Sarah Polley, Narrator

Sarah Polley is a former child actor and present-day filmmaker who narrates a series of essays that detail the most difficult challenges she has faced and how she has now "run towards the danger" in writing about them and telling her own story with complete honesty. These challenges include the death of her mother, vicious stage fright, sexual assault, a high-risk pregnancy, a severe concussion, and several more. Through these stories, Polley remains dedicated to telling readers how they can survive their own trials as well.

Polley lacked an ordinary childhood. Her parents did not observe the usual boundaries that parents and children observe, so Polley grew up quickly with a lot of adult knowledge by the time she reached grade school. Her parents were euphoric about her acting opportunities, especially when she was offered a part in Terry Gilliam's film The Adventures of Baron...