Mommy Highest

Twenty-five-year-old writer Miasha didn’t need to look far for inspiration for her latest book, Mommy’s Angel. The story of a 15-year-old girl and her drug-addled mom pretty much parallels the Philadelphia native’s life. “A lot of it comes from my personal experiences,” she says. “It’s something that made me a stronger person over time. When I was younger, though, I never talked about it. I acted like I had a happy household.”

Mommy’s Angel is the tale of Angel Washington, whose single mother becomes addicted to heroin after her oldest son is killed. It’s up to Angel to take care of her sister and baby brother. So she starts working at a strip joint to pay the bills. “It’s a look at a world where children live with addicted parents,” says Miasha. “I want people to know where I came from and that it’s possible to get through this.” Miasha hopes her third novel connects with teens struggling with similar circumstances. But she also wants parents to read it -- if only to realize what they’re putting their kids through. “I want to touch people who are in this situation,” she says. “I want to wake people up.”
Thu., June 21, 7 p.m.