Jeannette’s Memoir tackles the topic of American poverty, parenting, and resiliency during trying times. Why do you think the author also chose to focus on their rigorous homeschooling and the fact that her parents were extremely intelligent?

I think the parent's intelligence is juxtaposed with their many flaws, in part, to move away from the stereotype people might have of white poverty in America. Certainly, the story reflected Jeanette's life, but many readers found the paradox of her parents interesting. Jeannette’s parents did show intelligence and, but it was always tempered by an extremely flawed independent ethic. They sacrificed any normality their children could have enjoyed for their flawed counter-culture beliefs.