In a candid revelation, EA Hanks, the daughter of acclaimed actor Tom Hanks, reflects on a tumultuous childhood marked by “deprivation” and “violence” in her new memoir, “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road.” The 42-year-old author, whose full name is Elizabeth Anne Hanks, opens up about her formative years with her mother, Susan Dillingham, in a poignant excerpt published by People magazine.

Born in Burbank, California, EA describes her early life following her parents’ divorce in 1985. After the split, she and her older brother, Colin, were raised primarily in Sacramento, where they faced a challenging environment. In her memoir, EA shares vivid memories of living in a home that was often chaotic and neglected. She writes, “the fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not,” and describes an atmosphere filled with confusion and emotional turmoil.

A turning point in her life occurred when, at the age of 14, EA and her mother embarked on a six-month road trip along Interstate 10 from Los Angeles to Florida. This journey served as a backdrop for her struggles, as EA recalls her mother’s emotional instability, suspecting that Susan may have suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. EA poignantly recounts a night when emotional violence escalated to physical violence, prompting her relocation to Los Angeles in the middle of the seventh grade.

The memoir also touches on the profound impact of her mother’s illness, which culminated in Susan’s death from lung cancer in 2002. EA reflects on the complexities of their relationship, noting, “My senior year of high school, she called to say she was dying.”

“The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road” is set to be released on April 8, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the life of the daughter of one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures, while highlighting the struggles of familial bonds and personal resilience.