Book Review - Maid

Pacific Northwest. Stephanie Land is twenty-eight with big plans of university and a writing career. But an unplanned pregnancy derails the plans. Cover blurb: She turns to housekeeping to make ends meet, and with a tenacious grip on her dream to provide her daughter the very best life possible.

Maid is the real life story of an overworked and underpaid American. Food stamps, WIC, and other government programs help with housing and food. Aloof government employees call her lucky for receiving assistance while she doesn’t feel lucky at all. She wrote this book to remember the fight, to eventually cut through the deep-rooted stigmas of the working poor. (cover blurb)

Land writes with heart and bares her soul. She admits her mistakes. She takes blame for some choices made. But she doesn’t apologize for trying to keep a roof over her head and caring for her daughter. She gives up food for her. She writes about the struggle for medical care for a sick baby. Stephanie was a victim of abuse and had to seek safety in a shelter. She fought to earn money to get her own place – however spare. As a “ghost” she knows a lot about her client’s lives – the richness and sadness.

Maid is an eye-opener and a powerful true story. Consider it against the backdrop of America today and ponder life for so many who work long hours for so little. It is time to clean in the corners and make life sparkle a bit for those who are stuck – down on their knees trying to get up. Scrubbing and scrubbing to make ends meet. Lots to ponder with one woman’s truth.