Synopses & Reviews
Grim yet ultimately inspiring, this harrowing biography catalogues years of institutional abuse that took place in the Saint Thomas–Saint Vincent Orphan Asylum, a Catholic orphanage in Anchorage, Kentucky. After many years of neglect by their drug-addicted mother, Kim and her three older sisters were abandoned to the uncharitable care of the Sisters of Charity. Detailing daily regimens of physical and mental abuse at the hands of the nuns, this chilling memoir explains how the Roman Catholic Church kept the orphanage hidden from prying eyes, miles from any main thoroughfare, allowing mistreatment to continue for decades. Describing her life through adulthood and the decision to finally expose the injustices after more than 30 years, this courageous tale chronicles the lawsuit initiated by 45 survivors, the two years of litigation, and the first successful prosecution of a lawsuit against Roman Catholic nuns in the US for decades of abuse in an orphanage.
Review
"A harrowing, but beautifully crafted saga of one woman's courageous fight against evil, and her victory over the greatest titan in historythe Catholic church. This is a book that will haunt you." Alanna Nash, author, The Colonel
Review
"The Unbreakable Child is an act of courage, a book that insists on the primacy of justice, no matter how long the delay. Kim Michele Richardson, an author determined to give traumatic memories a rightful meaning, is one indestructible woman." Jason Berry, author, Vows of Silence
Review
"This is a gripping account not just of horrific betrayal but also of heroic recovery." David Clohessy, director of SNAP and winner, People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People in 2003
About the Author
Kim Michele Richardson is a writer and the founder of the Explorers Club, a writing and reading workshop for middle school students. She successfully won the lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, with a settlement to be shared among 45 abuse survivors. She lives in Kentucky.