ALL THAT’S UNSEEN: AN APPALACHIAN MEMOIR by Emilee Hackney, available as an eBook, audiobook, and a 384-page hardcover from Penguin Press.

The story follows a young girl from childhood to adulthood, a seemingly unexceptional journey, since we all go through it. However, Emilee’s path began in dirt-poor Appalachia, where opportunities seemed nonexistent. Her father and grandparents endured periods of grueling work, unemployment, financial worries, and other obstacles that life in an economic and cultural vacuum presented.

Emilee’s relationships with the opposite sex were numerous and varied. Much of the story focuses on these relationships and their impact on her life. At a young age, Emilee was exposed to the Pentecostal Church, along with the histrionics and fervor that define it. This religious exposure, combined with her relationship encounters, left a lasting impression on Emilee and shaped her later personality development and her view of morality and spirituality.

Emilee was always a bright student. Surprisingly (even to Emilee herself), Harvard accepted her as a sophomore transfer from her community college. Her years at Harvard were an unusually stark educational experience, not only because of the demanding coursework but also because she was constantly aware that her southwestern Virginia accent and mannerisms set her apart and that her adolescent upbringing and experiences differed so greatly from those of her classmates. Emilee found this contrast to be a formative influence on her development into adulthood.

Emilee survived these formative challenges, which shaped her later personality. Although she could boast the distinction of being a Harvard student, she eventually chose to reconnect with the Appalachian life she grew up in, spending time with family during the COVID-19 pandemic when Harvard had suspended classes. After her virtual graduation (she couldn't attend in Cambridge), she settled in Charlottesville, VA.

What I take away from this story is a better understanding of the impact of the formative years, an awareness of the fierce grip that religious experiences can exert, an appreciation for the strength and persistence of family bonds, the nagging struggle an individual endures when trying to form a meaningful bond with another, and the wonderful, enduring power of the soul as it strives to fulfill its call to self-identity and actualization. This story has it all. Well done, Emilee!