Brookins narrates her own book, turning events from her life into a fascinating story. This is typical of Brookins's do-it-yourself attitude toward life. While her four children were still reeling from her ex-husband's abuse and descent into schizophrenia, the author decided they needed a confidence-building project: a new house, one constructed with their own hands where they could escape the memories still alive in their old home. Interspersed with sad and painful stories from Brookins's experiences with her deeply troubled husband is her unflinching chronicle of the new home, from idea to loan to foundation to sheetrock. For nine months, the author acted as her own contractor and plumber while her four children were her work crew. While Brookins's reading is sometimes a bit too staid for the events, listeners will appreciate that she does not overdramatize. Her humor and solid descriptions will cause them to hang on every word to see what happens next. -VERDICT Highly recommended for all public libraries and university browsing sections.-Karen Perry, Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Brookins' rousing memoir beautifully illustrates how one family can look apprehension dead in the eye and scoff at it. Armed with little more than chutzpah and the Internet, this single mother mustered her only allies her four children, including one toddler to build a house from the ground up. The catalyst? An abusive ex-husband who threatened to show up and terrorize them as long as he could locate them. The plan? To build a home where he wouldn't be able to find them. Perhaps it was her experience with three very bad marriage choices, or maybe it was her childhood in a dysfunctional family. Or it could be that the D in her DNA stood for determination. Wherever her strength of purpose originated, it never failed her throughout the nearly yearlong construction process. Sure, her energy flagged occasionally. There's no way a writer can build a house without a self-doubt or two. But for readers looking for inspiration to accomplish a daunting task, they need look no further than Brookins' highly engaging and encouraging book.--Chavez, Donna Copyright 2016 Booklist