Broken Pencils

by Victoria Arendt

In 1934, Ruth, a young housewife, gives birth to a severely handicapped son. Whispers of disgrace and shame swirl in the community as she desperately tries to teach him to be normal. Her embarrassed husband is unsupportive and her mother pressures her to place him into the Insane Asylum. Fearful for his safety, she resists their demands and cares for him at home.

As her son grows and her family expands, feeding, bathing and changing him become increasingly difficult. Reluctantly, she considers the Insane Asylum, until a 1946 Life Magazine article appears, documenting mistreatments, assaults, and massive underfunding of the asylum system.

At sixteen, her son’s strength is that of a man and she loses the battle to care for him. He is placed in the Insane Asylum where she witnesses barbaric conditions and inhumane atrocities.

This is the story of Ruth’s enormous plight to protect her son from a state system designed to keep feeble minded imbeciles incarcerated and away from society. This novel is based on true life events.

Genres: Fiction

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2020

About the author

Victoria Arendt was born in Toledo, Ohio. Inspired by travel and movement, she has lived in several different locations, including the vibrant city of San Francisco and the rugged mountains of Montenegro. Currently, she lives in Florida with her husband and scruffy dog named Simon.

Reviews

[Terrie Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so profoundly impacted by Broken Pencils; I don’t have the words to express how much this book means. I give it the highest recommendation possible.

It is heartbreaking, horrifying and awful, while still being tender, loving and inspirational.

Spoiler Alert: Mrs. Janikowski is my hero. She never waivers in her love or responsibility for Junior. Ruth fought and gave of herself to his every need. While other mothers have taken care of their child, the emotion that comes through in this novel is overwhelming. The other children may have felt neglected at times, since much of the attention went to Junior. However, I believe they understood at some point that Junior’s needs were such that their mother had to attend to him first.

A thank you goes out to the author, Victoria Arent, for allowing us this glimpse into her family’s past and to the unthinkable torture Junior endured at the hand of the state hospital system. These horrific conditions are graphic but need to be to show the lack of attention to even the most basic need of the mentally ill.

My friends and family will be getting copies of this book. I think everyone needs to read it. Don’t let history repeat itself.


I received an ARC from the author through Goodreads. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God this story was beautiful! I literally cried just now reading the end of it.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. This is one of those books that will stick with you for a long time. Beautifully written and thoroughly heart wrenching, would recommend to anyone. What a great first novel by this author!

As a mother, my heart aches for Ruth. She is a force to be reckoned with. This novel also shines much needed light on how disabled people and people with mental illnesses were treated in the past (hint- it was not spoke of, hidden, brushed under the rug).

I received an ARC from the author through Goodreads. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book it showed the not so pretty side of how disabilities were treated in the mid-30s to 50s. This book showed the good (a mother's unconditional love) bad and the ugly of disabilities back then. in 1934 a mother gives birth to a severely handicapped son named junior. Once he is born juniors mother is engorged even by her own mother to admit him to an insane asylum. But she refuses to give up on her son. whispers of disgrace go around there small down. Overall this is an amazing historical fiction novel I would definitely recommend.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters and the story was compelling.

[Susi · Rating 5 out of 5]

She tried so hard. A Mother's Love. A tough read of a beautiful and yet tragic story. I met the author at a street fair and she was so passionate about this story. I see why. Someone needs you. Keep fighting. The end of the Prologue and the end of the book will make that point.

[Abby Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book moved pretty slowly, but after the halfway point it really picked up. I loved the short chapter structure; it was very engaging and holds your attention. I would’ve liked to see some of the characters become a bit more robust. Aside from the protagonist, many characters felt shallow. By the end of the book, almost all of the characters behaved exactly how you would have predicted them to at the beginning. As someone from Toledo, I really appreciated the history of this book and learning more about my hometown. Worth the read.

[Mary Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language in the first few chapters is so flowery that I didn't think I could continue. It turns out that those chapters were unnecessary. I think Ms. Arendt needed a good editor. Once she started telling the story of Ruth and her loving care of her disabled son and of the horrible condition of the Toledo mental institution, it was clear and riveting.

[Tabatha Bierie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best toledo history and even what mental health was and really wasn't to use back in 1930s

[Mackenzie Montpas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did TRULY love this book. However it really tugs at the heart strings especially if you can relate to having a loved one with disabilities.
The beginning (in my opinion) is a little slow and I wanted to set the book down and leave it be but once I got to a certain point it was almost impossible to put down.
So beautifully raw and well written.