Tattered Phoenix

One woman's fight for success in the last half of the 20th century. Beginning in the 1940s, author Kachina Riley details her family's struggles against mental illness, illiteracy, and other health issues. In the end she achieves upward mobility beyond anyone's expectations, earning two master's degrees and breaking free from the limitations of her Appalachian roots to become a highly respected professional social worker and a world traveler.