Educated by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover

Reviewer: Minh, Grade 10

Star rating: 5 stars

A traumatized childhood, an incredible journey of finding her voice, and a wake-up call to everyone in the world. The book Educated is a memoir of Tara Westover's horrible past. She grew up as the seventh child of Mormon survivalist parents in a remote Idaho mountain. Lack of education made her deeply ignorant about the history of the world, and her father's radical belief is the only source of information that influences her perspectives. Along with that, she was abused and harassed throughout her teenage years. She was trapped in this world of hatred, confusion, and darkness up until she decided to build a happy life herself. With persistence and curiosity, she went from no formal education to attend two of the most prestigious schools in the world, namely Cambridge and Harvard University. 

This is one of my forever favorite books because it proves that there is a world of full possibilities for everyone regardless of their background and circumstances, and it especially opens my eye to the ongoing struggle that many people like Tara have been through. 

However, it is a tough topic to read about, it is filled with evidence of her family’s abuse, racist comments, sexism, and disturbing violence. It builds up the rage in me, and the worst part is it’s based on a true story. This book is perfect for readers who are interested in learning about the world’s issues.