The Unbreakable Child
by Kim Michele Richardson
Behler Publications, 2010. ISBN 978-1-933-01691-7.
Reviewed by Susan Ideus,Story Circle Book Reviews Network Posted on 11/03/2010
Nonfiction: Memoir; Nonfiction: Life Lessons; Nonfiction: Faith/Spirituality/Inspiration
"How does one describe evil, and how does one explain the evils of those who wore the face of God, who cloaked evil with His Veil?" "Kim Richardson has written a stunning story of abuse, heinous crimes against helpless children, and amazing triumph over those circumstances. It is a story which both broke my heart and showed me hope and what it means to be resilient and of strong character.
Church should be a safe place and religious leaders should be models of caring and compassion. Schools and orphanages run by churches should be havens of safety and learning, not the hellish existence Richardson and so many others lived through. It boggles the mind that so many troubled abusive individuals were congregated into a single staff at one orphanage in rural Kentucky. ..."
"One day I'm going to be the rainbow at the end of that road and I will stretch across, disappear, and I will be in charge of my changes." At six years old, Richardson found a kernel of hope to which she clung. Ironically, perhaps, it was a rainbow, a symbol of God's hope and promise in the Bible. Not only did Richardson survive, she fought back. She found a dedicated, compassionate attorney who would help her expose the horrors and file a lawsuit against the Church and the Sisters who had terrorized so many innocents. Bad days, bad memories—yes, they exist in her life, but the good far outweighs the bad. She found in attorney McMurry a man who "knew who wore the face of God." She has the "forever family" she always dreamed of in her loving and supportive husband and children. She cheated death to live victoriously.
I would recommend this book to anyone who works with abused children or works with support groups for those who have been abused. This new edition, which includes the outcome of the lawsuit, as well as a new Readers' Guide, would make it a fine choice for book clubs. ... enlightening and encouraging. It is a triumph over great evil and against great odds. It will enrich your life."
