The courageous story of Van Meers, born in a home for unwed mothers in Ghent, Belgium, 1930. It is told in her own words in a frank, humorous and down-to-earth manner. She grew up as a "bastard" during the Great Depression, and sees her family and country told apart by prejudice and politics in World War II, and recounts how she struggles to redefine herself in turbulent postwar Europe. Based on hundreds of hours of taped interviews, Rachel's view of a family "not-quite-normal," her amazing strength in the face of abusive and degrading treatment, and her strong faith and upbeat attitude make her story a joy and inspiration to read.