When adults fail to nurture the ones they should protect, kids create their own rulebook for survival. Melissa Simonye describes the possible long-term impact of this failure in Surviving Southwood Avenue: A Story of Family Secrets and Resilience. When his wife, Cara, runs away with her past lover, Frank must choose between losing his four kids to social services or finding a solution that will allow him to earn a living and take care of his kids without raising any alarm. Since he does not wish to lose his kids, he chooses the second option - he places his kids in a boarding house. Little does he know that this house will introduce his young children to extreme horrors capable of breaking their spirits from the inside out. Stella, his four-year-old daughter, becomes the main target of deplorable acts of physical and mental assaults that nobody, let alone a child, should ever go through.

Inspired by the true events, Surviving Southwood Avenue counsels parents and caretakers to pay attention to the unsaid words of their children and notice their sudden changes in behavior. Melissa Simonye is a non-judgmental narrator. She explores the characters with an open mind. In Stella's voice, the narration provides a view into the innocent world of a child -- this adds another level to understanding the unbelievable impact of such atrocities on a child's mind and heart. As a reader, I could not help but wish justice would prevail; this desire and the well-written plot forced me to keep flipping the pages until the very end. Although Stella's story is quite dark and gut-wrenching, it is also a testament to the strength and perseverance of human character. Surviving Southwood Avenue by Melissa Simonye urges society to do better for those who can't protect themselves. At the same time, she inspires the survivors to rewrite their story.

When Stella’s mother ran away when she was only four years old, her father moved into a boarding house with his four children. Working two jobs, Frank left Charles, Eleanor, Bob, and little Stella in the care of Margaret Spangler, an unbalanced and mentally ill woman. During the five years they lived there, most especially after Frank moved out, their situation became even worse. They were beaten, half-starved, mentally abused, and worse, from the age of six, Stella was molested by Albert, their landlady’s teenage son. Surviving Southwood Avenue by Melissa Simonye, Stella’s granddaughter, was written from discussions with Stella and the notes her daughter transcribed before Stella died at the age of ninety-eight. A story of survival, a woman who came to terms with each horror that she encountered, and led a successful and happy life.

Surviving Southwood Avenue by Melissa Simonye is an amazing book about a time when young children did not have modern attitudes toward adults. While they were severely abused, they kept their secrets, telling no one how cruelly they were treated. This partly fictional memoir is beautifully written as the characters leap off the page, especially Stella, and we share every hardship she suffers. While this is a harrowing read, it reminds or informs us of a time when children were seen and not heard and also how a young child believes how helpless they are. It also shows the strength of the human spirit. While both Margaret Spangler, who ran the Southwood Avenue guest house, and Stella’s mother Clara were both mentally ill, there was never any mention of them getting help. It's ironic that had social services rescued the children, they may well have been happier in stable homes. I also wondered about their father Frank, who appeared to have little insight into the conditions his children were suffering. Today we live in a much kinder world and this book is a lesson that reminds us of it. Inspirational.

Melissa Simonye pays homage to her family in the historical fiction novel, Surviving Southwood Avenue. Stella was born the youngest of four children in April 1916. Her mother suddenly leaves her father and siblings the day after Stella’s fourth birthday. Soon after, they all move into the boarding house on Southwood Avenue because her father is unable to keep the house they once lived in. What follows is an account of the conditions the siblings endured while under the care of Mrs. Spangler and her son, Albert. It is a story of hope and survival and one family’s ability to grow when the world around them tries to break them down.

Author Melissa Simonye shares the heartfelt tale of her grandmother in this riveting true story based in Columbus, Ohio. Written in the first-person narrative from the perspective of Stella, we share in her struggles to survive a life that no child should endure. Characters are relatable and written with an abundance of personality. The author pulls on the heartstrings of every reader and keeps them glued from start to finish. Emphasis is placed on bravery and the courage shown by the characters. I loved looking at the book cover and finally understanding the significance behind it. Even with the subtle instances of torture and abuse, I would gladly recommend Surviving Southwood Avenue to young adult readers as well. This is a story of hope and love in the face of cruelty and how one person can truly become the matriarch of a family and inspire the world.

In Surviving Southwood Avenue by Melissa Simonye, Clara was abused by her father while growing up. He was a heavy drinker, and after some time her mother decided to leave. Clara was meant to go to her sister, but she did not want to. Luckily, her boyfriend, Richard, talks to his parents, and they accept Clara moving in with them. After Clara breaks up with Richard, she meets Frank, and they get married. Frank is hard-working and ensures his family is provided for. Things are well until Richard returns. Clara runs off with her old boyfriend, which results in a lot of suffering for Frank and the kids. Frank is forced to sell their home and move to a boarding house. The boarding house is challenging for the kids, especially Stella, who is the youngest. How will things turn out for their family?

I loved the fact that Surviving Southwood Avenue by Melissa Simonye was inspired by real events. It takes one on a roller-coaster of emotions as one sees the consequences of broken families, especially on children. This thought-provoking work also got me thinking about mental health issues and the importance of guardians listening to their children and also looking at other subtle signs of unhappiness and distress. Melissa ensured all the events were captured vividly, which made one invested in the storyline. The characters were well-developed, and the steady narration also added to the overall beauty of this amazing work. This was a great read, and I look forward to more by this wonderful author.