Mastic Beach, NY - June 15, 2015 - William Paca Middle School students recently had the opportunity to hear from author Regina Calcaterra, a Long Island native whose memoir Etched in Sand about overcoming a difficult childhood to become a successful adult, rose to number two on the New York Times Bestseller list in the category Non-Fiction E-Book and number six on the Non-Fiction Combined Print and E-book list.
Ms. Calcaterra spoke to the students about her story growing up as the middle child of five to a mentally ill mother and no father. She discussed the themes in her book which are child hunger and poverty, child abuse, child homelessness, the foster care system, sibling bonds, education, resilience, optimism, self-determination and how she and each of her siblings were able to end the destructive cycle they were born into.
“Regina’s book is meant to inspire children who are impoverished, abandoned and neglected and show them that they can pull themselves up if they believe in themselves,” said Roseann Magrane, William Paca Middle School Library Media Specialist.
At the end of the presentation, students had the opportunity to ask Ms. Calcaterra questions about her personal story. She also donated a copy of her book to the school library.
Pictured: NY Times bestselling author Regina Calcaterra (second from left) with students and staff at William Paca Middle School.