Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard

Liz Murray's memoir recounts her journey from homelessness to Harvard. Born in the Bronx to loving but drug-addicted parents, Murray faced ridicule at school for her appearance and eventually entered the foster care system after chronic truancy. At fifteen, she became homeless, surviving by foraging for food and spending nights on subways. After her mother died of AIDS, Murray decided to return to high school while living on the streets, completing assignments in hallways and subway stations. She compressed four years of high school into two years, earned a New York Times scholarship, and gained admission to an Ivy League university. The memoir documents her efforts to take control of her circumstances and pursue education despite extreme hardship.