Brandy J. Rex was raised surrounded by control and fear, which has had a huge impact on her life. In I Am, she tells her story. Her father was unusually cruel. The punishment he meted out to his children included electrocution and severe beatings. The children were not allowed to sit on the furniture, and he often made them drink his urine. The mother wasn't spared either, and she made no attempts to shield them, which left Brandy with so many questions. There is initial hope when Child Services intervenes, but this hope dies when they are left in the abusive home. In a sudden twist of events, the father dies from a gunshot wound. This provides relief, but it also ushers in a complex relationship with their mother. 

Autobiographies can be tedious to read, but I Am by Brandy J. Rex is a notable exception. With flashbacks and flashforwards, as she filled readers in with her life story, she ensured that the suspense was spot on, which kept me glued to my couch as I anticipated the subsequent chapters. Her story shows the dark side of humanity, but there are also some good people, like the kind nurse who attended to them after the accident. As readers go through a roller-coaster of emotions when they read this great work, they will also discover hope and resilience to reinvent themselves despite the past. It was very courageous of Brandy to share her story, and I believe it will inspire many. I am looking forward to reading something else by this author.

I Am: The Product of the Mentally Ill Lonely Monster—My Journal by Brandy J Rex begins with the author's harrowing upbringing marked by her father's abusive behavior, chronicling instances of violence, neglect, and emotional turmoil. Despite seeking intervention, her father evades accountability and Brandy is trapped in a cycle of fear and hopelessness. Following her father's death when she is still a girl, Brandy's foundational insecurity is further weakened by confusion, rebellion, and, later, teen motherhood. Brandy finds genuine solace in being a mom, but mental health issues, unhealthy relationship dynamics, and financial troubles perpetually loom. Through therapy and medication, she embarks on a journey of healing, prioritizing self-care and open communication with her children, ultimately reclaiming her sense of freedom and her life.

I Am by Brandy J Rex is an extremely difficult read as it deals with some very heavy issues. Women, children, and pets are abused, and Brandy is completely deprived of a full childhood, which is heartbreaking. I see so many moments where someone could have stepped in and just turned the tide, but the reality is that one of her parents was a master manipulator, and the other was so in love that she did not necessarily want to leave, even if given the chance. I have to respect the courage that it takes to put this story out into the universe, and Brandy does not hold anything back. The voice is raw and so too is the writing, but it feels more like a testimony than a polished memoir and I do think that suits it far better. Brandy tells us that she continues to grow and is determined to give her children a better life, and her story is proof that there can be light at the end of the tunnel. Recommended.