Lynn watched her beloved Clare, newly adopted from Haiti, crawl the house in a frantic search for her lost mother. Preschool Clare enchanted with belly laughs and shining smiles. Also, thrashed and wailed in her room as Lynn crouched on her own bed—pillow clutched over her head—her past trauma triggered. A pre-teen trip to Haiti brought sunshine, ruby red hibiscus blooms, and the music of Haitian Creole. Back at home, Clare shattered mirrors into shards on the subway tiles of their bathroom. And just before her thirteenth birthday, as she and Lynn walked hand in hand through their neighborhood, Clare calmly detailed her plan to die. Over the next years, Lynn and her family walked through psychiatric hospitals, along the Appalachian Trail, and in and out of residential placements, marriage, faith, and sanity barely surviving the journey. But then Lynn learned about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)—a source of neurodivergence in one in twenty American children—and discovered the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Model, a strengths-based approach to celebrating and accommodating neurodiversity. It was a discovery that transformed them all. At times joyous, at times harrowing, but always full of love, Tinderbox is a mother’s story of brokenness, unrelenting resilience, and hope.

"Tinderbox: One Family's Story of Adoption, Neurodiversity, and Fierce Love by Lynn Alsup is a compelling memoir that details the experiences of an adoptive mother as she navigates the intricacies of infertility, cross-cultural adoption, and raising neurodiverse children...Tinderbox is recommended for anyone interested in adoption, parenting, or seeking inspiration in the face of adversity. This narrative is a powerful reminder that anything is possible with courage, resilience, and love." - Readers Favorite, 5-star review

“What emerges from the experience of reading Tinderbox is the vital importance of community, and the power of understanding as the foundation for acceptance and uncluttered love. I was struck by the depth of Alsup’s courage and candor—showing how theory may be translated into life." —Diane V. Malbin, MSW, author of Trying Differently Rather Than Harder, international FASD authority, founder of FASCETS, Inc.

“Tinderbox is a sacred gift; honest, vulnerable, humble and hopeful. Whether your journey has included similar experiences to Lynn and her family or not, Tinderbox is a timely reminder of our shared humanity and our need to care for one another through both the challenges and celebrations of life. Lynn’s writing is compelling, authentic and inviting - I couldn’t put it down once I started! I highly recommend that you create space for Tinderbox to become a part of your journey! You will be inspired, challenged, informed and uplifted.” —Rev. Sharon Seyfarth Garner, United Methodist pastor, spiritual director, award-winning author and founder of Belly of the Whale Spiritual Direction & Retreat Ministries

“I LOVED this book! It’s a story that desperately needs to be heard. Lynn brilliantly captures two decades of her adoption journey... . With openness and grace, she shares her spiritual journey and hard-won wisdom. I recommend this book to families and mental health professionals struggling with children’s extreme behaviors.” —Julia D. Rivera, Esquire, Learning Disabilities Association Texas Board Director, North TX FASD Network, Cofounder

"Tinderbox is the book I wish had been available three decades ago when I was contemplating adopting mixed race children damaged by early trauma, radiant with resilience, requiring every ounce of resourcefulness I could gather. Reading Lynn and Jeff's story renewed my hope in the power of love to transform our deepest wounds, leading us into territories we may never have dared enter if we had known better!" —Mirabai Starr, Author of Caravan of No Despair and Wild Mercy