Roza: The Runaway

by Janice Dembosky

ROZA is the story of the incredible bravery and determination of a fifteen-year-old farm girl who ran away from home, to escape the advances of a drunken stepfather. She had tried to tell her mother but was called a liar and beaten, leaving her with no choice but to flee.
Literally with nothing but the feed-sack dress and run-down shoes she wore, she walked nine miles to the nearest town, the “college town” of Indiana, PA, determined to find work and a place to live.
Exhausted, she stopped at a big white house on a hill overlooking the town. The kind woman who opened the door listened to the story of the battered girl, let her use her bathroom and fed her. Then she wrote a note to her friend who was the manager of the dining hall at the new Indiana State Teachers College, asking if she might employ the young runaway.
Handing Roza the note, the woman also cautioned her to say that she was sixteen, the age she had to be for employment at the college. With a second wind and the encouragement of a stranger, Roza continued her journey.
The kindness of a stranger not only saved Roza’s life. It led her to self-discovery and challenges, including the challenges of love.

362 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2023

About the author

Janice Dembosky lives with her husband, Everett, on their farm in rural Pennsylvania. Their three children are adults with families of their own, and Janice has retired from her profession as an English teacher. In between (and even during) traveling adventures, she enjoys her favorite pastime -- writing. She has published magazine articles, but The Bond Woman is her first novel. She explains, "My mother was terminally ill and complained to me that she had always hoped that I would publish a book before she died. To appease her, I began writing The Bond Woman, reading her chapters each time I came to sit with her on weekends. She found the story fascinating but did not hesitate to offer suggestions, many of which I carried out. This is why I call her my first encourager and editor. After my mother died, I put the manuscript away and didn't resurrect it until the time for grieving and honing my creative writing skills through coursework had passed. I dedicate this, my first novel, to my mother, Anna R. Socol Bonacci." Janice is already working on a sequel to The Bond Woman.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I have lived in Indiana PA for over 50 years, I was interested in reading this book, which was given to me by a friend. I went to school at Indiana University of PA, which is now the name of the school where young Roza was able to secure a job, room and board with the help of an unnamed woman after running away from an untenable home situation,

I very much enjoyed learning about the small mining towns that surround the town of Indiana, and was dismayed at the prejudices that were typical in America at that time. Dembosky painted a vivid picture of the hardships faced by the families in these small mining towns as they struggled to feed their families and work the land. While this book is historical fiction, it is based on the life of her parents, Roza and Gino and their families.

I was disappointed at the abrupt ending to the story, and the fact that the author didn't identify which of Roza and Gino's daughters was actually her. In fact, as I finished the book, I felt there must be a sequel brewing which would complete the story of Dembosky's parents.

[Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A written work of art ...

Having read the in-depth synopsis before beginning this book, I thought I had an idea of what would transpire. However, Ms. Dembosky's creative and thoughtful writing was so well done I had to take breaks in the early chapters to come to terms with Roza's early story. What a strong woman she was! Also, because I love historical fiction, I was very impressed with the facts of the times presented, some of which were new to me even though I've lived in Indiana County for 47 years.

[Wendy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband is from Indiana, PA so I really enjoyed the setting of this book. It even mentions my in-laws shoe store! The characters were also well developed. I am only sorry it is over because I enjoyed reading it so much.