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A Baby's Cry
What could cause a mother to believe that giving away her newborn baby is her only option? Cathy Glass is about to find out. From the author of Damaged comes a harrowing and moving memoir about tiny Harrison, left in Cathy's care, and the potentially fatal family secret of his beginnings. When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby. But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realizes she has more to worry than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy. She isn't told why Harrison is in foster care and his social worker says only a few are aware of his very existence, and if his whereabouts became known his life, and that of his parents, could be in danger. Cathy tries to put her worries aside as she looks after Harrison, a beautiful baby, who is alert and engaging. Cathy and her children quickly bond with Harrison although they know that, inevitably, he will eventually be adopted. But when a woman Cathy doesn't know starts appearing in the street outside her house acting suspiciously, Cathy fears for her own family's safety and demands some answers from Harrison's social worker. The social worker tells Cathy a little but what she says is very disturbing. How is this woman connected to Harrison and can she answer the questions that will affect Harrison's whole life?
305 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2012
634 people are currently reading
2989 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Glass
180 books2,242 followersCathy Glass is a bestselling British author, freelance writer and foster carer.
Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres, and she has also written a parenting guide to bringing up children, Happy Kids, and a novel, The Girl in the Mirror, based on a true story.
Glass has worked as a foster career for more than 20 years, during which time she has fostered more than 50 children. Her fostering memoirs tell the stories of some of the children who came in to her care, many of whom had suffered abuse.
The first title, Damaged, was number 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers charts in hardback and paperback. Her next three titles, Hidden, Cut and The Saddest Girl in the World, were similarly successful, all reaching the bestseller charts.
The name "Cathy Glass" is a pseudonym for author Lisa Stone.
Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres, and she has also written a parenting guide to bringing up children, Happy Kids, and a novel, The Girl in the Mirror, based on a true story.
Glass has worked as a foster career for more than 20 years, during which time she has fostered more than 50 children. Her fostering memoirs tell the stories of some of the children who came in to her care, many of whom had suffered abuse.
The first title, Damaged, was number 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers charts in hardback and paperback. Her next three titles, Hidden, Cut and The Saddest Girl in the World, were similarly successful, all reaching the bestseller charts.
The name "Cathy Glass" is a pseudonym for author Lisa Stone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
September 28, 2024
A good book but far too detailed, you could cut out 100 pages if you took out her step-by-step guide to opening a loft hatch for example.
Three stars.
Three stars.
June 18, 2012
Not convinced this is as true as she says - simply changing a child's name in no way complies with the very strict confidentiality regulations of social services.
It's a well told story though and very easy to read. Bit too descriptive in parts (do we really need a whole page giving a step by step guide on how she reached a cot out of her loft??)
October 22, 2012
I quite enjoyed this book but it was so ridiculously detailed at times.... I opened the cupboard door, reached in, took out the pole that I used for opening the loft. I went up the stairs carrying the pole and opened the loft hatch using the pole to unlock the hatch, I pushed the door open and reached for the light..... I went around the house collecting the toys, I picked up a soft elephant, behind the cushion I found a rattle, on the floor was another toy, I put them in the bag, I went into the kitchen, I opened a drawer, I took out the bibs and put them on the side. I opened another drawer and took out the cutlery set, I put them in a bag, I put the bags at the bottom of the stairs, I picked up a coat. I carried the coat and bags up the stairs, I went into the room and I put them on the bed...... Tediously and unnecessarily detailed through out. She could probably cut out all the unnecessary page filling rubbish, lose about 30-40 pages and make a good book into a great book. The story itself is good, if somewhat embellished in places, but take that with a pinch of salt and you are left with a touching story which really shows the work and love of good foster carer and a positive reflection of the work of social services. I have read three or four before this and never noticed such tedious detailing so I assume it is one of her earlier attempts at a novel. I already have another to read, hopefully it will be much better edited/formatted/written, if not then I think it will put me off reading any more, I haven't got patience for all reading such pointless meticulous detailing! I want to read a book not a report!!
December 28, 2014
This was the most boring book that I have read by Cathy Glass. I was expecting some shocking twist but it was just a long winded drawn out tale of fostering a baby. Yawn. The writing was tedious and over descriptive, ex. I reached for the bottles, sterilized them and then filled them with milk and then I fed him, after that I burped him and then changed his nappy... Blah, blah, blah...
March 3, 2014
The concept of the book was good and sounded interesting. The author has listed way to many details. I don't need to know exactly what is packed in a baby's diaper bag every time the baby is brought for a stroller ride.
August 7, 2012
Overall I enjoyed the book, especially re-living having a baby in your life. Although at times I found it over descriptive in the mundane of life such as description over putting things away or what went in the bag.
April 21, 2020
I wanted to like this book but I ended up disliking it intensely. "Cathy" is perfect. She doesn't work yet somehow supports herself and her two children in her 3-bedroom home. We're never told how she lives so well and no way can child support from her kids' father and payments from the family services cover it. She's a single mother of two young kids and has a newborn baby sprung on her to foster. That might cause a little chaos in other families, but Cathy never ever gets frustrated, frazzled, depressed, angry, impatient or even mildly flustered. She never raises her voice. Ever. But I guess that's understandable since her children are also picture-perfect in every way. Never do they fight, get sick, break things or act out even with all these foster children coming and going. Even the five-year-old is patient and understanding of her mother showering other kids with attention. The baby too is perfect and never gets so much as the sniffles, other than a couple of times when he "grizzles".
Cathy does have a brief moment of wondering if all these foster children might have some negative impact on her own children, but oh, well. She does what she wants to do.
The writing is repetitive and gives far too much attention to unnecessary detail. Do we really need to know if some of the constant parade of child welfare workers in Cathy's home take sugar or not in their coffee? With the huge amount of attention paid to this baby by an agency that I would think would be overwhelmed with urgent abuse and neglect cases, I assumed the enormous secrecy surrounding him involved some leading public figure or crime lord. No such thing. It's kind of mundane and silly.
Warning: There are a couple of pages devoted to graphic description of child and animal abuse. It's gratuitous, IMO, has no bearing on the story and I just flipped past it when I saw where it was going.
Warning 2: Do NOT drink every time you read the phrase, "Bouncing cradle" or you'll get alcohol poisoning.
Cathy does have a brief moment of wondering if all these foster children might have some negative impact on her own children, but oh, well. She does what she wants to do.
The writing is repetitive and gives far too much attention to unnecessary detail. Do we really need to know if some of the constant parade of child welfare workers in Cathy's home take sugar or not in their coffee? With the huge amount of attention paid to this baby by an agency that I would think would be overwhelmed with urgent abuse and neglect cases, I assumed the enormous secrecy surrounding him involved some leading public figure or crime lord. No such thing. It's kind of mundane and silly.
Warning: There are a couple of pages devoted to graphic description of child and animal abuse. It's gratuitous, IMO, has no bearing on the story and I just flipped past it when I saw where it was going.
Warning 2: Do NOT drink every time you read the phrase, "Bouncing cradle" or you'll get alcohol poisoning.
March 3, 2016
I'm glad I only paid 99 cents for this. I continued to read it to see what the secret was that caused the mother to give up her baby. All the "danger" went away easily. With all the excessive details, It was like reading the log she kept on each foster child.
March 4, 2016
The preview way oversells this book as a compelling mystery of sorts. I'm not sure why the author felt the need to share so many mandate details throughout the book. Disappointing
April 14, 2016
This was a badly written and boring book. Subject matter was interesting but my God the author put way too many unimportant details in that dragged the story out longer than necessary.
January 15, 2022
Gosh what a book to read. I've always loved true stories, and these ones from Cathy Glass and her journeys through fostering over the years are some of the best books I've read. The way this was written gripped me from the beginning and I was in tears by the end. I FEEL the pain, I FEEL the love and I FEEL everything that's happening. Honestly I recommend these books so much! This one has a lovely happy ending and if it weren't for Cathy and the sheer fact of how truly amazing and supportive this lady is it wouldn't have been! Foster carers, you are amazing! Thank YOU. (You can also get an update on the children Cathy fosters on her website, which ultimately had me in tears more 🥺🤣) #fostercare #cathyglass #ababyscry #love #fear #heartbreaking #disclosures #baby #bookblogger #book #booksofinstagram #booklover #kindle #kindlebooks #primereading #thankyou #happyending
May 9, 2014
Unfortunately the horrifying reasons why this loving mother was forced to give up her child to save its life and her own are still all to real today for many women. It's a crime that religion and culture can move some people to commit murder and think that this is okay and approved due to moral judgements they make of those who do not conform. The power of a mother's love and the unending pain of separation of mother and child resonates. Sometimes a mother will lose her child if it is the only way she can save its life but it leaves brokenness in its wake. This story sheds light on a crime that sometimes still occurs in our society if parties involved are discovered and the cost to those who try and keep their families love whilst trying to be authentic to themselves. So sad many are forced to choose between one or the other.
July 10, 2020
Disappointed
As a retired nurse a d former foster mother of many children just was looking forward to reading this book, but was disappointed by the excessive wording . Is it really necessary list every single item in a diaper bag every time you go somewhere? Yes it is hard when they leave, especially when it's a baby, but that got drug out too 'long for me too .
As a retired nurse a d former foster mother of many children just was looking forward to reading this book, but was disappointed by the excessive wording . Is it really necessary list every single item in a diaper bag every time you go somewhere? Yes it is hard when they leave, especially when it's a baby, but that got drug out too 'long for me too .
March 12, 2016
Badly in need of an editor!
Interesting story. It was way too wordy and detailed, almost like a diary between 2 covers. An editor could have guided the author into a decent rewrite.
Interesting story. It was way too wordy and detailed, almost like a diary between 2 covers. An editor could have guided the author into a decent rewrite.
December 13, 2012
found this very slow going. I wasn't really interested in hearing about her making the baby bottle, changing nappies etc.
January 7, 2013
Hmmm. A ok story but it dragged a bit and was a bit tedious as a previous reviewer said in all the unnessesary detail! I was hoping for a few twists or surprises but there weren't any.
September 8, 2013
Compared to other Cathy Glass books this is the weakest of the ones I've read so far. It felt like at times she was just padding out the story. Not enjoyable!
March 17, 2017
The entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking the plot would reveal itself soon. That just never happened. It was an incredibly long book that went nowhere. I was very disappointed.
November 9, 2019
Wow! Foster care eye-opener for sure. This one had a happy ending.
August 30, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
August 8, 2017
This is a heart rending story of a mothers love and how far she will go to protect her baby.
April 19, 2013
When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby. But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realises she has more to worry than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy.
For some reason, this didn't grip me as much as Cathy Glass's previous books have done. I felt for baby Harrison, and Cathy, and Harrison's birth mother, but I felt kind of detached. One of the strong points of Cathy's books is how she deals with the children that come into her life, and it just was not the same when that child was a baby and not able to interact with Cathy in the same way. Maybe that's just me, though.
As others have said, it was a bit too over-descriptive in places - the bit about the loft really stuck in my mind as well! And then, the worst sin (in my opinion) was spelling 'losing' and 'loosing'. ARRRRGH! D:
That said, I don't read Cathy Glass for brilliant prose or sparkling turns of phrase. I read it for the human stories. The story of Harrison and his mother was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I actually cried a couple of times (particularly towards the end). This, more than her other books, touches on the hardship that is felt by the foster family when a child leaves them, and it hit close to home for me. I have a little brother around the same age as Harrison was when he left the family, so it is very easy for me to imagine Cathy's pain.
Overall, whilst this isn't Cathy Glass's best book, it's still worth a read. :)
For some reason, this didn't grip me as much as Cathy Glass's previous books have done. I felt for baby Harrison, and Cathy, and Harrison's birth mother, but I felt kind of detached. One of the strong points of Cathy's books is how she deals with the children that come into her life, and it just was not the same when that child was a baby and not able to interact with Cathy in the same way. Maybe that's just me, though.
As others have said, it was a bit too over-descriptive in places - the bit about the loft really stuck in my mind as well! And then, the worst sin (in my opinion) was spelling 'losing' and 'loosing'. ARRRRGH! D:
That said, I don't read Cathy Glass for brilliant prose or sparkling turns of phrase. I read it for the human stories. The story of Harrison and his mother was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I actually cried a couple of times (particularly towards the end). This, more than her other books, touches on the hardship that is felt by the foster family when a child leaves them, and it hit close to home for me. I have a little brother around the same age as Harrison was when he left the family, so it is very easy for me to imagine Cathy's pain.
Overall, whilst this isn't Cathy Glass's best book, it's still worth a read. :)
February 14, 2014
A touching, happy-ending story. It is nice to read one of these types of books that clearly has a happy ending! I realized, as I usually do when reading fostering books, that I could never do it; I'd feel too attached. It's amazing how selfless foster carers are and I have so much respect for them. It can't be easy by any means. It's a great book that is hard to put down. Definitely recommend.
Warning: Although I recommend this book and like it, I have to warn prospective readers. It is ridiculous the way that she describes literally everything she does. It warrants many eye rolls and yawns. Be prepared.
Warning: Although I recommend this book and like it, I have to warn prospective readers. It is ridiculous the way that she describes literally everything she does. It warrants many eye rolls and yawns. Be prepared.
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March 7, 2016I liked this book. There were times that it may have appeared to be redundant with details and descriptions but I think it set Cathy's mindset for the task of having a new baby in the house and then closure at the end. I think that this is a very poignant story of a mother's love and the biases of culture. It is sad when the confines of people and their beliefs keep us from the people we love. I was unfamiliar with the fostering system in the UK so this was very interesting to me. It seems that there is much more involvement between social service and the foster mother. This seems a much better arrangement than in the US. I would recommend this book .
April 17, 2022
This book was interesting to learn about the emotions that come from not only being a foster family, but also the parent that chooses to give up their child.
Cathy did an excellent job portraying the feelings of herself, her children, Rihanna and her family.
The short section about Ellie was intriguing but gut-wrenching. It was difficult to read because I could see what Ellie described and it made me nauseated to think children have to go through such awful things.
I wish there had been a bit more resolve with the grandparents and I also don’t understand why (without spoiling) the reason Rihanna couldn’t keep Harrison was suddenly not an issue. These 2 reasons are why I gave it a 4⭐️
Cathy did an excellent job portraying the feelings of herself, her children, Rihanna and her family.
The short section about Ellie was intriguing but gut-wrenching. It was difficult to read because I could see what Ellie described and it made me nauseated to think children have to go through such awful things.
I wish there had been a bit more resolve with the grandparents and I also don’t understand why (without spoiling) the reason Rihanna couldn’t keep Harrison was suddenly not an issue. These 2 reasons are why I gave it a 4⭐️
May 20, 2021
The first book from Cathy Glass that I found a litte disappointing. The momentum was successfully created but as the reason of the fostering unfolded it became a very unconvincing story. I know that sometimes real life is like fiction and that something (like some decisions the people in the book made) might not make perfect sense. But to read the account of it wasn't really fulfilling.
When the story itself wasn't the most exciting (at times boring), I found the author's writing style with every tedious descriptions for everything else more unbearable than usual....
When the story itself wasn't the most exciting (at times boring), I found the author's writing style with every tedious descriptions for everything else more unbearable than usual....
July 19, 2017
I don't like this writing style as much as torey Hayden and find it a little bit boring. I found it as frustrating as she must have when I didn't know the reason this lady had to give away her child and found the reason very sad for all involved. I think she portrays herself as a bit to perfect and that aspect of her books is starting to grate on me because literally nobody is that perfect all the time and I find myself rolling my eyes.
February 18, 2023
The book started very well and I was compelled to keep reading. The ending emotional and not what I had expected. That said, I agree with other reviews that this book contained too much detail about things that didn’t seem to be important and disrupted the flow of the book.
Will it put me off reading any others by the same author? Definitely not, this one feels different to the others and a positive yet emotional ending.
Will it put me off reading any others by the same author? Definitely not, this one feels different to the others and a positive yet emotional ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2019
If this book had been fiction I would have been highly disappointed. It’s still disappointing and I know it’s nonfiction.
I guess I don’t get why Glass felt this child’s story needed to be told. Unusual, yes and heartbreaking at times but considering how it was resolved? I just don’t get it.
It gets 2 stars because I finished it in one sitting.
I guess I don’t get why Glass felt this child’s story needed to be told. Unusual, yes and heartbreaking at times but considering how it was resolved? I just don’t get it.
It gets 2 stars because I finished it in one sitting.
November 1, 2020
I do love a Cathy Glass book. It's been a while since I have read one and I forgot how she includes all the basic details e.g. like going up into the loft and then going into real detail about that trip. I don't like these minor details, I find them boring.
But the story itself is a rollercoaster of emotions which is why I read them.
Another good story
But the story itself is a rollercoaster of emotions which is why I read them.
Another good story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews