In this Book
- Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother's Journey
- Book
- 2004
- Published by: University of Georgia Press
- Series: Association of Writers and Writing Programs Award for Creative Nonfiction
The year was 1973, a time of social upheaval, even in small-town Kentucky, where McElmurray grew up. More than a story of time and place, however, this is about a girl who, at the age of sixteen, relinquished her son at birth. Twenty-five years would pass before McElmurray began sharing this part of her past with others and actively looking for her son.
McElmurray's own troubled upbringing and her quest after a now-fully-grown son are the heart of her story. With unflinching honesty, McElmurray recounts both the painful surrendering and the surprise rediscovery of her son, juxtaposed with her portrayal of her own mother, who could not provide the love she needed. The dramatic result is a story of birthright lost and found--and an exploration of the meaning of motherhood itself.
Table of Contents
- CHAPTER ONE: Birth Day
- pp. 1-22
- CHAPTER TWO: Mother, Come at Night
- pp. 23-40
- CHAPTER THREE: Hunger
- pp. 41-63
- CHAPTER FOUR: Flight
- pp. 64-84
- CHAPTER FIVE: Sacred Heart
- pp. 85-111
- CHAPTER SIX: Frozen Niagara
- pp. 112-134
- CHAPTER EIGHT: Lovers
- pp. 160-182
- CHAPTER NINE: Maria Milagrosa
- pp. 183-207
- CHAPTER TEN: A Gift, Freely Bestowed
- pp. 208-237
- Acknowledgments
- p. 249