Kim Michele Richardson's Page

THE UNBREAKABLE CHILD, A Story About Forgiving The Unforgivable Kim Michele Richardson’s ground breaking memoir about growing up during the 60’s in a rural Roman Catholic orphanage run by nuns and a priest. It interweaves present-day with past, where Kim and other children suffered brutal childhood abuses. These abuses finally came to light in 2004 through a nationally recognized lawsuit initiated by attorney William McMurry. This man of courage stepped forward in the cause of justice, and Kim and forty-four former orphans (including her sister) were the first in United States history to receive monetary settlement from a Roman Catholic order of nuns, arising out of decades of institutional abuse.

REVIEWS:
The Unbreakable Child: A Story about Forgiving the Unforgivable.
Richardson, Kim Michele (Author) Apr 2009. 240 p. Kunati, hardcover, $24.95. (9781601641632). 364.15.

“While the abuses of Catholic priests have been making headlines in recent years, little has been heard about mistreatment at the hands of nuns. Here Richardson, who was raised in a Catholic orphanage in Kentucky in the 1960s, recounts the horrors that she and countless other children endured there and takes readers on her journey to rid herself of the awful memories. Her catharsis comes with a … lawsuit, which she and 44 other survivors brought against the order that ran the orphanage. Richardson tells two simultaneous stories. In one, she recalls episodes from her childhood where her misbehavior … led to unheard-of punishments. In the other, she takes us through the steps of the lawsuit, from the first meeting with the attorney to the first deposition where a sister was present to, finally, a settlement, the first of its kind against Catholic nuns. Richardson’s candid accounts are chilling, and the strength she shows with a very supportive husband at her side is inspiring. Remarkably, she did not abandon the Church and in fact sends her children to Catholic schools. Hers is a beautifully told story about strength and an enduring faith that can lead but one place: to forgiveness.”--American Library Association’s Booklist

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, Vows of Silence

“A harrowing, but beautifully crafted saga of one woman’s courageous fight against evil, and her victory over the greatest titan in history–the Catholic church. This is a book that will haunt you.” — Alanna Nash, author, “The Colonel.”
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“This is a gripping account not just of horrific betrayal but also of heroic recovery.” –David Clohessy, Director of SNAP, named People Magazine’s 25 “Most Intriguing People.” 2003


“The Unbreakable Child is not so much a tragic tale as it is a testament to the resilience of human nature and the fighting spirit residing somewhere in each of us. In recounting her childhood abuse at the hands of those we most revere and put our trust in, Kim encourages victims everywhere to stand up to the bullies and bully pulpits that dictate to us and misuse positions of authority. The Unbreakable Child is more than a wakeup call for the Catholic Church and child care institutions; it’s a rally cry for the rest of us to hold our religious, legal and political authorities accountable.” –Greg Barrett, Veteran Journalist and Author of The Gospel of Father Joe


“The Unbreakable Child is the most powerful story I’ve read in a long time. You’ll feel her pain and her triumph, and be reminded that the human spirit is resilient beyond all reason. This book will change you” –Jenna Glatzer, Author of Celine Dion: For Keeps