Misty Copeland's memoir Life in Motion is easily compared to Jeannette Walls's book The Glass Castle. As I was reading Misty's book I realized these similarities and I decided to make a blog post about it. Let's take a look:
Even though these two authors come from different places and different backgrounds, the similarities between their childhoods are remarkable. Both were raised in households that were constantly moving from place to place. They also come from families with many children, Misty's with seven, and Jeannette's with four. At a young age, they both found joys for hobbies that would later become their careers- dancing and writing. Both girls were extremely poverty stricken during their childhoods and were even homeless at least once during their childhoods. They also participated in after school activities- such as the school newspaper and Boy's and Girl's Club of America. Misty and Jeannette both had to seek success in school and were very ambitious. They also had good role models in their teachers, whether it be a dance teacher or and English teacher.
Differences
Although their childhoods were similar, there are some significant differences between these two authors' stories. While Misty's father was completely absent until adulthood, Jeannette's parents were there and married. The reasons their families moved frequently were different. Misty moved often due to her mother's constant changing of husbands and boyfriends. Jeannette moved because of her parents inability to pay their bills or their taxes. Their passions were also different, dancing and writing/journalism. Misty moved away from her parents at a young age to live with her teacher. Jeannette didn't move away until college, which Misty did not attend. Misty even sought emancipation from her mother. Misty was also treated differently throughout her career and her childhood due to the fact that she is a minority. They also lived in different states during their childhoods.
Although their childhoods were similar, there are some significant differences between these two authors' stories. While Misty's father was completely absent until adulthood, Jeannette's parents were there and married. The reasons their families moved frequently were different. Misty moved often due to her mother's constant changing of husbands and boyfriends. Jeannette moved because of her parents inability to pay their bills or their taxes. Their passions were also different, dancing and writing/journalism. Misty moved away from her parents at a young age to live with her teacher. Jeannette didn't move away until college, which Misty did not attend. Misty even sought emancipation from her mother. Misty was also treated differently throughout her career and her childhood due to the fact that she is a minority. They also lived in different states during their childhoods.