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

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.

The highly anticipated follow-up to New York Times bestseller Etched in Sand.

They were five kids with five different fathers and an abusive, alcoholic mother. Yet through it all they had each other. Rosie, the youngest, was shielded by her older sister, Regina. Their mother, Cookie, blew in and out of their lives.

But when Regina disclosed the truth about her mother to her social worker, she was separated from her younger siblings. And as Rosie discovered after Cookie kidnapped her from foster care, the one thing worse than being abandoned by her mother was living in her presence. Beaten physically, abused emotionally, and forced to labor at the farm where Cookie settled, Rosie refused to give in—eventually finding the strength to leave her mother and this nightmare.

Praise for Etched in Sand: “Riveting reading from start to finish… Never once does she flinch from the terrible truths with which she has lived and so courageously reveals here.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Courageous and fascinating, written with a descriptive restraint that recalls moments of tragedy and perseverance with simplicity and subtlety… Calcaterra concludes her story with the genuine sentiment that ‘we all have to believe.’ At the end of this unforgettable book, readers will.” - Publishers Weekly

“Heartrending...story told with bravery and strength.” - Publishers Weekly

“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

“Their strength will inspire you.” - People