Hillbilly Elegy

perfectly fit and healthy child. I
exercised constantly, and though I didn’t
exactly watch what I ate, I didn’t have
to. But I began to put on weight, and I
was positively chubby by the time I
started the fifth grade. I often felt sick
and would complain of severe
stomachaches to the school nurse.
Though I didn’t realize it at the time, the
trauma at home was clearly affecting my
health. “Elementary students may show
signs of distress through somatic
complaints such as stomachaches,
headaches, and pains,” reads one
resource for school administrators who
deal with children who suffer trauma at
home. “These students may have a