Jeannette Walls, the 3rd child to Rex Walls and Rose Mary Walls, was born on April 21, 1960, in Phoenix, Arizona. Growing up, Jeannette had a rough childhood. Her parents didn't have very stable careers or a steady income. Her and her family lived in houses infested with snakes and rats, and most times they were completely homeless. After her junior year in high school, at the age of 17, Jeannette moved from Phoenix to New York to live her older sister, Lori. After moving away, Jeannette was able to finish her education at Barnard College, with the help of grants, loans, and scholarships. After receiving her education, she began working as a journalist and full time reporter for a newspaper called The Phoenix. In 1988, Jeannette married Eric Goldberg, their divorce shortly followed after only 2 years. She later remarried in 2002 to John Taylor, another well known journalist. Even being a successful journalist, she was still teased and made fun of about her childhood. TO end all the pain, she decided to publish a memoir about her life growing up, titled The Glass Castle. After her book The Glass Castle, Jeannette was praised for her talent and craftsmanship. This inspired her to publish another book, this time to tell her grandmothers story, titled Half Broke Horses, Jeannette may have had a rocky start to life but she has been able to publish 4 books and currently contributes to MSNBC. She has created a meaningful life for herself.