On a cold March day in New York City, as a taxi drives her to a social gathering, Jeannette Walls spots her mother dressed in rags, rummaging through a dumpster. A few days later, Jeanette and Mom meet at a Chinese restaurant. When Jeannette asks what she can do to help, Mom tells her, “I’m fine. You’re the one who needs help. Your values are all confused” (6).

The narrative flashes back to Jeannette’s childhood in 1963. Her earliest memory, at the age of three, is of leaning over the stove cooking hot dogs unsupervised. Jeannette lives in a trailer park in Southern Arizona with Mom, Dad, her older sister, Lori, and her younger brother, Brian. Jeannette’s dress catches fire. She suffers serious burns on her ribs, stomach, and chest.

After Jeannette receives skin grafts from her legs, the nurses and doctors tell her she is lucky to be alive. Jeannette loves the hospital because she never runs out of food there. A few days later, Dad absconds with Jeannette in the middle of the night, whiskey on his breath.