She Took a Turn

A Memoir of Climbing over Guardrails into Growth

Kristi J. Smith

Finding your true path isn’t easy. Sometimes, you’ve got to take a turn.

Early in her life, Kristi’s path was set. She traveled on the straight and narrow as an unquestioning Christian and dutiful daughter. This prescribed route, through her debutante ball and into medical school, set her up for success—and settled her into a life that never felt like her own.

In her memoir, She Took a Turn, Kristi Smith gives fresh insight into the challenging work of self-reflection and blazing one’s true trail. Kristi invites us inside her childhood memories and adult explorations, sharing stories from an entertaining and thought-provoking cast of characters who inspired her to open her mind and change her course. This story of Kristi’s journey through personal, political, and spiritual growth is a surprising celebration of authenticity. As Kristi takes her turn, she invites us to do the same, giving us hope and courage for our own exploration.

Kristi J. Smith grew up listening to southern stories before taking her ears on the road (and then off-road). Her eclectic mix of teachers include a Nigerian rainmaker, homeless men, rebellious students, haunted veterans, cheeky children, lively street vendors, and the exterminator who changed her life. She is indebted to all of them. She has degrees from Princeton, Harvard and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, has learned while teaching in underserved urban and rural (Teach For America) schools, and currently serves as the adult advisor to “Kids Coloring For a Cause,” a nonprofit she cofounded with her family. She likes to write, wonder and wander with her husband and four children. Their gateway to the world is a happy home in North Carolina.