Once Upon an Effing Time

In 1969, eight-year-old Elizabeth Squire faces a pivotal choice: to succumb to the challenges of her botched birth or strive for greatness. In Buffy Cram's novel Once Upon an Effing Time, Elizabeth recounts her tumultuous childhood, marked by a complicated relationship with her neglectful mother, Margaret. As they embark on a series of bizarre escapades after fleeing Ontario, Elizabeth adopts various personas, including a fortune teller who channels Bob Dylan, while navigating the complexities of family, counterculture, and identity. With a blend of humor and heartbreak, Cram explores the intricate dynamics of family life and the allure of stories.