Eddie In The Rough: Becoming a Diamond

A diamond is forged in the hardest places.

In 1980, the Acosta family fled Cuba during the Mariel Boatlift in search of a better life. What they found instead was a world of instability, secrets, and a relentless cycle of survival. Born Hery Acosta, but known to many as Eddie, a young boy is thrust into a life where "home" is a shifting concept, moving between overcrowded tents, the Columbia Villas projects, and a string of foster care placements.

From the dark corners of a locked closet to the unpredictable streets of Portland, Kent, and Orlando, Eddie and his siblings navigate a childhood marked by trauma and the constant struggle for a sense of belonging. As he grows, Eddie must find his own way through the lure of street gangs, the pressures of fitting in at ever-changing schools, and the complicated reality of a family held together by grit but often pulled apart by addiction and abuse.

Eddie in the Rough is a raw and honest memoir of resilience. It is the story of a boy forced to grow up too soon, fighting to protect his siblings while trying to discover who he is meant to be. It is a journey from the rough edges of a difficult beginning toward the hope of becoming something more.