Girl Unbroken: A Sister's Harrowing Story of Survival from the Streets of Long Island to the Farms of Idaho

Description

In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller Etched in Sand, Regina Calcaterra pairs with her youngest sister Rosie to tell Rosie's harrowing, yet ultimately triumphant, story of childhood abuse and survival. They were five kids with five different fathers and an alcoholic mother who left them to fend for themselves for weeks at a time. Yet through it all they had each other. Rosie, the youngest, is fawned over and shielded by her older sister, Regina. Their mother, Cookie, blows in and out of their lives "like a hurricane, blind and uncaring to everything in her path." But when Regina discloses the truth about her abusive mother to her social worker, she is separated from her younger siblings Norman and Rosie. And as Rosie discovers after Cookie kidnaps her from foster care, the one thing worse than being abandoned by her mother is living in Cookie's presence. Beaten physically, abused emotionally, and forced to labor at the farm where Cookie settles in Idaho, Rosie refuses to give in. Like her sister Regina, Rosie has an unfathomable strength in the face of unimaginable hardship-enough to propel her out of Idaho and out of a nightmare. Filled with maturity and grace, Rosie's memoir continues the compelling story begun in Etched in Sand-a shocking yet profoundly moving testament to sisterhood and indomitable courage.

While growing up in Suffolk County, New York with her four siblings, Regina Calcaterra lived in numerous foster homes, homeless shelters, and on the streets. Regina graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1988, and in 1996 she obtained her juris doctorate while attending law school in the evenings at Seton Hall University School of Law. After college, Regina became the founding partner of the New York office of Barrack, Rodos & Bacine (BR&B), an internationally recognized and highly ranked securities litigation firm. In early 2010, Regina announced her candidacy for New York State Senate for the First Senatorial District, and campaigned actively on ethics reform in New York State government.From 2006 to 2011 Regina was a board member of You Gotta Believe, an adoption agency for older foster children. She has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the perils that foster children face if they age out of the system parentless and the need to get these youth adopted into permanent homes. Today, she serves as Chief Deputy County Executive to Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone. Regina is also a frequent commentator of policy and politics, appearing on stations like the Fox News Channel, CNBC, Newsday and other media outlets.

"As engrossing as Etched in Sand, this book is a testament to Maloney's remarkable resilience and a moving tribute to the unbreakable bond of love she shared with her siblings. Courageous and emotionally intense." -- -- Kirkus Reviews "Heartrending...story told with bravery and strength." -- Publishers Weekly "Their strength will inspire you." -- People