My Five Sisters: A Psychological Thriller Based on a True Story of Multiple Personalities

Franklin’s memoir, a retelling of her childhood, confronts abuse, trauma, and, most importantly, survival. At the outset, Franklin is six years old and the youngest child in a family living in 1950s Jackson, Miss. Family events such as weddings, divorces, and moving mark the early years of her life, but these are overshadowed by the abuse she suffers at the hands of her family members. Her father sexually abuses her sisters, but Franklin is protected from most of it by her sister, Angela. Ironically, it’s the abuse she suffers at the hands of Angela’s multiple personalities, who Franklin refers to collectively as the Sisters, which is ultimately the dominant experience of her childhood that shapes Franklin’s life for years to come. Common emotions start to take on new meaning for Franklin in the form of Angela’s other personalities: Angry, Hero, Kind, and Sad are heavy with the significance each represents. Franklin’s memories, though powerful, feel patched together rather than developed as a fluid narrative, and while the book’s resolution is welcome, it feels rushed in comparison to the conflicts detailed throughout. Though Franklin’s courage is inspiring, her story is told from a child’s viewpoint, making for a challenging and awkward read—the narrative suffers without the perspective of an adult looking back on that childhood. (BookLife)