This memoir is written about a topic that is all too prevalent as far as memoirs go these days--that of a lower class white family and how their lot in life often dictates the person they will become. Ericka Andersen quotes JD Vance and his book Hillbilly Elegy, and rightfully so as there are common themes from Hillbilly Elegy that are at play here. It also reminded me of a popular book currently out now, Heartland by Sarah Smarsh. A big difference is that Smarsh is very quick to condemn the heavily republican politics of the last few decades as a cause for her upbringing, whereas Andersen is more apt to point the finger at a lack of religion. This is ultimately where this book lost me.


Personally, I'm not interested in reading about religion. Andersen begins throwing it out from the very beginning and truthfully, it made me uncomfortable and skeptical. I actually came back to Netgalley to see whether I had inadvertently requested a book tagged as Christian. Indeed, I had not, however it is mentioned briefly in the book's description. I tried to overcome my misgivings, but ultimately I found the presence of God in this book too overwhelming. It's just not for me.

While I think Leaving Cloud Nine is well written and has an interesting story, I'm not the right reader for this book. I think Andersen could have told her husband's story in less of a polarizing way.

Rick Sylvester had the kind of childhood that no one would ever wish on their worst enemy.  Abandoned by their father at the age of two,  Rick and his sister are raised by their alcoholic mother in a rundown trailer park. With memories of his mother's shoplifting, an endless stream of boyfriends, drug abuse and undiagnosed mental illness, Rick strives not to follow in his mother's footsteps.  Written by Rick's wife, Ericka, Leaving Cloud 9 lesser-told story about poverty among White Americans through Rick's grief and suffering an eventual redemption. 

This was not an easy book to read given the salient issues that it addresses.  Readers will empathise with Rick while seeing him through his wife's eyes.  The author also balances Rick's story while interspersing American socio-economic facts. Leaving Cloud 9 brings to the forefront issues that are lesser discussed in Christian circles. particularly mental illnesses and would be a great conversation starter.

Good and honest look at the author's husband's childhood, as well as his sister's. They both had a lot to deal with and it is a testimony about his faith and never giving up hope. Strong testimonial. This and a good wife is what helped him through. Very good book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not affect my opinion of this book nor my review.

I was given an advanced copy through Netgalley for my review. I would highly recommend this book to family and friends and will buy a copy for myself.

This shared memoir written by Rick's wife offers a unique writing style not commonly found. By my own fault for not doing the research before hand, but I did not realize the heavy hand religion played in this memoir. I would highly recommend this book for this looking for a reason to believe.

LEAVING CLOUD 9 BY ERICKA ANDERSEN
BY KEVIN HOLTSBERRY
I’ve known Ericka Andersen for over a decade going back to my days as a conservative blogger/online activist type. Over the years I have been impressed with her career as she became an expert in social media marketing, digital influence and communications. She works hard, has a lot of energy and works for some great organizations.

I was equally impressed when she moved back to Indiana to be closer to her family and to start a family herself. And although I followed many of these changes via Facebook, we weren’t particularly close friends and my busy life and own family meant I only saw bits and pieces when I happened to catch them in my feed.

So when I heard that she was publishing a book, Leaving Cloud 9, about her husband and his remarkable life story I was intrigued. I try to make a point of reading books by people I know (even if only online). The dramatic nature of the story she would tell grabbed my attention even more. I was lucky enough to be able to get a review copy from NetGalley and dove in.

As I have mentioned on social media a few times, Leaving Cloud 9 is not an easy book to read. It tells the story of abuse, neglect, and abandonment; of PTSD, bipolar, social anxiety, divorce and depression. But it is also a story about love and redemption; about beating the odds and rising above the most challenging environment to find faith, hope and love.

The book reads like a memoir in the sense that it recounts the life of Rick Sylvester but it does so through the voice and eyes of his now wife Ericka. Along the way she folds in social sciences research and public policy issues related to the problems and issues Rick faced.

As I read through the traumas Rick and his sister suffered through and their continued attempts to simply survive when everything in life seems stacked against them, I couldn’t help but thinking 1) what a harsh reminder of how some people live and how blessed I am, even with challenges of my own family and 2) how did the @#$% did Rick survive?

And that is what the book drives at; that question looms throughout. Andersen’s answer is a combination of Rick’s own refusal to give up, a few people and circumstances at key points, and God’s saving grace.

Rick showed an amazing determination to just keep trying; to keep pushing forward. He joined the military after high school which gave him discipline, solidarity and friendships. It was not a smooth experience and he didn’t find the military his ultimate vocation but there were important elements of adulthood that were gained.

There were a few key people who helped Rick survive. First and foremost was his sister. They clearly relied on each other their whole lives and just having some else there with you as you went through hell meant something important. And later his sister would play a key role in helping Rick keep trying and moving forward. One of his mom’s boyfriends also helped Rick see that there were adults who cared about him and who could serve as role models, no matter how flawed. Just a glimpse of love and support meant a lot. And of course, Ericka is in many ways the final necessary piece to his healing process.

God is the other thread that is weaved into the whole story. Ericka and Rick are not shy about their belief that God is the ultimate reason that Rick has come through the incredible traumas he faced and found a life of stability, love and support. This foundational belief that God was moving in Rick’s life and in Ericka’s and that the only path to salvation was faith in Jesus Christ; both in the abstract theological sense and in the very real life sense.

You may or may not agree with this theological perspective. You may have nagging questions about the existence of evil and the role of faith; may wonder how Rick is different from the many other children who didn’t find a happy ending. But you can’t question the role it played in their respective lives and, as Ericka relates, how Rick truly found healing in the church and through his faith.

And as these threads begin to connect in the book’s closing chapters what struck me was the amazing love Ericka obviously has for Rick and the deep faith required to believe that 1) the real Rick was not reflected in his problems, his anger and social anxiety 2) that God was calling her to something important in this relationship. I don’t mean to imply that Ericka took on Rick as some sort of mission project but rather she understood that their relationship could be a true reflection of the redemptive love of Jesus and that would be a beautiful thing. To see through all the challenges and truly believe that God could make something beautiful out of all of the suffering, and of Ericka’s life, struggles and experiences, etc..

It is truly an incredible story. Not just that Rick could overcome incredible odds and graduate college, find stable employment, find a lasting love, and begin to create a loving family of his own, but that he and Ericka could meet in Washington, DC and create a bond that would lead to love, marriage and parenthood. Even having children was an act of faith and another example of how they persevered through love and faith.

So the question that lingers in many people’s minds has to be why write a book like this and why read it? Ericka and Rick took the risk to tell their story because they believed it would give hope and faith to those who might be struggling with the same or similar issues. They want to spread the message that you can survive and even thrive.

And in the same way reading it is a stark reminder of the incredible hardships many American’s face every day and that faith, hope and love are needed more than ever. Ericka and Rick’s story is inspiring and humbling. For many who read it, like me, it will be a reminder to count your blessings and an opportunity to reflect on the importance of faith and family.

And that is a message we all need to hear.

An open, honest, unbelievably transparent account of Ericka's husband Rick's childhood. Growing up in an addicted and neglectful home with only his younger sister as a constant, this book opens the readers' eyes to mental illness and growing up in poverty without a stable home life or outside support - family or otherwise. And overcoming these obstacles - growing and healing through faith and God

Ericka does a great job of using fact based research on mental illness and addiction along with weaving the reader through Rick's journey.

I highly recommend this book as an easy but eye opening and also a heart opening read.

With the great title and book cover, Leaving Cloud 9 by Ericka Anderson is a deeply sensitive and sympathetic portrayal of her husband’s life story. Rick Sylvester and his sister were abandoned by their biological father, and raised by an alcoholic mother who was also addicted to drugs. The children were often left in the care of their overburdened and resentful grandparents, furthering their sorrow of being unloved and unwanted by members of their own family.

Already divorced then widowed when her young husband was killed while serving in the Army, Sylvia supported her two small children with a military survivor’s pension. Perhaps looking for a break from the demands of single motherhood, Sylvia drank heavily and brought home a long parade of men, many were unaware she had children. It was obvious Sylvia had behavioral, emotional and mental issues by the way she became addicted to alcohol, drugs and volatile relationships with men who exploited and abused her; she was totally unable to parent her children, exposing them her own suicide attempts, along with unsafe or dangerous situations. A long term relationship Sylvia had of at least a decade brought Rick a sense of somewhat being cared for and nurtured by a father figure, though eventually the man would exit their lives-- it was unclear if this father-son relationship was maintained. Eventually Rick’s sister would sever all contact with her mother.
The pediatric research of Nadine Blake Harris was noted: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) alter a child’s biology resulting in various health conditions throughout life. The differences between foster care and the problematic kinship care provided by Rick’s grandparents were also discussed; the author seldom missed a chance to bitterly reiterate that Sylvia was a terrible person and mother.

In adulthood, Rick served in the Army, which included a tour in Kuwait, before being honorably discharged. Twice married and divorced, Rick’s life improved considerably after he met and married Anderson, the couple celebrated the birth of their son Jacob. In recent times, Rick received multiple diagnoses for mental health conditions; given his traumatic history this wasn’t surprising. Inspired by his spirituality and faith in God, Rick reconnected with Sylvia after years of estrangement. This is a story of redemption and healing from serious abuse and psychological wounds, discovering the strength of forgiveness and moving forward through the grace of God.. ~ 3* GOOD. ~ With thanks to Thomas Nelson Books via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.

At first, I was a little put off by the way this book was written. I felt like it was almost written like a newspaper article reporting facts, instead of a story. However, the characters really drew me into the story because I wanted to see what would happen to them (especially Rick and Jenny). Being a teacher and a mother myself, it broke my heart to see everything Rick and Jenny went through as children, but I rejoiced with them when they found God, and saw that they are now living successful lives. This story is truly a testament to the goodness of God, and that He never leaves or forsakes His children.

This was a hard book for me to read because of how Rick was treated as a child. No child should have to live like that. But with the help of God and hard work he was able to overcome what he went through. This book will touch your heart and soul. Don't pass this book up. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley, opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This isn't an easy book to read, however, it is an important book. This story is repeated across our nation and we need to be aware of it and understand how it affects the children that grow up with abuse. The author has done her research and written honestly about the subject. I do believe God was what helped this man heal and have a solid foundation. It didn't come easily but he and his wife worked hard for it.
I received this book free from the publisher for the purpose of review.

Imagine growing up with a younger sister in a home where your only parent does drugs, drinks excessively and has different men in her life all of the time? Add to this being seven years old and seeing you mom beat up by various, maniacal men who had served time in jail and then one of them wanted to beat you up!
This is only part of Rick’s story, he thought it was normal to hide from the police, be left alone with your sister for days while your mom was gone, and have someone break into your home in the muddle of the night!
What will happen to Rick and his sister, will they grow up like Mom or not?