Liz then applies for scholarships and wins one from the New York Times, which publishes her story of homelessness and a childhood of neglect. She starts school and manages to earn top marks and finish in just two years, completing a year’s worth of high school each semester. They part ways several times before their breakup sticks, and Liz ends up getting a job canvassing for a non-profit organization after she applies to an alternative high school. After that, Liz lives on the streets and in motels with her friend Sam and her boyfriend, Carlos, both in an attempt to get away from Brick and to avoid her mother’s terminal illness due to AIDS.Ĭarlos eventually starts using and dealing drugs, and his behavior turns violent toward Sam and Liz after Liz’s mother dies. Brick is cruel and ultimately drives Liz out of his house. Liz is taken by Child Welfare Services and placed in a group home, after which she is released to her mother’s boyfriend, Brick. As Liz starts school, she struggles with truancy, which contributes to the wedge driven between her and her sister, Lisa, with whom Liz unintentionally competes for her parents’ love, affection, and attention. Their apartment is filthy and the family rarely has enough food to eat because not only do they spend what little money they get on drugs, but it only comes in in drips and drabs, through welfare.

Liz’s parents, Jeanie and Peter, spend their days getting high.

Breaking night by liz murray