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Cover of The Glass Castle

Memoir

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls

4.2 out of 5, from 647 ratings from Hardcover readers

Jeannette Walls recounts a childhood with brilliant but neglectful parents who moved the family constantly and often left the children hungry. She describes how she and her siblings eventually escaped to New York.

Facts last checked 2026-10-17

First published
2005
Pace
Medium
Length
Medium
Pages
304
Format
Standalone
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Read this if you like honest family memoirs about hardship and resilience.

Skip this if you find stories of childhood neglect and poverty too upsetting.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Child abuse
  • Abuse
  • Bullying
  • Sexual assault

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Death
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexism
  • Terminal illness
  • Toxic relationship
  • Medical content
  • Grief

Quick answers about The Glass Castle

What is The Glass Castle about?
Jeannette Walls recounts a childhood with brilliant but neglectful parents who moved the family constantly and often left the children hungry. She describes how she and her siblings eventually escaped to New York.
Who should read The Glass Castle?
Read it if you like honest family memoirs about hardship and resilience. Skip it if you find stories of childhood neglect and poverty too upsetting.
How long and how fast is The Glass Castle?
It is a medium-paced, medium read of about 304 pages, first published in 2005.
Does The Glass Castle have content warnings?
Content we flag: Child abuse, Abuse, Bullying, Sexual assault.
Can I borrow The Glass Castle for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Glass Castle; the borrow button above searches it for you.

Where to get it

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