My life begins at the Y" So begins the story of Shannon, a newborn baby dumped at the doors of the YMCA. Bounced between foster homes, Shannon defines life on her own terms even as she longs to uncover her roots. The answers lie in the heartbreaking tale of her mother, a girl herself and one with a desperate fate. Through Marjorie Celona's intimate observations and quirky wit, the two stories converge to shape a unique and lasting story of identity and family.