Regina CalcaterraReviews

It's alright. It doesn't stall and it's not redundant and the story is pretty good. I just finished this book. It's a great story if you don't over think it, like I have. It's MOSTLY about the author, Regina. All 5 children are mentioned, but not all 5 stories are told. Cherie, the eldest, is hardly talked about. Norman, the only boy, seems left out and forgotten, especially at the end of the book when it refers to only 'the girls' and it makes me wonder if Norman holds resentments towards his sisters... I want to know more about him. Camille is Ragina's favorite sister and her story melds with Ragina's. Then there's Rosie... I want to know more about her also. She's mentioned ALOT but her story isn't really told. Read it if you want. It's a good book. I had to skip over all her studies and achievements - I don't find that worth knowing. Tell me where you end up, not how you got there when it's the same story every other college student has. But you gotta skim the pages and look for more of the storyline hidden in the boring section. I guess I'm just left with more questions than I'd like for a book this detailed. I don't like how heavily detailed it begins and then the ending was rushed. Missing important details go on. I won't go into them for spoilers, just saying.

Growing up, Calcaterra bounced between living with her birth mother, who was extremely negligent (she often left her 5 children alone for weeks or months at a time) and abusive (physically and verbally), and with foster parents, often separated from her siblings.

Due to the nature of her story, there is a lot of profanity (in the dialogue recorded) and also brief descriptions of the sexual behaviors/media she was exposed to, including some sexual abuse. (She is frank with these, not overly gratuitous, though I would still caution those 18 years and under to read something else.)

The events recorded in this book take place primarily in the 1970s and 1980s and it was horrifying to read most of what happened. There have been some major improvements to both the foster care system and government-assistance programs, which I'm very thankful for but, of course, there will always be more to improve.

A giveaway from librarything in 2016 and forgot to record it. I'd read Etched in Sand and this is a continuation of the family disfunction that went on throughout Regina and Rose's life. Hard to read.

Grades 3 - 5

This book really touched me, as it takes place on Long Island (where I live and grew up) and involves 5 siblings (I am also one of five). It is an incredible story of 5 children who banded together to survive a horrible childhood at the hands of an alcoholic, abusive mother who often left them to fend for themselves in trailer parks, abandoned homes, and homeless shelters. Calcaterra (the author) and her siblings lied, stole, and made up stories to explain the marks of their abuse until Calcaterra was emancipated and went to live with a foster family. Calcaterra keeps her story very realistic and includes blunt details. Although there are many heavy descriptions of abuse and mistreatment, "Etched in Sand" provides a new perspective for many and inspires people to avoid taking their own lives for granted. Overall, it is an amazing story of strength and managing through social services and the foster care system in the US. It is hard to believe that the novel is a true story. It allows readers to have a new appreciation for life.

"Etched in Sand" tells a haunting biography of the author's childhood through mistreatment, abuse, and homelessness. It tells the story of five siblings dealing with an abusive, addicted mother who often left them to fend for themselves in trailer parks, abandoned homes, and homeless shelters. Calcaterra and her siblings lied, stole, and made up stories to explain the marks of their abuse, until Calcaterra was emancipated and went to live with a foster family. She continues her education and studies to become a New York state official.
Calcaterra keeps her story very realistic and includes blunt details. Although there are many heavy descriptions of abuse and mistreatment, "Etched in Sand" provides a new perspective for many and inspires people to avoid taking their own lives for granted.

Regina Calcaterra tells the story of her horrific childhood and how she persevered to get past the pain in her life. All parts of the book are gripping as she writes about different parts of her life. Although it's difficult to imagine children living this way with a parent that cares so little, it's a story worth reading. I especially enjoyed hearing about the people that tried to help them and Regina's life today.

Not the usual book to my taste but this one sucked me in and stayed up the whole night reading it -- I couldn't put it down. Really impressive that children who have had such a terrible childhood were able to overcome it. But they did get some care at various points, such as good teachers. But children are so vulnerable that the mistreatment of them truly breaks my heart.

Incredible story of 5 children who bonded together to survive a horrible childhood at the hands of an alcoholic, abusive mother. Amazing story of strength and managing through social services and the foster care system in the US.

Etched in Sand is one of the best books I have ever read. It is an emotional roller coaster toying with the emotions of anger, sadness and happiness. It is hard to believe that the novel is a true story. The book allows its readers to have a new appreciation for life. The characters are also very relatable and allow the reader to be able to identify with at least one of them. The most significant question that lingers in the back of readers minds is " What would I do in a situation like this?"

Unbelievably intense book, which was painful and difficult to read at times. I only had to read it; she and her siblings had to live it.

Unbelievably intense book, which was painful and difficult to read at times. I only had to read it; she and her siblings had to live it.

Powerful and moving. Had to read this one in small bits as I can only drink in so much negativity at one sitting - all the sadness and suffering. So while reading this autobiography, I completed 7 other books/novels before actually finishing this one. But a story well told.

This is one of the most emotional, heart wrenching, true story of neglect, abuse, triumph, live, and determination I've ever read. This story took place on Long Island in my home town of Centereach and surrounding areas. The things that happen right under our noses make you realize not to take anything or anyone in life for granted. Regina's story will remain with me forever.

I have no words. Rosie's life story is unimaginable. Her perseverance and resilience is inspiring. The truth of this story will haunt you forever!

This is an amazing and heroic book. Must read for all who work with children.

A true story of five siblings who survived a

Wow, what an incredible story! I did not want to put this book down.

This is the story of five children. Five children with the same mother, five children all with different fathers. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Cookie was one piece of work, a nasty, neglectful, abusive and hateful egg donor.

While it was difficult to read of the horrid childhood these five siblings had, what they overcame was remarkable. With all that the person who gave birth to them (who does not deserve the title of mother) did to them, all the separations in foster care and for a large part of their childhood raising themselves, they managed to become functioning adults, breaking that cycle of abuse. They all have scars, both physical and mental, how could they not, but they all still rose above it all and have a strong sense of family and their connection. For so long, all they really had was each other, but as adults they still had that bond. What they had to do to survive was shocking; their mother sometimes leaving these young children for months at a time, they had a remarkable caring for and sense of responsibility to each other.

I cannot understand how so many times the system failed these children, over and over. Between the bureaucracy and paperwork and neglect of social services, these children were put in the position for abuse to just keep on happening. I just couldn't wrap my head around that many men sticking around Cookie long enough to get her pregnant. They had to see who she was, what was the attraction? Since they all dumped her, they eventually saw the light, but they are all okay just leaving their kid and the others with her? And what made Cookie such a horrible person? And it wasn't just Cookie and the sperm donors at fault. Where were the grandparents and aunts and uncles? They all failed these children. They all let that abuse go on, no one stepped in.

What a strong person Regina is. I have such admiration for her strength, courage and drive. My heart broke for her when she was telling her story; the unspeakable things done to her, the quest to know who she is. And Paul? Seriously? What a waste he was, 35 years and counting. All I feel for him is disgust.

This is a book that will leave an impression on you. It's so moving and emotional and you won't forget the story of these five children.

I found this book somewhat slow moving and lost interest in it at first. Had to wait awhile and go back to it to finish. Storyline didn't keep my intrigue. I would probably recommend this book to someone else.Overall, the writing was good.

Llong book but a great read. Many hardships in this book.

I checked out "Etched in Sand" from the library when I found out that LibraryThing was going to be sending me this book. It's so profoundly disturbing that it's hard to right about it. Rosie is quite a survivor and I hope her book will open people's eyes to the plight of children who are abused.

Girl Unbroken is a sequel of sorts to Etched in Sand, co written by Regina Calcaterra, who wrote the first book, and her sister Rosie Maloney. It is a true and harrowing story of Rosie's life after she is separated from her three sisters, as she and her next oldest brother Norm go into foster care, but soon thereafter are kidnapped by their mother, Cookie and taken to Idaho. Cookie is a serious alcoholic and abuses Rosie physically and emotionally and eventually lives with a man who abuses Rosie sexually. Rosie and Norm are forced to perform extreme labor on the farm and live in a house which is filthy and disgusting. Somehow Norm does seem to avoid the brunt of the abuse, while Rosie is the scapegoat for almost all of it. Although hard to read from the perspective of all the abuse, the story is riveting and compelling. Somehow with a few good folks in Rosie's life, she survives and eventually thrives.

The family circumstances didn't surprise me, but what did is the failure of so many people and agencies that did not help Rosie. The foster home was extremely abusive, but somehow was licensed and allowed to operate. Having worked in child welfare for over 35 years, I found this appalling. Then once Rosie and her brother were in Cookie's care, not school personnel, not medical personnel, not friends, not neighbors, not even the sheriff to whom abuse was reported, came to the children's aid or assistance. These children were failed again and again, over a period of about eight years. Very hard to believe.

Girl Unbroken by Regina Calcaterra and Rosie Maloney is a true story written about what it is like to grow up being abused physically and sexually. Parent Advisory highly needed as the author uses explicit language throughout the entire book. It also involves living with a mother addicted to drugs, alcohol, and sex. This book states that it is a story about survival on the streets to the farms. In my opinion, these sisters accomplished what they set out to tell. These sisters are bringing awareness to the physical and sexual abuse that is going on today. The starvation that comes with alcohol and substance abuse. They are bringing to life the view point of the victim and the mental and physiological abuse that comes with the physical abuse.
These authors are qualified to write on this topic, because they were the victims themselves. They are not trying to tell you what they think would happen, they are telling you exactly what happened during these times. The story is told in first person point of view, so you know exactly how the victim is feeling.

There were a few spots that you wanted the author to go into more detail and then there a few spots that you wanted the author to move on. Overall I feel the story was compelling and I had a hard time putting it down.

I think I read this entire book with my heart in my throat. I was waiting for something horrible to happen, I was hoping for something wonderful to happen--and it did. I have the utmost admiration for Rosie finding the will to survive, the strength to forgive, the hope to keep going, and people who make her happy. I can't even imagine the feelings one must have after telling a story like this and then setting it free in the world.

Girl Unbroken, by Regina Calcaterra and Rosie Maloney, is the sequel to Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra which tells the story of five siblings who had endured horrific childhoods. Rosie is the youngest of the children and Girl Unbroken is her story. Clearly and candidly, she details the unspeakable abuses she suffered and how she was able to survive. I found this to be a compelling memoir.

I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.