DigeeBooks

An uproarious, moving memoir about a grandmother’s ferocious love and redefining what it means to be family.

“Painfully good. I loved it.” (Jenny Lawson, best-selling author of Furiously Happy)

"The Ugly Cry is the funniest memoir I have ever read. It is also achingly sad. And powerfully redemptive." (Augusten Burroughs, number one New York Times best-selling author of Running with Scissors) 

“If you fight that motherf--ker and you don’t win, you’re going to come home and fight me.” Not the advice you’d normally expect from your grandmother - but Danielle Henderson would be the first to tell you her childhood was anything but conventional. 

Abandoned at 10 years old by a mother who chose her drug-addicted, abusive boyfriend, Danielle was raised by grandparents who thought their child-rearing days had ended in the 1960s. She grew up Black, weird, and overwhelmingly uncool in a mostly White neighborhood in upstate New York, which created its own identity crises. Under the eye-rolling, foul-mouthed, loving tutelage of her uncompromising grandmother - and the horror movies she obsessively watched - Danielle grew into a tall, awkward, Sassy-loving teenager who wore black eyeliner as lipstick and was struggling with the aftermath of her mother’s choices. But she also learned that she had the strength and smarts to save herself, her grandmother gifting her a faith in her own capabilities that the world would not have most Black girls possess. 

With humor, wit, and deep insight, Danielle shares how she grew up and grew wise - and the lessons she’s carried from those days to these. In the process, she upends our conventional understanding of family and redefines its boundaries to include the millions of people who share her story.

The Ugly Cry: A Memoir by Danielle Henderson is a powerful and moving account of one woman's journey through grief and loss. After the sudden death of her husband, Henderson is left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. She must learn to cope with her overwhelming emotions, navigate the challenges of single parenthood, and find a way to move forward without her beloved partner.

Henderson's memoir is a raw and honest exploration of the messy, complicated emotions that accompany loss. She doesn't shy away from the ugly parts of grief, the moments of despair and hopelessness. But she also finds moments of beauty and grace, even in the midst of her pain. She writes about the importance of community and support, and the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.

The Ugly Cry is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced loss. Henderson's story is a reminder that we are not alone in our grief, and that it is possible to find hope and healing even in the darkest of times.

Here are some of the key themes explored in The Ugly Cry:

• The universality of grief: Henderson's story is a reminder that grief is a universal human experience. No matter who we are or where we come from, we will all experience loss at some point in our lives.
• The importance of community and support: Henderson's journey through grief is made easier by the support of her family and friends. She learns that it is important to reach out for help when we are grieving, and that there are people who care about us and want to help us heal.
• The power of love to heal: Even in the midst of her grief, Henderson finds moments of joy and love. She learns that love is a powerful force that can help us to heal even the deepest wounds.

The Ugly Cry is a powerful and moving memoir that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Henderson's story is a reminder that we are not alone in our grief, and that it is possible to find hope and healing even in the darkest of times.