A Piece of Cake is an autobiography written by Cupcake Brown and originally published in 2006. Cupcake Brown’s life was filled with one challenge after another, and she overcame all odds to survive and share her story of Perseverance, Survival, and Transformation. For Cupcake Developing, Experiencing, and Overcoming Addiction became the vehicle through which her transformation unfolded. Throughout it all, Cupcake constantly battled between Staying True to Oneself Versus Wanting to Belong. Cupcake’s memoir made the New York Times Best-Seller list.

This guide utilizes the 2007 Crown edition of the autobiography.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain references to child neglect and abuse, rape, gruesome death, sexual abuse, underage sex work, substance misuse, and domestic violence.

Summary

Cupcake Brown was 11 years old when she came home to find her mother lying dead in her bed after an epileptic seizure. At the time, Cupcake lived with her mother, and her brother Larry and Daddy (her non-biological father) lived nearby. Cupcake’s Uncle Jr. stepped in after her mother died, but neither he nor Daddy were able to take custody of Cupcake and Larry because legally they had to be in the custody of their biological father, Mr. Burns. Rather than taking them in, however, Mr. Burns dumped Cupcake and Larry in a neglectful foster home after realizing that he wasn’t going to get their life insurance money.

In the foster home, run by a woman named Diane, Cupcake was systematically raped. She was starved, isolated, and heavily controlled. The first time Cupcake tried to run away, she was found by an older girl named Candy, who taught her about sex work and showed her a way to make money. Only 11 years old, Cupcake performed her first “trick” that very night, but when she found out that Candy had to give all of her earnings to a pimp, she left.

Cupcake met other kids who drank and used drugs, and found that drugs and alcohol helped her tolerate sex work. Cupcake hitchhiked until she found a way to call Uncle Jr., who wired her some money to come home. Cupcake lived with her aunt for a short time, and then in a children’s facility. She was then sent to another foster home in which the man sexually abused her and provided her with an endless supply of drugs.

Back with Diane again, Cupcake was subjected to further abuse by Diane and her daughter, Connie. She continued running away and being returned, and eventually started dating an adult man. When Cupcake found out she was pregnant, Diane insulted her, and later had Connie and some other girls violently beat Cupcake. She lost her pregnancy and vowed never to have a child after that.

Cupcake left Diane’s again and called Uncle Jr., who sent her to live with her great aunt Becky. One of these, Fly, became someone Cupcake looked up to. He introduced her to the Eight-Tray Gangster Crips, and Cupcake spent the next several months of her life with them. Cupcake engaged in all sorts of petty crimes and fights, and an attempted shooting, and she was introduced to harder drugs like PCP.

Cupcake was eventually shot in a drive-by shooting. After hearing that she would never walk again, she bargained with God, promising to leave the Crips if he let her keep the use of her legs; when he seemed to oblige, Cupcake left the gang. Cupcake went back to Diane’s one final time, and then went back home to San Diego.

Reuniting with Daddy and Uncle Jr. was emotional and challenging, as Cupcake had grown up fast and was no longer the same person. Cupcake eventually found her own apartment and a job taking alarm calls, but soon found she struggled to show up to work, pay her bills, and take care of her health. Cupcake began selling drugs to support herself and continued with sex work. She quit her job and found out she was pregnant again, at which time she decided to have an abortion.

When Cupcake could no longer support herself, she moved in with Daddy. She turned 18 and sold drugs out of Daddy’s house. Daddy eventually grew tired of this lifestyle and moved back to a safer neighborhood. Cupcake soon joined him. People started to tell Cupcake she had addiction issues, and Cupcake attempted to solve this by going back to school, believing that she could not be considered an addict as long as she was working or studying.

After moving in with a friend, things eventually went south as arguments were frequent. Cupcake was left to pay rent on her own, which was when she met Tommy. Since Tommy stayed instead of leaving, he immediately won Cupcake’s favor. He introduced her to crack cocaine, which became her new favorite drug. She sank further and further into drugs, but Tommy encouraged Cupcake to find another job. Cupcake got a job as a word processor and started telling her coworkers a false, happier past. Cupcake still struggled to show up to work, and she and Tommy quickly fell behind on rent. Cupcake had another abortion during this time as well and was soon fired for taking undeclared sick leave. Months passed as Cupcake shifted from job to job.

Tommy grew insecure and started to become violent, hitting her when he thought she was looking at another man. Cupcake always fought back and did not realize she was being abused. Cupcake eventually found a job that allowed her to use her education: She was hired as a legal secretary at a law firm. She took this job more seriously, but continued using drugs. Tommy suggested that he and Cupcake get married, and while Cupcake agreed, the entire affair felt like a sham to her.

After the marriage, Tommy and Cupcake took turns abusing one another and prioritized drug use over all else. They moved in with Daddy to share rent costs. Cupcake lost weight and sold all her belongings (as well as things she didn’t own) to support her substance use. When she was put on probation at work, she promised herself and her boss that she would do better, but eventually got fired.

She applied at another, larger firm, and was hired by a lawyer named Ken. Ken liked Cupcake right away and did whatever he could to help her succeed. Cupcake’s drug and alcohol use continued to spiral, and withdrawals became extreme. One night, a police officer known as Preacher told Cupcake that he knew she had had a horrible life but that if she allowed God into it, she could reach heights she never knew existed.

After Cupcake stole money from Daddy for drugs, he moved out, and Cupcake went to stay with an old friend. One night, Cupcake attempted to steal crack from a dealer, who threatened her life, though Cupcake told him that he would be helping her by killing her. Instead, he raped her and left her by a dumpster.

Cupcake spent three days living behind the dumpster. A voice that Cupcake believed to be God told her to go to Ken and tell him she needed help, so that was what Cupcake did. Ken had Cupcake admitted to a rehabilitation center. Cupcake was nervous at first, especially when she was asked about her past, but after two days of solid sleep and withdrawals, she was ready to begin the program. Cupcake wrote a goodbye letter to drugs and kept busy with meetings and therapy.

At her first 12-step meeting outside of the center, Cupcake met Venita and soon asked Venita to be her sponsor. As Cupcake’s sponsor, Venita coached Cupcake through her recovery and encouraged her to keep the company of good people, as well as to form a relationship with a higher power. Cupcake took her recovery one day at a time and prayed to God for help.

Cupcake was 69 days sober when she relapsed. Cupcake went to four meetings the day after her relapse, and at the last one she met Brett. Brett was in recovery as well, but not ready to quit like Cupcake was. Although he was a gentleman and showed her what kindness could be, Cupcake had to leave Brett when he refused to deal with his addiction.

Gradually, Cupcake’s self-esteem rose along with her independence. Two years later, Cupcake went back to school and later went on to university. When a professor told Cupcake that her story was worth sharing with the world, Cupcake found the courage to share her life on television. During her schooling, Cupcake had the opportunity to visit prisons, befriend professors and a judge, and develop skills she didn’t know she had.

Cupcake entered law school. She was offered a summer position at a major firm, which led to a permanent position that she holds to this day. Today, Cupcake keeps in touch with many of the people who helped her through her life and recovery, and has let go of everyone who held her back.