Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult: a Memoir

This is a heart-breaking true-life tale of a young girl raised in a cult. Really, “raised” is too strong a word since she was neglected, starved, toughened up, and beaten. There are so many painful moments in this story; one constantly asks oneself how could any child endure this torture? In a similar manner, since she grew up in the Angeles National Forest, one wonders how the abuses of this cult went undetected for so long while so close to the major urban center of Pasadena. The ending of her tribulations is abrupt and the reader may wonder what the method of escape was. Perhaps they hardly noticed that she was missing?

Lest this book be totally sad, there are beautiful chapter heading illustrations of the plants that kept her alive and somewhat nourished. There is also a page of descriptions about the plants, their preparation, and usefulness as food. The book is a case study of the indoctrination of religion and how it degrades into megalomania.