Henry Holt — My Family and Other Hazards: A Memoir

Overview

Published by Henry Holt, My Family and Other Hazards offers a funny, intimate look at a family’s bold experiment in Wisconsin woods: a one‑of‑a‑kind miniature golf course built during carefree summers. When the narrator is ten, her parents launch Tom Thumb Miniature Golf for the public, turning a simple family venture into a living scrapbook of memories, missteps, and small triumphs. The book uses humor and honesty to describe how a homegrown dream becomes a shared project that shapes the people who grow up around it.

What the book feels like

The narrative blends wit with warmth, inviting readers to stroll the course, read the quirky signs, and listen to the chorus of neighbors and vacationers who become part of the family saga. The hazards at each hole reflect the everyday hazards of growing up, from miscommunications to bold, imperfect decisions. It is a story that lingers in the mind like a favorite summer soundtrack.

Reading prompts you may notice

• Relatable family dynamics told with humor and candor
• A vivid sense of place, from snowcones and popcorn to sun‑warmed wood and green turf
• Accessible prose that makes memory feel immediate and tender

As the years pass, the course faces pressure to be sold. The narrator returns from Hollywood to help decide its fate, weighing the pull of departure against the weight of history. The memoir surveys what home means when a beloved space is at stake, offering a nuanced look at memory, belonging, and identity without rushing toward easy conclusions.

• The humor stays grounded, never leaning on nostalgia alone
• Renowned details create a tangible sense of summers past
• Emotional stakes hinge on family bonds, hard work, and community rhythms

For readers who savor warm, human stories, this memoir presents a thoughtful journey through childhood landmarks and adult choices. It invites you to imagine how a seemingly small project can shape who you become, and how saying goodbye to a childhood home can also open space for new beginnings. The narrative stops short of promises, instead offering possibilities—the idea that a playful place can nurture resilience, memory, and a gentle sense of continuation for the people who carry it forward.