About this ebook
Trauma leaves marks—on the body and in the mind from the story a person tells about themselves. Penny Hodgson knows this intimately. But she also knows something people in the trauma field rarely say out loud: healing requires letting go of the identity trauma tries to assign.
Part raw personal memoir, part analytical dissection of recovery, Aces High transforms lived experience into a practical, forward-moving case study.
Penny shares the parts of her life she has never spoken aloud—the childhood surgeries that reshaped her body, the sexual abuse that fractured her sense of safety, the family dysfunction that shaped her beliefs, and the medical dismissal that nearly cost her her life. Her ACE score is six, but her story is far more complex than a number.
Through research, reflection, and unflinching honesty, Penny traces how trauma shaped her physiology, her relationships, and her worldview—and how she slowly learned to interrupt the cycle. She challenges the cultural drift toward safetyism and the growing pressure to claim a victim identity, offering instead a grounded, compassionate path toward personal responsibility, emotional frequency alignment, and personal sovereignty.
PERFECT FOR READERS OF:
Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score)
Dr. Gabor Maté (The Myth of Normal)
Stephanie Foo (What My Bones Know)
Dr. Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist)
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Unlike other memoirs, Hodgson does not recount only the painful and dark memories, but rather the understanding of the memories... and most importantly, the relentless hope of continuing moving forward." — Reader Review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "A raw, empowering case study on self-advocacy, faith, and emotional sovereignty." — Reviewer Praise
Aces High doesn’t promise easy answers. It offers something more valuable: an intellectually rigorous look at what healing actually requires, serving as a companion, a mirror, and a blueprint for rewriting your own inner narratives.
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About the author
Penny’s books are deeply rooted in her resilience forged through adversity. Growing up in the Saskatchewan prairies of Canada, Penny courageously faced her childhood shaped by both a congenital deformity and the weight of generational trauma. These experiences have sculpted a unique voice in literature, one that speaks to the strength found in overcoming.
Penny explores the complexities of human identity, the journey towards self-discovery, and the healing power of God’s grace. Her work delves into the shadows of personal and ancestral pain, offering light through tales of transformation and hope.
Penny’s entry into the world of writing was influenced by A Course in Miracles, leading to their first published piece, Mind Files, Perception, Perspective & Problems, which was celebrated for its raw authenticity and emotional depth. This work not only marked Penny’s literary debut but also became a beacon for others navigating through their own traumatic histories. Her latest work, Aces High: A Memoir of Trauma Recovery & Emotional Resilience, unflinchingly explores the raw details of her traumatic past, drawing powerful connections between the health outcomes outlined in the renowned Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study and her own personal struggles.
Penny is certified in Therapeutic Counselling, Natural Nutrition, and various Somatic Trauma Therapies. She currently resides in Calgary, AB Canada
