role in her family. In this emotional memoir, Beverly shares the coping strategies she invented to get herself through the trials of her young life, and the ways in which school and church served as refuges over the course of her journey. Breaking the psychological chains that bound her to her mother would prove to be the most difficult challenge of her life-and, ultimately, the most liberating one.

Book Synopsis

2023 Nonfiction Book Awards Gold Winner

2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Autobiography/Biography

2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Autobiography & Memoir--Adult Nonfiction

2022 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention in Non-Fiction--Autobiography

2022 IPPY Awards Bronze Winner in Autobiography II--Coming of Age/Family

"Sublime writing brightens an unforgettable, harrowing personal account."--Kirkus Reviews

"...a testament to the human spirit that will not be denied fulfilling its potential. Armento gives witness to the hard fact that we sometimes have to nurture ourselves and shows just how that can be done."--Sue William Silverman, author of How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences

THE STORY OF ONE GIRL'S SEARCH FOR HOPE IN AN ABUSIVE, DYSFUNCTIONAL HOME AND OF THE TEACHERS WHO EMPOWERED HER

As the "Seeing Eye Girl" for her blind, artistic, and mentally ill mother, Beverly Armento was intimately connected with and responsible for her, even though her mother physically and emotionally abused her. She was Strong Beverly at school--excellent in academics and mentored by caring teachers--but at home she was Weak Beverly, cowed by her mother's rage and delusions.

Beverly's mother regained her sight with two corneal transplants in 1950 and went on to enjoy a moment of fame as an artist, but these positive turns did nothing to stop her disintegration into her delusional world of communists, radiation, and lurking Italians. To survive, Beverly had to be resilient and hopeful that better days could be ahead. But first, she had to confront essential ethical issues about her caregiving role in her family.

In this emotional memoir, Beverly shares the coping strategies she invented to get herself through the trials of her young life, and the ways in which school and church served as refuges over the course of her journey. Breaking the psychological chains that bound her to her mother would prove to be the most difficult challenge of her life--and, ultimately, the most liberating one.

Review Quotes

"A riveting memoir that belongs in the same class as The Glass Castle and Angela's Ashes. With magnificent writing, Ms. Armento manages to balance the heartbreak of a cruel mother with the heartening power that resilience can bring."
-Dr. Candace Kaspers, author and Chair of the Board of Directors, Bettie Brand Mothers' Empowerment Fund

"As soon as I started reading Seeing Eye Girl, I knew I was in the hands of a gifted writer and storyteller. Armento's prose is rich and observant as she guides us through her struggles to understand her mother's madness. Between the pages of heartbreak shimmers a compelling story of courage." --Melissa Cistaro, author of Pieces of My Mother

"Seeing Eye Girl is a brave, riveting account of a young life coping with unspeakable hardship and abuse. But more than that, this memoir is a testament to the resilience and force of the human spirit. This is a story that will move you, affect you, and linger with you long after you close this remarkable book." --Lauretta Hannon, author of The Cracker Queen: A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life

"Seeing Eye Girl lays bare every reason for a person of lesser courage, intelligence, talent, and determination to fail in life. Instead, Beverly's travails have been the impetus for her success as a teacher, professor, and author. A remarkable work by an amazing person. If I had read Seeing Eye Girl before I started teaching, I would have been an even better teacher than I was."--Louis D'Amelio, retired high school English educator

"Heartbreaking yet so empowering!"--Readers' Favorite

"Stays with you long after you've read to the end."--The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"As an educator, I found this book highly relatable; a poignant reminder of some of the frightened, hurting children who have walked through my classroom doors, in desperate need of a positive adult role model. By sharing her story, Armento has created a tribute to teachers and a reminder that our work matters. It truly matters.... If you enjoyed Tara Westover's Educated, you will love Seeing Eye Girl. I highly recommend Seeing Eye Girl-a moving, unforgettable story of hope, trust in God, and resilience. Bravo!"--The Cozy Book Blog

"...this book is a must-read..."--The Moving Words

"Seeing Eye Girl will be one that stays with me for years... If you remember and liked A Glass Castle, you will love this book."--Pick a Good Book