Odd child, 2025

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Gra

Identifier: b7932431

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

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The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate English program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts degrees.

Students become eligible to pursue the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree if they have obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) in English from Monmouth University and demonstrate a proficiency for creative writing through a thesis or equivalent work.

After completing their 30-credit M.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration, Monmouth’s M.F.A. students take an additional 18 credits of intensive creative writing study that includes the completion of a book-length Creative Thesis.

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2025

Creator

Graas, Debora L. (Debora Lynn) (1956- ) (Author, Person)
Moscaliuc, Mihaela, 1972- (Thesis advisor, Person)
Womack, Kenneth (1966- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (732-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Patrons must sign a completed Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to obtain access to the collection. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Full Extent

1 Items (print book) : 186 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

In Odd Child, author Debora L. Graas relates how her experiences in childhood and as a young adult develop her relationship to the metaphysical. Through candid snapshots of both traumatic and tender scenes from child neglect and sexual assault, to romance, music, and dance, the writer creates a self-portrait for the reader to judge as harlot or heroine.

The author delves through introspection to recall details of a life both suffered and celebrated. Details overlooked in past moments are deeply explored through the recounting, and brought to a new understanding that alters her self-perception. From unwitting odd child to seasoned senior, Graas reviews her life with brazen candor and from the perspective of a survivor who believes that love prevails. But what is it that really saved her: cunning or grace?

Keywords: Creative nonfiction, memoir, multimodal text, collective consciousness, Crohn’s disease, child neglect, sexual abuse, lesbianism/homosexuality.

Partial Contents

Childhood -- 1. Odd girl -- 2. From odd to object -- 3. Sins of the mother -- Marriage, motherhood, and other first world white woman challenges -- 4. My three marriages and a U-Haul -- 5. My angel : Tristan -- 6. My rock : Hillary -- Life after death -- 7. The struggle -- 8. The death of a daughter -- 9. The return to radiance.