Penny Hodgson

What does it mean to grow up with a high ACE score-and how can you find hope on the other side of childhood trauma?

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, launched in the 1990s by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, surveyed over 17,000 people using a 10-question questionnaire focused on abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction before age eighteen. Researchers found that the more ACEs someone reported, the higher their risk for serious health and emotional issues later in life, fundamentally changing how we understand the effects of early trauma.

In Aces High, Penny courageously narrates a childhood marked by six ACEs, tracing how persistent adversity shaped both mind and body. She connects the psychological wounds named by the ACE studies to the real, embodied health consequences she lived through, and offers clear, compassionate insight into the pathways from trauma to recovery.

Despite the challenges, Penny’s story is ultimately a story of resilience. In Aces High, Penny reveals the steps she took to heal and offers insight and hope for others who walk a similar path, illuminating the process of recovery.

Aces High serves as both a personal account and a self-help guide for understanding the impact of ACEs. It invites readers to reflect, connect, and believe in the possibility of childhood trauma recovery and renewal-no matter how high their score may be.