Description
'A wonderful book, I don't expect to read a better memoir for a very long time.' ROBERT WEBB, author of How Not To Be A Boy
'Funny and heart breaking in equal measure' FERN BRADY, author of Strong Female Character
'The guiltiest of literary pleasures: a memoir that you open with trepidation and stay up til 6am to finish' KATE SPICER, author of Lost Dog.
'Compelling, edgy and always hilarious. Absolutely essential reading.' JOSIE LONG
When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down. Narrowly escaping by breaking a window and jumping out head-first Krystal suffered burns, smoke inhalation, and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her sister. That Evans has written such a warm and disarmingly funny memoir about what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is nothing less than astonishing.
This is a spellbinding story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from a summer camp for burn victims, to putting up with a succession of her mom's increasingly shady friends and partners, Krystal and Katie's childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.
But, writing with joy, skill and candour, we witness Krystal growing as a person from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today.
At the same time, funny, tragic and inspiring, it is the story of a family dangerously close to the edge, and of a girl struggling to make her way into adulthood, once the smoke clears.
About the Author
KRYSTAL EVANS is a writer and American stand-up comedian based in the UK and is known for her powerful live shows and also her work with Mitchell & Webb and on Comedy Central. Her stand-up show about the fire, also called The Hottest Girl At Burn Camp, won critical acclaim and widespread coverage. She lives in Edinburgh and is the super-responsible mum to two boys. Her favourite food is breakfast burritos and she has a gigantic photo of Rod Serling in her front room.
Reviews
'The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp is a cracking read. By entirely stripping any trace of victimhood or forcing any palpable pain on the reader, this telling of a tragic childhood gifts us the guiltiest of literary pleasures: a memoir that you open with trepidation and stay up til 6am to finish.' -- Kate Spicer * author of Lost Dog *
'Krystal's writing is compelling, edgy and always hilarious. Hottest Girl At Burn Camp is so much more than your average comedian's memoir. Absolutely essential reading.' -- Josie Long
'Funny and heart breaking in equal measure, Krystal's cool, clear voice cuts through the noise of growing up in chaos' -- Fern Brady * Strong Female Character *
'Krystal Evans is a born writer - from the first page you know you are in the hands of someone who knows what the hell she's doing. This a wonderful book: funny, heart breaking, beautifully paced - I don't expect to read a better memoir for a very long time.' -- Robert Webb * author of How Not To Be A Boy *
Book Information
ISBN 9781800962729
Author Krystal Evans
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Monoray
Publisher Octopus Publishing Group
Weight(grams) 420g
Dimensions(mm) 220mm * 146mm * 30mm
