The 10

The 10 is a poignant personal memoir and travelogue by Ea Hanks. This biography and autobiography follows the author on a solo road trip across the American southwest, tracing the route of a previous journey she shared with her late mother. Traveling in her minivan, Hanks navigates through diverse landscapes, from the white sands of New Mexico to the swamps of the Florida panhandle, exploring the intersection of geography and identity.

In this work of non-fiction, Hanks uses her mother's diaries and her own memories to investigate family secrets and past violence. This narrative blends elements of women's studies and travel writing as she interacts with the residents of the West and the Texas-Mexico border. The 10 examines how the history of a place and the stories of our ancestors shape the individual.