ɔːlðˈoʊ ðə wˈɜːks ɑːɹ ˌɔːɾoʊbˌaɪəɡɹˈæfɪkəl, tˈɑːmpsən dˈɪstənsᵻz hɜːsˈɛlf fɹʌm hɜː tʃˈaɪldhʊd pɜːsˈoʊnə baɪ tˈɛlɪŋ ðə tˈeɪl ɪnðə θˈɜːd pˈɜːsən; ʃiː ɐpˈɪɹz ɪnðə bˈʊk æz "lˈɔːɹə tˈɪmɪnz", ɹˈæðɚ ðɐn hɜː ɹˈiːəl mˈeɪdən nˈeɪm ʌv flˈoːɹə tˈɪmz.
Although the works are autobiographical, Thompson distances herself from her childhood persona by telling the tale in the third person; she appears in the book as "Laura Timmins", rather than her real maiden name of Flora Timms.