Broken by Rosie Lewis

Life as a foster parent is never dull, and in her time as foster parent Rosie Lewis has met and helped children facing all kinds of challenges.  Nothing so far has quite prepared her for Archie and his younger sister Bobbi.  The children have been removed from their mother and moved into foster care because there are concerns they might be neglected, but it is soon abundantly clear that there is more to their story than simple neglect.  As a foster parent Rosie has to engage with the parents, and she soon discovers that Archie and Bobbi's mother Tanya is more interested in her partner Jason and putting on the appearance of being a good mother - rather than actually being a good mother.

Archie is a little gentleman, perfectly polite and full of compliments - but it is only on the surface, and Rosie is more than a little concerned about what might be lurking under his civilised exterior.  Bobbi is completely different, a child that never seems to stop moving and is constantly demanding attention and hurting herself when she doesn't get what she wants.  Although the children are showing very different signs, it is clear to both Rosie and their social worker Danny that something is not right with the children.  As they slowly peel back the layers of protection the children have built around themselves, Rosie discovers that Archie has been hiding more than she knows.  As the pieces finally fall into place there is finally hope for Archie and Bobbi to heal and move on with their lives.

Broken tells the story of the months that Archie and Bobbi spent with Rosie - and it is a story that is moving, terrifying, and ultimately makes you believe in the kindness of strangers.  Some of these kinds of stories are just heart breaking, but Rosie tells the story of Archie and Bobbi in such a way that it gives you hope that things can change, and gives you hope that children can recover from neglect and abuse.  One of the most interesting aspects of this story for me is the manipulation of the children, and the sentiment that neglect is worse than abuse - something that I have long felt and didn't realise that some experts agree.  I have seen children who have been neglected and it just tears at your heart to see them suffering, while people say things like 'at least their parent isn't hitting them' - but the damage left by neglect seems to be linger much longer than cuts and bruises.

Rosie Lewis has a very personable writing style, and while she is sharing a story that is deeply personal (to both her and the children) she doesn't descend into gratuitous tactics, rather laying out the story 'warts and all' as it happened.  This story has moments that are almost too painful to read, and I would challenge anyone to read this book without feeling sympathy for Archie, Bobbi, Rosie and her family.  While it is a confronting read, we need stories like this to remind us that life can be hard, and it can be cruel - but there are also people out there who care and can pick up the pieces.

Take your time with this story and pause when you need to.  If you read this book and want to read other biographies from people who have lived through difficult experiences and trauma, then try:

• Etched in sand: A true story of five siblings who survived an unspeakable childhood on Long Island by Regina Calcaterra
• A child named It by Dave Pelzer
• Damaged by Cathy Glass
• When rabbit howls by Truddi Chase
• The little prisoner: A memoir by Jane Eliott
• Sickened: The memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory

Reviewed by Brilla