The Unbreakable Child: A story about forgiving the unforgivable

There are two things that upset me most 1) mistreatment and abuse of children and 2) mistreatment and abuse of animals. These are the innocents that should be protected and cared for. I discovered this book after finishing the author's Sisters of Glass Ferry and decided to read it, even knowing the subject matter. Everyone should read this book, if we have a hope of protecting children from such hideous abuse. I cannot imagine what kind of people these nuns were to even think up some of the punishments for the orphans left in their care. It was very hard to read and I commend Ms. Richardson for sharing her story. I am glad that she was as strong as she is, and I'm thankful that she found the right attorney. I watched an interview Mr. McMurry did nearly 15 years later and could see how disturbed he was by the terrible treatment of the children in this orphanage. If I met Ms. Richardson, I would give her a big hug for speaking out. I'm glad she forged ahead with her own forever family and thank her for sharing one of the endearing expressions she and her husband came up with, which was also in Sisters of Glass Ferry. It made me smile after all the heinous events in this book.

It was difficult to believe that this child abuse took place around 1960 because it seemed as if it would have been many, many years ago. It is also difficult to believe that people who had professed to be serving Jesus would commit such horrible deeds. Thank goodness the author switched back and forth in the book between her childhood and her time as an adult when she was working with her lawyer to speak out for herself, her sisters, and the other children who were abused in the orphanage. The readers needed a break from all the abuse, but there was no escape from it for those abused children until they left the orphanage. How wonderful it is that the author has managed to find it in her heart to forgive the people who abused her and the other orphans and is able to appreciate the family she has now. Her book about the terrible situation of her own childhood may provide more help to others than she will ever know. It certainly should help most readers to appreciate their own childhoods and to be more aware of abuse today.

I couldn't put this down. I have frequently worked with victims of child abuse during my career as a marriage and family therapist, and I've heard some heartbreaking stories, but the systematic orchestrated torture that Kim Richardson, her sisters and the other children in this Church Sanctioned Orphanage had to endure leaves me speechless. And angry at the dysfunctional system that knowingly protected the perpetrators while discounting the poor helpless little children who through no fault of their own found themselves the victims of such evil cruelty disguised as charity. Thank you Kim Richardson for having the courage to tell your story and to be a part of the solution by shining a light in the darkness. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 RSB

It is shocking what a religion could get away with in this time period. My heart goes out to all these poor children who are now adults. Decent humans would never dream of treating poor defenseless children as if they had no value or soul, but that is exactly what the Catholic Church enabled so many to do. They will have to answer for their sins but I pray these children have love in their lives now. Well written and valuable reading for adults.

My boyfriend was in St. Thomas-St. Vincent orphanage at the same time the author was there, although he did not know her. Beginning at age five, my boyfriend was molested hundreds of times by two different nuns, and tortured on a regular basis, just as Ms. Richardson was. Be warned: the book is extremely depressing. The one thing I cannot understand though is how the author could send her own children to Catholic school, thereby deliberately putting them in harm's way.

I loved this book but it did leave me with many unanswered questions. This story was heartbreaking, detailed stories of the abuses condoned by the Catholic church for years. How in the world people can think they are being faithful, God fearing Christians while treating children worse than animals is beyond me. The author's commitment to bringing these crimes to light is admirable. There are holes in the story though and I was left wondering about her relationship with her husband and her thoughts on pursuing a relationship with her birthfather. She opened up some of these issues but didn't follow through with them. There was also a point in which she withdrew from the lawsuit and would not talk to the attorney, but then she was talking again to him without an explanation as to what happened in the interim. The book was amazingly well written but I would have loved to hear more about how she mentally and emotionally pulled herself up from nothing and developed healthy relationships in adulthood. Great book overall though and still five stars!

Evil lived in the relentless abuse of the young children at the very real Catholic Orphanage, in Kentucky. The nuns, the so called brides of Christ, routinely behaved in a manner that was about as far from the teachings of Jesus Christ as you could possibly be. Of course, the in house priest did more than fondle the innocent babes, as well.How does an entire group of, supposedly, faithful people (people who chose to serve God) turn into soulless, evil monsters?While this is a very disturbing book, every parent or other guardian should read this true story, and then be vigilant.

What the author has shared is more than simply a description of a horrific evil visited on the innocent by men and women who have supposedly dedicated their lives and consecrated their souls to the service to others for the sake of God, but also demonstrates the strength of the human spirit in surviving such evil.One must understand that this story took place in just one small institution in America, yet it was far from an isolated incident and is, in fact indicative of a centuries old widespread corruption. Ms.Richardson's courage and resolve is to be applauded.

Very good

Hard to imagine the conditions some children have been forced to live in - and survive

Wichtig u. excellent.

it was very interesting - the story was a bit slow paced at times though