Review of Broken Water

[Alissa Deann Devargas]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Broken Water" by Barbara Lane.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Child sexual abuse is a crime that seriously needs to be checked. Not only does this affect the development of the child, it also leaves a lasting mark that is difficult to erase. While reading this book, Broken Water, by Barbara Lane, I came to learn more about the effects of this malady from the stories of her eleven sisters. This is a memoir of eleven sisters who were lost to each other for forty-three years.

Barbara remembers very little of their stay with their parents because she was among the youngest of the eleven girls. She remembered a little about their life in the orphanage, the kindness she was shown there, and how protective her sisters were of her. However, her nightmares began when she and her immediate elder sister, Kay, were assigned to the foster home of Bernard and Leonarda. While there, they gave off the perfect picture of a happy family; in fact, their picture was posted in the newspaper to encourage foster care. However, Bernard was an evil man who secretly worked for the mafia. He easily flew into a rage and beat her and her sister. To add it all, he sexually abused both Barbara and her sister, Kay. For many years, they suffered this. My heart skipped when Leonarda even asked Kay to sleep with Bernard in his room while she slept with Barbara with the excuse that her arthritis made her move around a lot at night, disturbing her husband. I thought, 'How could a woman be so insensitive?'

I've read and watched very few stories that advocate foster care; most of them involve abuse in different forms. However, in those stories, those villains were caught and dealt with. So I wanted Bernard to suffer so much. After reuniting with her sisters, Barbara set out on a mission to gather their stories about what happened in their lives. That way she'd probably get answers as to why her family was broken up and scattered. If there was something I learned from these stories told by the sisters, I learned that a mother's love is very important to children. Losing it affects a child one way or another.

There was nothing to dislike about this book. It was an interesting story that fully engaged my emotions. In the beginning, I longed with Barbara to find her sisters. When they started telling their stories, I was eager to read about each of them. I must commend the author for the level of honesty that was fused into this book. She told the stories as each of the sisters related them, even if there seemed to be a mix-up. With all these considered, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's an emotionally charged book that needs to be read by nuns in orphanages, social workers, and the part of the government that deals with children in the system. That way, they can learn how to improve in their work and what to change in order to give these children better lives.

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Broken Water
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[Yin Jiang]

This sounds like a powerful and moving book. It is disappointing that in many cases of child abuse there are adults who enable the abuse. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for your review.

[Mary John 10]

Broken Water by Barbara Lane sounds like a deeply moving and important memoir. Through the experiences of eleven sisters separated for decades, it sheds light on the lasting impacts of child sexual abuse and the trauma it brings. This book seems both heartbreaking and hopeful, as it not only explores the effects of abuse but also the strength of family ties and the journey toward healing.

[Steeve Bowen]

It is interesting that Barbara Lane has found the heart and soul within her and her sisters’ stories. The way she weaves into the narrative each sister’s own life experience, and the fact that sometimes they may remember things differently, brings a favourable and genuine emotional note to the whole fiction. In broadest strokes, this story appears to be a highly charged love letter to the human spirit, to the value of family, and to the need to guard children at all costs. I also find how this memoir calls for systems change in the foster care system, particularly compelling.

[Britney Jacobs]

These stories are touching, child abuse should stop at all cost, the lives of those children are of great importance.

[Promi Nkalanga]

the story is very pain full because its tell us how children from adoptive family ,they can suffer abuse

[Oluwatimileyin D]

I must say this is a summary and at the same time detailed information about the book. It has provided insights into the immorality and disorientation in our world. How little children suffer mental disorganization due to the inefficiency in the world system.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

This review of "Broken Water" by Barbara Lane provides a compelling and emotive overview of the book. The reviewer highlights the impact of child sexual abuse and the lasting effects it leaves on survivors. The personal experiences shared by the author and her sisters make the story engaging and thought-provoking. The reviewer praises the honesty and courage of the author in presenting the stories as they were related, allowing readers to form their own impressions. Overall, this review strongly recommends the book, especially for individuals involved in child welfare. This insightful review deserves a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Exquisite prose, flowed effortlessly and elegantly.