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The Lost Years  By  cover art

The Lost Years

By: Kristina Wandzilak, Constance Curry
Narrated by: Hillary Huber, Donna Postel
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Publisher's summary

Kristina, the second of four children, begins by telling how a little sip of vodka sipped secretly at a party her parents were giving started her on a pathway to addiction. In that instant, alcohol became her pathway to comfort. Over the next eight years, she sank further into addiction, moving on to cocaine and methamphetamines. In telling her story, she gives a brutally honest description of her addiction and crimes.

Adding a heart-wrenching counterpart to each chapter of the book, Kristina's mother, Connie, gives a parent's account of what was happening throughout her child's experience. She describes her powerlessness to help her addicted daughter, the breakup of her unhappy marriage, and how she came to terms with her own codependency. She also describes the worst decision a mother ever has to make: to turn her oldest daughter out of her house, sending her onto the streets, in order to protect herself and her other children. Then follows the remarkable story of Kristina's recovery, her mother's tough love, and the years of acclimating herself to living a normal life. Ultimately she reclaimed herself, her place in her family, and a new and loving relationship with her mother.

©2006 Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This book is invaluable to families, and I am proud to recommend The Lost Years." (John Bradshaw, best-selling author of Healing the Shame That Binds You)

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    4 out of 5 stars

well-written, accessible, with odd Narrator Choice

I read this book quickly. Reading the alternating chapters between mother and daughter - the pain, the recovery, the clawing back and letting go. it was written in an engaging and accessible style and what it taught me about addiction and recovery will not soon leave me.
I will say that the choice of Hillary Huber as a narrator for the daughter was a rather strange one. Her voice does not sound particularly young, and while she did an admirable job, it just struck me that she sounded older than the person she was meant to portray.

Well worth your time and credit, whether or not anyone in your life struggles with addiction.

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6 people found this helpful

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Life Shifting Read

This is a wonderful, must read book for any mother with a teenage daughter or who will some day have a teenaged daughter (get ahead of the curve, and just read it now). I listened to this book as a "homework" assignment from my daughters therapist. My daughter does not struggle with drug addiction so initially I wasn't sure why the therapist thought this book would be insightful or relevant. Oh how wrong I was! Although the main character does struggle with drug addiction, it is the deeper underlying situations and circumstances for which addiction becomes an outlet (or symptom) that are relatable to probably most mothers and daughters, at least on some level.

I learned so much about myself and my daughter as I recognized us and some of our own patterns in the different characters. This book has become the springboard for many deep, healing and life changing conversations with all of my children, my husband and most of all my emotionally struggling daughter. It has become a connecting point for us in what had become a distant and even toxic relationship.

Be warned; this true story is dark, disturbing and uncomfortable to participate in, but well worth the journey!!! It is brilliantly written and brilliantly voiced. I highly recommend the audio version because the characters are so well voiced, listening really adds to the experience!

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5 people found this helpful

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needed depth

I feel like this book skimmed where it should have dived deep. I didn't get a connection to any of the characters, and it felt more like a long summary than a story. I wish it had elaborated more on what drug use is like, as well as relapsing and the struggle within.

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4 people found this helpful

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great book!

kept me interested the whole time! truthful and raw! sad that its over.audible is the best!

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2 people found this helpful

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Must read for mother's who's daughter is an addict

Raw, real and left me feeling not alone in addiction which changes the course of not only the addict but the entire family.

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2 people found this helpful

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Excellent story of addiction

This is a great account of what families go through and the fact that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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2 people found this helpful

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. Kristina wandzilak from a&e's addicted ❤

loved it. so true grit and relatable. #soberlife would love to hear client progress. skelley

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Gritty honesty

Not to be trite, but I was addicted. I found many reasons to take long runs and drives to be sucked into this amazing story. This is one strong duo...amazing. I hope Kristina writes another, and develops a new show as well.

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Loved It!

I literally couldn't put this down! I felt as if I was there the entire time. Very powerful, heartfelt story.. you go through so many emotions throughoutthis book. It shows you strength and makes you realize you CAN conquer anything you put your mind to!

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great book

this book hit home, in every way, and not to give up hope, that recovery is possible.

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