Etched in Sand

Etched in Sand
By Regina Calcaterra
Harper Collins Harper Audio, 2013. Biography

Regina Calcaterra is a survivor of parental abuse. Regina’s mother, Cookie, was an abusive, promiscuous, mentally ill, alcoholic who had five children with five different fathers. The family moved constantly and frequently lived in a car. The few times Cookie did find a home or an apartment, she left her children alone for weeks with no way for them to access the necessities of life. Throughout their childhood Regina and her siblings experienced extreme hunger, cold, filth and degradation. When Cookie was around, she beat and verbally abused her children. At the age of 14 Regina emancipated herself and worked hard to eventually become a New York attorney.

This story has made a lasting impression on me, and is not for the faint of heart. The aspects that stand out the most are: Regina’s love for her siblings, her drive to create a life for herself and her fight to improve the lives of others makes her a real-life heroine. Even though her story is heart-rending and chilling, it is ultimately a tale of hope. Regina fits the bill for anyone looking for a strong female example.

The audio book is narrated by the author.

MC

Survivor's Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz

Survivor's Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz
By Michael Bornstein
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2017. 348 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Michael Bornstein was one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz. Soviet soldiers liberated the camp and documented the event when Bornstein was only 4 years old. He kept his memories and experiences to himself for decades. One day he saw an image of himself from the day he was liberated being used on a website to deny the atrocities that happened at Auschwitz. At that point he knew he needed to tell his story. With the help of his daughter, Bornstein worked to piece together his early history and now shares his story of survival for the first time.

I am a huge fan of human survival stories and this one is especially poignant because Bornstein was so young. I was continually impressed with Bornstein’s parents’ bravery and resourcefulness. I was amazed that a little boy of 4 years old found the endurance to stay alive. It’s always shocking to learn about the brutality that exists in this world, but Bornstein does an excellent job of keeping his story appropriate for young adult audiences while telling a historically accurate account.

MC