An extraordinary memoir of one woman’s fight to find her true self between the life into which she was born and the one she was given.
Christiana Mara Coelho was born into extreme poverty in Brazil. After spending the first seven years of her life with her loving mother in the forest caves outside São Paulo and then on the city streets, where they begged for food, she and her younger brother were suddenly put up for adoption. When one door closed on the only life Christiana had ever known and on the woman who protected her with all her heart, a new one opened.
As Christina Rickardsson, she’s raised by caring adoptive parents in Sweden, far from the despairing favelas of her childhood. Accomplished and outwardly “normal,” Christina is also filled with rage over what she’s lost and having to adapt to a new reality while struggling with the traumas of her youth. When her world falls apart again as an adult, Christina returns to Brazil to finally confront her past and unlock the truth of what really happened to Christiana Mara Coelho.
A memoir of two selves, Never Stop Walking is the moving story of the profound love between families and one woman’s journey from grief and loss to survival and self-discovery.
Hardcover: 237 pages
Publisher: AmazonCrossing (June 1, 2018)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
Reviews
“Both candid and compelling, Rickardsson’s story is not only about a woman seeking to heal the fractures inherent in a transnational identity; it is also a moving meditation on poverty, injustice, and the meaning of family. A thought-provoking and humane memoir of survival and self-discovery.” - Kirkus Reviews
“A haunting story of balancing identities, Rickardsson’s debut is an unforgettable meditation on the weight of early childhood trauma and recovery.” - Booklist
"This was a very personal insight into the author's unique life's story. There were some moments that were so intimate, it was incredibly poignant and hurt my heart. I felt she was being very honest, raw to the core honesty, actually. And I appreciated being taken along for the walk through her journey on this planet. Incredibly raw, incredibly real, one of the best books I've ever read."
- Marina
"This book was a very eye opening look into the lives of poor, forgotten street children. It was shocking and appalling (as it should be). The story was good and compelling at parts. The author came across as very frank and open. Overall, I enjoyed it. The writing didn’t always flow well, but that might just be an issue of translation. Definitely a must read for people who have no knowledge of how some impoverished children really live. Also provides insights on cross cultural adoption."
- Amanda
"Wonderfully written, easy to read, couldn’t put it down. As a mother, it pulled at my heart strings as I read what she went through as a child and the love and pressure she felt towards her baby brother. As a 1st generation American, who can’t communicate w the rest of my family due to the language barrier, it pulled at my heart strings. Such an interesting, sad and inspiring story."
- Linda Polasek
"This book is a must read, takes you to Brazil and shows the struggles of children and women who lived in the slums and all they went through. Sister and brother placed in an orphanage taken away from their mother and then adopted other parents in sweeden and having to start a new life with so much baggage. Love Love loved the book. Once you get past the first chapter you wont be able to stop to the end. Get your tissue ready."
- Tweety
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About the Author
Christina Rickardsson was born in 1983 as Christiana Mara Coelho in Brazil. At the age of seven, she was taken to an orphanage along with her younger brother and then out to Vindeln, a village located in the north of Sweden in a region called Västerbotten. After Christina finished her memoir, Never Stop Walking, she founded the Coelho Growth Foundation, which brings awareness to the plight of child poverty.
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