This is an amazing memoir. It is well written and compelling from the first chapter. It discusses many difficult topics which need to be read, discussed and reread. Daniella and her journey will stay with me for a long time. Highly reccommended.

As a young teen I visited the Children of God in Florida a couple of times. Everyone was quite friendly and on the surface all seemed well, but there was just some thing I couldn’t put my finger on. Boy, did this book make me thankful for that! “Uncultured” is such a well written, attention grabbing, factual, educational, truthful yet disturbing, account of the author’s life that I found it difficult to put down. From being born into a cult to escaping to the United States to serving in the army, the author had a tough time of it, to say the least. With great courage and strength, she had to learn to live as an adult in the real world once she was able to break the bonds that held her back. Some memoirs come across as an interesting story but not well written and I’m glad to have read them just for that, but this one comes across as an account written by an accomplished author that has me waiting for her next book, be it fact or fiction. Please read this book, it’s an eye-opener and a tearjerker, as well as being a story of triumph over tragedy. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

I first heard of the Children of God cult a few years ago, while perusing random pages about cults. It wasn’t until January of this year when I read Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones did I realize how horrible this cult really was. I’m very glad that publishers are taking their time to publish these stories.

Daniella Mestyanek Young tells the story of her cult experience beginning from her youth, and through when she finally decided enough was enough. However, due to the trauma of her upbringing, she ended up joining another cult of sorts, the military. Uncultured follows how she was unprepared for a normal life because of the narrow view the Children of God cult had of the world.

Mestyanek Young brings up a very important topic to mental health, and that’s how traumatized people end up going back to what feels normal. In her case, it was another strict regimen with strict leaders. In other people’s cases, it means going back to an abusive relationship, or entering abusive relationship after abusive relationship. It’s a very important topic to discuss, and not one I’ve seen mentioned in relation to trauma very often.

As these brave women put out their stories, I believe we will see even more horror stories to come out of not only the Children of God cult, but more cults surrounding sex crimes. I hope telling her story was helpful for her, and I know it will be helpful for many other people who deal with trauma.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

CW for child abuse, sexual assault/violence, rape, injury detail, antisemitism, religious bigotry, pedophilia, suicidal thoughts, victim blaming, self-harm, sexism, mental abuse, war, death, racism, and trauma

Great memoir and ienthralling. I couldn't put this down. It was a gripping book that was fantastic.

Uncultured is the memoir of a woman born into a cult, who escapes only to join the army, which feels increasingly like a cult too.

Cult life is even worse from a child’s point of view. Unprovoked spankings and sexual abuse from a young age is a normal day in the life of a female child within the cult. Daniella was raised by various uncles and aunties, who were really unrelated, while her parents and siblings lived their own separate lives within the cult.

I have watched and read a multitude of stories about cults. What strikes me about this memoir is the matter-of-factness of the descriptions of cult life. It’s so sad that a six-year-old is talking about almost daily physical and sexual abuse as if were a normal part of growing up.

Uncultured is a powerful account of a life that is filled with troublesome images. Usually, nothing triggers me, but this book did. It is tragic though ultimately uplifting. No matter how bad your personal story may be, it unlikely to be as bad as the author’s. And she is still alive and thriving. 4 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

I came for the cult and left with the strength of a woman!

First off, this was a fascinating, first hand account of Daniella's life being born and raised in the Children of God religion (cult). She narrates her own book so well and tells of her first memories of "the uncles" and the power that they had over the children and women. It was their job to punish little children and teens for any infractions. The uncles were feared to a point of stress and bedwetting. The culture of the Children of God was sick and upsetting to me with the free reign that men had over women, girls, and their bodies.

Then Daniella pivots in a big way as she leaves and gets out of the cult! So proud of her strength and resilience. I'll limit what I say here for fear of sharing any spoilers, but she goes on to find herself, adjusts her life for her beliefs and continues to find ways that people continue to control her.

This is a great memoir that was an eye opener to me and I'm grateful that Daniella was willing to share her stories so candidly.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advance e-copy of this book.

A haunting mesmerizing read Daniella has written a raw harrowing intimate look at growing up in the cult the children of god.Her experiences are difficult to read but kept me turning the pages and then she shares her experiences in the army also with candor holding nothing back.The author is a true survivor whose story is real and shocking.#netgalley #st.martins books

Thanks @stmartinspress for my copy of this book - it’s out now!

I’d consider myself fairly new to the world of cults and had never delved deep into the Children of God before this book. Reading about Daniella’s time with ‘The Family’ was incredibly difficult. Her stories about what she endured coupled with the fact that she was unsure about her beliefs were heartbreaking and it was easy to see why she wanted out, even if it meant entering a world that was completely unknown.

I couldn’t believe the parallels that could be drawn between her cult upbringing and the US army (as well as many other organizations in her epilogue). It was appalling to read about how she was treated after volunteering to protect the country she considered to be home. Reading about the awful low points along with the euphoric highs she reached during her training and while deployed was incredibly emotional.

One of the most important pieces of this book is Daniella’s message about trauma and how important it is to deal with it in order to protect your mental and physical health. There are a lot of trigger warnings that come with this book - I would definitely recommend looking into this before picking it up.

Thought provoking, Inspirational, and Unforgettable

Uncultured is a riveting memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young. Daniella describes her experience being born into the Children of God cult (The Family), being excommunicated, and later becoming an officer in the U.S. Army. She draws parallels between the indoctrination of her adolescence by The Family and the indoctrination of her adulthood by the Army. Her story is brutally honest and unflinching, never hesitating to reveal the dark truths. She was the third generation of her family to fall in line with the religious cult. They had strict rules and believed in sexual liberation even for children. This resulted in her heartbreaking account of childhood sexual abuse. At 15 years old, Daniella broke free of the exploitation in pursuit of a better life. With no prior formal education she enrolled in high school and excelled. She graduated from college at the top of her class and decided to join the military. Ultimately, this decision led to an environment startlingly similar to the one she left behind years ago.

"How does a scholar, a strategist, or a soldier understand a culture well enough to predict future outcomes without being willing to understand that all humans, from their own perspectives, are living a truth and reality as valid as ours?"

Daniella's words are powerful and at times gave me goosebumps. She has experienced two worlds that I will never fully comprehend. She navigates these memories with courage and veracity. I have so much respect for this fierce woman who overcame inconceivable circumstances. My favorite part of this memoir is that she doesn't write from a place of hate. She tells it how it is and never gives up. This is eye opening, not just for the inner workings of a sex cult or sexism in a male dominated field, but also for how women mold themselves just to survive. So many uncomfortable questions are brought to attention. Why is it that it's the woman who must dress and act accordingly to prevent inappropriate actions by a man? These important social topics are guaranteed to stimulate discussion. This is a unique and well written memoir that will not soon be forgotten. Uncultured deserves a spot on my list of memoirs that everyone should read alongside Know My Name and The Glass Castle.

Thank you St Martin's Press and Daniella M. Young for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🔹ℙ𝕦𝕓 𝔻𝕒𝕪 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨🔹

Happy Pub day to this outstanding memoir by @daniellamyoung_

𝗨𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱
𝗕𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴
𝟯𝟲𝟮 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝟮𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 -- 𝑶𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 5/5 stars

𝘈 𝘉𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳

𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦, 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘬 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘱𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰, 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Holy mother trucking ship, y'all!!!!!! 😱😱😱 What a book!!!! Uncultured is without a doubt one of the very best memoirs I have ever read. It may actually be THE best memoir I've ever read! It was shocking, horrific, heartbreaking, and yet awe-inspiring and hopeful.

It's sometimes difficult putting a rating on someone's story, but I can do that easily here. Not just because this story made a great read (I literally could NOT put it down), but because the writing is just phenomenal. The author writes in such a forthright, personal way. The way she brings the reader in, like we're there with her in that dingy basement, scared alone. Or on that track, full battle rattle, wondering if she has what it takes.

It's not often I am moved to tears by a book. But this one did me in.

Daniella Mestyanek Young is one of the strongest people alive. 💕 Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Big thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for putting this book on my radar and sending me an eARC to read and review. This is a book I will be recommending til the end of time. 🙏

Another incredible memoir. One of the best I read definitely.

While reading I just kept thinking: "wow, wow". What a heartbreaking but amazing story.

This was one of those books that you can't help but keep reading. Daniella's story is so heartbreaking and incredible, some may say, regardless, one worth telling for sure, and one I personally feel lucky to have had the chance to read, an eye-opener for sure.

It needs to be kept in mind that this book contains a lot of sensitive topics that could trigger the reader, such as sexual abuse in children, violence, verbal and psychological abuse, suicide, hunger, and poverty.

I really loved this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the free advanced readers' copy, in exchange for an honest review.

This is what I call a very "wow" book since this is the emotion you'll feel both as you read it and when you finish reading it. The author had a truly unique childhood being born into and raised in a sadistic cult. Her life has had so many twists and turns to it some with intention and some simply by accident. It's hard to imagine how she has become so strong and so willing to examine her life and put it all out there. It's a lot to absorb and because of that, I imagine almost any reader would find something to identify with and to think about. Kudos to this author for making this book happen!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this striking memoir.

Wow, what an amazing read. This book grabbed me and kept me reading until I finished the last page. It moves along at a speed which is perfect for the flow of the story. The characters are amazing and you cannot help but feel as though you know them. This is a must read book there is no doubt about it.

Daniella is raised in the cult of the Children of God in multiple international communes. She suffers every kind of abuse imaginable until she escapes as a teenager. Her traumatic upbringing bubbles to the surface again in her adult life and she enlists in the army and has to endure basic training.

I loved the vividness of this memoir. It was blunt in its writing style, which really made the reader sympathise with Daniella as she struggled to understand her life growing up. It gives you the full scope of her life, from little child to grown woman. I did find it to be a bit repetitive near the end, but I found this memoir fascinating. I did wish that there was a bit more about how Daniella felt towards her mother as an adult, after she was able to fully comprehend what she was put through. Daniella is a survivor, and I’m glad she decided to share her story.

This story was very hard to read and listen to. I hated every person in "the family" for all of the horrible atrocities done to these children. It's insane to know these things were happening to kids my age when I was a kid their age and couldn't even imagine them at the time. It's amazing that she was able to continue on and lead a life after this. The author is incredibly brave to tell her story. It's scary to see and hear what people do in the name of religion and this story is a horrible one but one that was important one to know.

Uncultured is one of those memoirs that sticks with you! If you liked Educated, this book is for you. Daniella Mestyanek Young discusses her time in a religious cult growing up and the army (basically another cult) with such vivid storytelling and tackling hard things head-on. I really appreciated her openness, vulnerability, and courage sharing her experiences, and thought that the book was impossible to put down. I would highly recommend it, pending the trigger warnings below.

TW: child abuse, sexual assault mentioned throughout

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, the author, and NetGalley for providing a copy to review!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this amazing memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young - 5 stars!

Daniella was born into the religious cult, The Children of God, and her family were high-ranking members. The Family, as it is sometimes known, is a thinly-disguised sexual cult, and Danielle lived with constant abuse - mental, physical, and sexual. The family lived in different countries and Daniella had no format education. When she was 15, she fled to Texas, enrolled herself in high school and, against all odds, excelled. She went on to college and was valedictorian before joining the Army to train as an intelligence officer.

In the vein of Educated and The Glass Castle, this is an amazing story of resilience in the face of evil, taking back your power, and owning your body and mind. To be able to accomplish what Daniella has done is nothing short of amazing. She knew early on that what was happening to her wasn't right or normal and kept her brain from succumbing totally to the cult mentality. It was also a powerful connection made to other group mentality issues, such as the military and more traditional religions. The concept that the military breaks you down in order to build you up the way they want also describes cult brainwashing. It also explores the female role in combat and the military, and Daniella was a trailblazer in this arena. This is a story that should be required reading by the powers that be in the military. I mostly listened to the audiobook, because it was narrated by the author, making it even more powerful. Highly recommended!

" The first rule of cults is we are never in a cult." - Author Daniella Mestyanek Young writes her story, urged on by true friends who believed in her. She grew up in The Children of God cult in a commune in Brazil. She, along with most if not all of the children there, were physically & sexually abused, humiliated, deprived of food and medical care, and even a relationship with their own parents. After 15 years of this horrible treatment, she took the bold step to run away to Texas to live with an older sister and attend high school - her first real school! She studied and worked part time to get her way through high school and on to college, graduating valedictorian. She then went into the US Army - "another kind of cult " she described. As horrific as her life is described in her book, I could only finish the book thinking what an incredible survivor she is. Although incredibly hard to read, this is a very powerful story.

Uncultured: A Memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thanks to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the ARC. This one is out Sept 20!

Gut-wrenching, raw, emotional, honest, courageous. This is a fantastic memoir told with unmatched bravery.

The author walks us through her childhood as a member of the Children of God cult. She relives her horrifying trauma and abuse she endured. She then illustrates what it was like to join the military as a female and the cult-like similarities the military has.

Her voice is unique and her perspective is one I’ve not encountered before. She did not shy away from the ugly, so this memoir was hard to read at times.

This is not just another book about cults; this is an in-depth look at trauma and the slow path it takes to overcome trauma. Please check the triggers before diving into this one as it covers many heavy subjects.

I have to admit that I struggled with this book. Not only is the content is hard and harsh, the writing is not the best. This is a true story of the author growing up in a cult and the abuse that she and other girls endured and her eventual escape. She ended up joining the military which she compared to the cult of her childhood years. I have read other books along these lines like Educated, that I really liked. This one does not compare. I do applaud the author for fleeing her childhood trama.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.