Unbreakable Determination by Maria Florkiewicz
Unbreakable Determination
By Maria Florkiewicz
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Ratings 4.5/5
Synopsis
Vi Marta, 12, accepts her lot in life and when questioned always lies about the bruises she suffers from her father, Joe Marta's, harsh hands, and by younger brother Joey, who's actually encouraged by her father to be mean to Vi. Vi's mother Carol is indifferent and never defends Vi from her father or her brother. Carol is also being abused by both her husband and seven-year-old son as well. Carol desperately wants the love of her husband, and would do anythhing to obtain his love, including going along with her husband's brutality. The only consistency in Vi's life, is from her grandmother, her mother's mother, and her sixteen-year-old uncle, her mother's brother. Vi is invited to join the cross-country running team where she is showing great potential. Then, her mother shatters her life by telling her that they're moving to NYC to live with a grandmother that she had been told is dead, her father's mother. No matter how much Mary, her grandmother from Pennsylvania, tries to talk some sense into Carol to leave Vi in her care, she would never go against Joe, and Joe said no, and that is that. So, Vi is off to NYC where she's forced to live in a house of deceit, lies, and now sexual abuse, forced to go out with a twenty-year-old and is even thrust into an inner-city school where she's bullied and attacked. She learns despicable things about her father and family, and even meets her Uncle John, without knowing who he is at first, and the secret of how Grandpa Alex died seems to be the big family mystery. Her only stability in life is Handsome, her grandmother's dog, who becomes her best buddy and loyal protector, saving her repeatedly from her grandmother's "handy" husband and the school crime syndicate's efforts to abduct her. She meets Mrs. Burch, who is under cover at the school Vi enrolls in, as the guidance counselor. She meets Vince by chance, who is also a detective. It is in the midst of Vi's horrific time in NYC, with the help of Handsome, the kindness of Mrs. Burch, Vince, and Vince's parents, who are all such a contrast to her own family, that she learns to stand up for herself and becomes determined to fight for the life she deserves.
My Thoughts
Unbreakable Determination by Maria Florkiewicz is a powerful and heart-wrenching story about survival, resilience, and the fight for a better life. The novel follows the tragic life of 12-year-old Vi Marta, who faces unthinkable abuse at the hands of her father and younger brother, with her mother, Carol, turning a blind eye. Vi’s world is filled with violence and neglect, but despite the darkness surrounding her, she shows incredible strength and potential, especially when she joins the cross-country running team—a glimmer of hope in an otherwise grim existence.
Florkiewicz doesn't shy away from portraying the grim realities of domestic abuse and the complexities of family dynamics. Carol, Vi’s mother, is a tragic figure herself, caught in a toxic cycle of seeking her husband's love at any cost, including her daughter's well-being. The narrative takes a darker turn when Vi is forced to move to New York City, where she faces not only further abuse but also shocking family secrets and danger from her new surroundings.
Vi’s journey is harrowing but also inspiring, as she finds allies in unlikely places—Mrs. Burch, a caring guidance counselor, Vince, a detective, and Handsome, her grandmother's loyal dog. These characters provide the warmth and support that contrast sharply with the cruelty of Vi’s immediate family. Through their kindness, Vi begins to reclaim her sense of self-worth and develop the unbreakable determination to fight for a better future.
The story tackles difficult themes, including child abuse, familial betrayal, and the courage it takes to break free from toxic environments. While parts of the book are heavy, Florkiewicz weaves a narrative of hope and empowerment, showing that even in the worst circumstances, there is a path to healing.
*Unbreakable Determination* is an emotional rollercoaster that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of inner strength and survival. It’s a poignant reminder of the power of resilience, and how, with support, one can rise above even the most oppressive circumstances.
Highly Recommended!
Comments
Post a Comment