Her Hands Made Me: A Memoir

In Her Hands Made Me, Mary Elizabeth Suzuki Langford Powell opens the door to her earliest memories, sharing the story of how a white Southern girl with a Japanese grandmother was raised by a village of women-each one leaving a mark on her soul. Through the eyes of a child, a daughter, and eventually a mother, Mary explores love, trauma, and the sacred art of being mothered and becoming a mother herself.

Set against the backdrop of Memphis, Tennessee, and enriched by her multiracial identity, Mary's journey is layered with the strength of her mother Leah, the quiet wisdom of her Japanese Mamaw Toshiko, the loving lessons of her stepmother Nancy, and the lifelong care of her childhood babysitter, Mrs. Dale. These women-alongside teachers, chosen family, and unexpected guides-helped shape her into the mother she would one day become.

From teenage pregnancy and open adoption to healing generational trauma and raising a neurodivergent daughter, Mary writes with poetic honesty and deep emotional insight. Her voice is raw, real, and healing-perfect for fans of mother-daughter memoirs, multiracial identity stories, and personal tales of overcoming trauma.

This is not just a story about surviving childhood-
It's about rising from it.