Sweet Read: Another Forgotten Child

Today I am excited to share a special book with you.

“Another Forgotten Child”
is written by a Foster Parent who lives in the UK.  Her pen name is Cathy Glass.   Cathy has cared for over  100 foster children and is a New York Best Sellling Author.
In this book Cathy shares the story of Aimee.  Aimee is an 8 year old girl, who like many, have fallen through the cracks of an overworked foster care system. 

As Cathy welcomes Aimee into her home she is met with a spunky and “tell it like she sees it” girl who has had to become tough to stay alive in the circumstances she was living in.  As Aimee becomes more comfortable in Cathy’s home she starts to open up and share pieces of her life before she was brought into care.   The truth of Aimee’s many bruises comes to light as well as a deeper understanding of the types of abuse and neglect which Aimee suffered.

As someone who has been a foster parent I have found this book to be very touching and brings to life the child abuse which exists in our society.   While it is hard to read about what Aimee had to go through her resiliency is inspiring.   Cathy does a fantastic job relating the story without giving details so horrific it makes it impossible to read on.   There is one passage I loved and took me back to my fostering days and made me want to do it all over again.
Cathy writes in Chapter 15 “Serious Allegations”:

“I arrived at school preoccupied and with a very heavy heart.  I stood in the playground in my usual place so that Aimee would know where to find me among the other parents when she came out.   Yet despite my worries and anxieties, my spirits lifted a little as Aimee came out and I caught a glimpse of her face.   She was grinning from ear to ear and I knew she had some very good news to tell me.
‘Guess What!’ she cried, bounding to my side, ‘I’ve  made some friends!  You said I would and you were right.  Now I’m not smelly and I don’t have nits the kids want to play with me!  I told them I went to the cinema, I’m so happy!’

I smiled.  Despite my anger at her mother’s lies, I was happy for Aimee.   This was what fostering was all about – seeing a child’s delight at some achievement you have helped them with.
‘Fantastic,’ I said.  “That’s wonderful.  Well done.  I want you to tell me all about your new friends in the car on the way to contact.’

‘I will,’ Aimee said.  And as we crossed the playground she slipped her hand into mine.  It was the first display of affection she’d ever shown towards me, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. “

The story of little Aimee kept me reading  and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about what I had read.  
“Another Forgotten Child” is an inspiring story of one little girl and how love and a fresh start changes everything!
~

Special thanks to TLC Book Tours and Harper Collins for inviting me to read this book and join the tour!

*Disclosure:  The book Another Forgotten Child was sent to me by the publisher.  My thoughts and opinions are all my own.