Etched in Sand: A True Story of Five Siblings Who Survived an Unspeakable Childhood on Long Island
Written by Regina Calcaterra
Narrated by Regina Calcaterra
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
#1 International Bestseller
Regina’s Calcaterra memoir, Etched in Sand, is an inspiring and triumphant coming-of-age story of tenacity and hope.
Regina Calcaterra is a successful lawyer, former New York State official, and foster youth activist. Her painful early life, however, was quite different. Regina and her four siblings survived an abusive and painful childhood only to find themselves faced with the challenges of the foster-care system and intermittent homelessness in the shadows of Manhattan and the Hamptons.
A true-life rags-to-riches story, Etched in Sand chronicles Regina’s rising above her past, while fighting to keep her brother and three sisters together through it all.
Beautifully written, with heartbreaking honesty, Etched in Sand is an unforgettable reminder that regardless of social status, the American Dream is still within reach for those who have the desire and the determination to succeed.
Regina Calcaterra
Regina Calcaterra, Esq. is the bestselling author of Etched in Sand: A True Story of Five Siblings Who Survived an Unspeakable Childhood on Long Island, which has been integrated into academic curriculums nationwide. She is a partner at Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz and is a passionate advocate for children in foster care.
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Reviews for Etched in Sand
367 ratings46 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I cried and cheered as I hung on every word. Truly inspirational. Bless this family and all children who sadly walk the same path today. The world needs more success stories and the way to get them is by being aware that these situations exist. This writer and narrator will change your life with her story, and continues to change the history of others needing a helping hand.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A gripping account of how Regina and her 3 sisters and 1 brother survived being homeless, beatings, stealing food and clothing and suffered malnutrition. My heart ached for their suffering. The title "Etched in Sand" came from "their countless homes - fragile, temporary sand castles that we were forced to create in the most resourceful ways, only for them to be knocked down by the rising tides and uncontrollable elements around us."
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely heart wrenching. So well written. An absolute must read. Couldn’t put it down. A great story that will touch all hearts.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An excellent book that depicts the facts of a foster child perfectly. I have fostered 33 children and adopted four in the story is their story
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Another seductive low country tale about Mellie, a native coastal woman who lives her life in NY. Returning home to the low country she finds her way back to repairing her fractured family as she finds herself. Again, I want to be the main character.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic and well written book. Heartbreaking yet incredibly inspiring story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Miriam Elizabeth Swanson, divorced, see her organized life as a quasi-socialite spiral downward. With the help of new friends and her parrot, Harry, her life turns in an unexpected, and joyful direction. And as with many of Frank's books, that direction leads to Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Maybe I should go there and see if it would work its magic on me. ;-)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very well written. Very uplifting. You will never forget this story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was so inspired by this book. It was such an example of resilience in all five of the siblings. I am especially in awe of the author Regina, who used her experience in life to help others. I would highly recommend this book!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It is a story that gives hope when you believe and have a deep purpose to continue on. Love indeed conquers the most difficult hardships in life. I pray that Regina will continue to help foster children, address their deep issues so they become positive contributors to society. It can only be done through a systemic approach and having social woŕkers who truly care. God bless!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Makes you feel like you are one of the children. The hurt, the survival. Amazing how they all figured out the place they belong after such a hard life.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent writing. Couldn't wait to read each new chapter. Unfortunately laws in writing and laws in reality are two very different things...
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5First half of the book was sad but fascinating and well written unfortunately I didn’t enjoy the end chapters as much. J
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good story.
Well written.
Beautifully narrated.
Well worth of my time.
Well done! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was really good. My heart ached for the pain Regina and her siblings endured and she gives me a hopeful energy knowing about their perseverance and drive to succeed rather than go down a path of drugs and depression like so many do. Kudos!!! You have impressed me and left an impression on me.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a well written book, read beautifully by Regina. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Superb read! As a child of abuse and the system also, this resonated deeply.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What an inspirational story about a family who overcame such adversity.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5OMG! This book left me with tears! I’m a mother with 4. I grow up in a stable home with ten siblings but my mother never showed affection to anyone of her 4 girls. Yet, what the author experienced of torture is beyond my imagination! Loved the book and couldn’t stop reading it!!!!!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very encouraging, this was a very touching book. It shows you can over come a difficult period in your life.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent loved it great to she author make a success out her life
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How can I say I loved a book about so much violence to innocent children? The author is candid to the point of vulnerability concerning parental abuse, foster care abuses, and child homelessness, and their impact on children, families, and society. A marvelous and rare example of rising above a horrific childhood.
"Children are resilient" is an excuse used too frequently. They shouldn't have to be. . - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not my favourite read. Very slow and hard to follow
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow. Extremely powerful moving story. I just can't put into words how much I loved this book.
Regina Marie Calcattera provides insight into a life her and her siblings lived that most of us cannot begin to imagine. I listened to the Audio book read by Regina herself, and I have to say, Regina deserves an Oscar for her narration of this book, she captivates your mind with her compelling story.
I just love how fast paced and direct the book is. Other authors would double the size of this book with unnecessary gibberish. Regina keeps her writing so thoroughly to the point that you don't lose attention even for a second. Wow just wow.
Thank you Regina for sharing this story. I have learned so much. I take so much inspiration from your words. You are amazing. I can't wait to read the sequel. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The language, even though true story, was hard to hear.
Tough life! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very intense, almost had to stop listening a few times. Absolutely heartbreaking, but such a beautiful end.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow. Stood over my kitchen sink with my mouth agape for a good number of times over the last week or less that I listened to this book. I just couldn’t continue with the dishes! Couldn’t be better read than the author! More so that it’s a true account not fiction.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Funny book and really captures the reader. I definitely liked the touch of the talking parrot. Only thing was the lack of humor and the added sadness toward the end that bothered me but overall it was a great read and I would definitely recommend!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5DBF's books are purely guilty-pleasure reading for me. They're not intellectually stimulating, but they're also not smutty or full of language.
This one wasn't particularly my favorite--it wasn't terribly strong on plot, and it was more predictable than most by this author. But it was still decent bathtub reading. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5slow but likeable start to the book. I enjoy D.B Frank books,but I have to agree with comments on the cover jacket,this is her best so far! Enjoyable read. Nice summer reading.