Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra

Regina Calcaterra recounts her childhood struggles with homelessness and abuse in foster care, while fighting to keep her siblings together and ultimately rising above adversity.

This book contains: alcohol, addiction, animal neglect, anxiety, child abuse/neglect (severe, torturous, graphically violent), child starvation, death, derogatory terms, drugs, failure of Child Protective Services, foster care neglect, graphic descriptions of a sexually dysfunctional enviroment, homelessness, mental illness, parental neglect, porn magazines referenced, profanity, self-harm (referenced), sexual abuse of a minor implied, sexual activities/nudity (not explicit), smoking, theft out of necessity.

Graphic abuse is mitigated by themes of resilience and sibling bonds, serving to expose foster care realities and inspire advocacy.