Another Forgotten Child
A new memoir from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Cathy Glass, now with an exclusive preview of Cathy’s inspiring new title, Please Don’t Take My Baby, coming out on April 25th.
Eight-year-old Aimee was on the child protection register at birth. Her five older siblings were taken into care many years ago. So no one can understand why she was left at home to suffer for so long. It seems Aimee was forgotten.
The social services are looking for a very experienced foster carer to look after Aimee and, when she reads the referral, Cathy understands why. Despite her reservations, Cathy agrees to Aimee on – there is something about her that reminds Cathy of Jodie (the subject of ‘Damaged’ and the most disturbed child Cathy has cared for), and reading the report instantly tugs at her heart strings.
When she arrives, Aimee is angry. And she has every right to be. She has spent the first eight years of her life living with her drug-dependent mother in a flat that the social worker described as ‘not fit for human habitation’. Aimee is so grateful as she snuggles into her bed at Cathy’s house on the first night that it brings Cathy to tears.
Aimee’s aggressive mother is constantly causing trouble at contact, and makes sweeping allegations against Cathy and her family in front of her daughter as well. It is a trying time for Cathy, and it makes it difficult for Aimee to settle. But as Aimee begins to trust Cathy, she starts to open up. And the more Cathy learns about Aimee’s life before she came into care, the more horrified she becomes.
It’s clear that Aimee should have been rescued much sooner and as her journey seems to be coming to a happy end, Cathy can’t help but reflect on all the other ‘forgotten children’ that are still suffering…
Reviews (165)
Why Cathy Glass is an important author
The books by Cathy Glass are hard to read. Not because she’s a poor writer, just the opposite. When faced with caring for the myriad of children as a Foster Carer in the U.K., Cathy charges herself with taking on children who are damaged in some way. Whether it’s by the child’s own family (usually the case) or by the system itself, Cathy’s approach is always the same...love. She listens to them, never talks down to them and does her best to make each and every child feel like a part of her family for however long they happen to stay in her care. She’s faced many challenges in her 20+ years as a Foster parent; unruly children who have grown up with no boundaries, vicious parents asa well as the occasional over-worked and inefficient social workers. So yes, they’re hard to read. However child abuse, child neglect and child sexual abuse is still running rampant. I hope her readers will come away knowing that each and every one of us can help in some way, however small that help may be. Thee saying goes “it takes a village”. Perhaps Cathy Glass is the matriarch of our village. I sure hope so!
Another Great Read
Another great read from an excellent author. Cathy Glass is a foster carer who has been doing a wonderful job with children who've been abandoned and abused. While uncovering the abuse Aimee has suffered from both drug-addicted parents and others, Cathy finds a way to reach out to Aimee and help her to trust enough to reveal her abusive past. Cathy must also deal with the rantings of Aimee's angry mother with little help from social services. A great read that brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Cathy for your help on behalf of abused children everywhere.
Starting with explicit details of a horrendously abused child, ...
Starting with explicit details of a horrendously abused child, this true story travels through the complexities of the social service system. When Katy Beers is abducted, her disappearance becomes national news and sheds light on the fiercely competitive nature of news media and the quest for journalists to capture the story. As police, detectives and FBI strive to find Katy, one learns just how detailed and thorough investigative work is and how compassionate the chief detective is. All the while the story weaves through what is happening to Katy and how astonishingly brave and "street smart" this 10 year old girl has become out of necessity. It is heartwarming to learn how loving foster parents can alter a child's life. This story explores the deep psychological impact on the child, her abductor. and how the support of a community, her school and years of therapy can heal the most damaged psyche. Congratulations Kathryn Beers! I will always remember your life story as told by you and Cathy Glass.
Sad Story
This is another sad story written by Cathy Glass about her years as a carer in England. Aimee at 8years old is found to be severely neglected by her Mother. No one seems to know how this happened as her family has been known for over 20 years to the Welfare System. All 7 of her older siblings have been removed from Mother's care. Yet somehow she remained with her Mother until Cathy became her faster Mother.
The Child Care System
Cathy Glass gives a gripping and in depth look into the world of foster care and child protective service in England. She is able to pull you in emotionally as the foster carer of Aimee. A child who was repeatedly placed on the "at risk" protective list but slipped through the cracks. Some might not appreciate the extreme and sometimes repetitive, detail Cathy goes into when describing what she has to do and how the child protective system works but it helps us to understand the complexity of the child protective system, that is isn't all black and white. It also leaves the reader walking away having learned some good child care techniques to use. I almost felt like I was reading a fictionalized case study as she made references to other children/books she had written and techniques/workshops she had taught or been taught. Aimee is a precocious eight-year old, wise to the way her mother acts and the world around her. She' s never had a bath, never went to school for a full day, used eating utensils, brushed her teeth, dressed herself, the list goes on. Adjusting to this new way of living and seeing her mom three times a week and calling her the other nights takes it's toll of both Cathy and Aimme. Susan, aimme's mom, accuses Cathy of subpar treatment, not allowing Aimme to watch TV or forcing her to eat things she doesn't want to, wash her hair, brush her teeth, all of which are lies and taken out of context. It was hard to stop reading this books as I wanted to find out more of what Aimee went through, how her mother would twist a small comment and where, if at all, Aimee would have the same total breakdown as Jodie had. Jodie was the main character in Damaged, a girl badly abused. Both Cathy and the reader draw similarities between the two girls and hesitated when similar situations came up. It is a book with a mixed sad and happy ending. If you ever thought of becoming a foster care parent, books by Cathy Glass, are excellent in-depth looks in.
Heart-wrenching yet Inspiring
This is not a story for the faint of heart. It is the story of a foster parent who takes in a child that most would never touch. Aimee is eight years old and unlike her five older siblings, she was left with her mother instead of being removed. Eight years she suffers abuse at the hands of her mother and many others. No child should have to experience the things Aimee experiences. The book was frustrating at times because at one point in my life I worked for children and family services in my state. The things that you learn about happening to children is horrible. Cathy has done a wonderful job of letting the reader be an observer yet feel like they are right there. I have never been a foster parent. I have seen so much through my job as a teacher. Sometimes the things we learn from our students are just as heart wrenching and makes us wonder how someone could let something happen to a child for so long and do nothing. I have great admiration for people like Cathy. As a matter of fact a friend of mine, an author by the name of Karen Arnpriester is one of those angels who takes in kids. I have the highest respect for people like them. I believe that books like this should be read to bring attention to, and open the eyes of people who might not want to see what is going on around them. I highly recommend this book. I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my ow.
Wow ,memories
This hits home ,my parents and sister and husband were foster parents. Wow the things that went on. We are still in contact with 3 beautiful young ladies, have watched them grow . But I know its not always that way. Brought back memories of the kids that came thru their homes and mine. I pray every child has peace and safety and none get forgotten. So many are forgotten or left in bad situations,breaks my heart. Good read but the hard part happens way to often.
Hope for a child in foster care
The story gripped my heart -- this poor little girl had a very rough start in life, due to the inadequacies of the child foster care system. The book happens to be set in England but I have no doubt that the same thing happens in other countries. I think the author had to have glossed over some of the hard parts, because the final resolution shows this child happily a part of a family and seemingly with no issues; based on what the little girl experienced before she went into foster care, I doubt that that's the case -- although I'd love to think it is. Resolution a bit too unrealistic, I think, but a good book nonetheless, and I did read the whole thing, which I DO NOT DO if the book is poorly written.
Compelling and heart softening books
I’ve just discovered the Cathy Glass books & can’t put them down. I deeply admire her foster work & her sensitivity with children, as well as her perceptive understanding of the social welfare system with its shortcomings. She’s also an excellent writer! Reading these compelling books softens my heart & reminds me of what is important in life.
Another Forgotten Child
I love Cathy Glass's stories of the children she has fostered. She is a loving, well-trained and understanding, very motherly person who encourages her frightened and sometimes abusive charges to relax and open themselves to the love and care they so desperately need but lack in their lives so far. Reading about her mostly successful stories makes one thankful for one's own happy childhood, and very thankful for the many caring souls that step up to love and care for those with an unhappy start in life. So many child tragedies, thankfully averted, but yet so many more who sadly 'slip through the cracks'.
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