Where’s My Sister?
My Little Sister’s Struggle with Addiction, Adoption, and Mental Illness
by
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“Linny!” My sister calls from the trough, the low between the waves. There is nothing I can do. I can only watch from the deck that is her bed. She is so frightened. “You shouldn’t have leaned so far out over the railing,” I want to yell down at her. I want her rescued, lower a life boat, turn the ship around, toss in a life ring, jump in after her, and I want to drown her myself for being so goddamn stupid. How could she do this to herself? Who the hell does she think she is for putting me through this? What gives her the right to leave me here alone?
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About the Book
When Linda Burden was five years old, her adopted parents came home with a new baby. The baby was not born to Linda’s parents; much as they had done with Linda and her brother, the Burden parents had adopted the tiny child. This tiny child was now Linda’s little sister, and they named her Alison. They appeared to have a charmed life, but there was nothing charming about it. Linda and Alison’s parents were still mourning the deaths of their two biological children. Their father was an alcoholic, and their mother was having an affair. This difficult upbringing drew Linda and Alison together as more than just adopted sisters; they became friends—best friends—who would survive a painful childhood to become adults on very different life paths. Linda took a high road; Alison, suffering from psychological illness, found herself on a low road. Alison’s life devolved into one of alcoholism and anorexia. Linda would become her only hope for salvation. In this true life account of sibling love and devotion, Linda watches her sister’s weight drop to sixty-five pounds, and—before it’s too late—she must convince Alison that she is beautiful. Despite their differing DNA, Linda and Alison are linked by love, and it is love they need most of all.
About the Author
Linda Burden was born outside of Boston and currently lives in Vermont. She has an advanced degree in education from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree from Saint Michael’s College. She has two children and an American Eskimo dog named Molly. Where’s My Sister? is her first book.