What do you think?
Rate this book
The Child Bride
The Child Bride
Cathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family.
When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?
Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.
Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her.
When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?
Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.
Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2014
362 people are currently reading
2281 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Glass
186 books2,253 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
June 7, 2016
This is the first time I have ever read a Cathy Glass book and I smashed it out in 2 days. What a heart wrenching story. Zeena is a truly remarkable girl, she had been to hell and back, and Cathy has pulled her out of her darkest days and shown her what love is.
I actually really enjoyed how this book was written. It basically is just a running commentary of the events that happened. I loved how each chapter followed straight from the previous one and you weren't left with any gaps in the story to fill in.
All the best to Zeena.
I actually really enjoyed how this book was written. It basically is just a running commentary of the events that happened. I loved how each chapter followed straight from the previous one and you weren't left with any gaps in the story to fill in.
All the best to Zeena.
February 13, 2015
I won this book in a goodreads competition. I honestly can't fault this book! The characterisation was perfect, they all had their own personalities and way of talking. I could connect with certain characters really well and I'm so glad Cathy Glass shared this story as it was shocking but beautiful. I look forward to reading more of her stories of being a foster carer.
January 8, 2015
Wow!! Started this book today, and finished it about 6 hours later. What a captivating, sad, book.
Zeena's story is amazing, horrifying, and wonderful.
I shook with tears at points, and smiled with happiness at others.
As a child that ended up in car at 15 (not 14 as in Zeena's case). I also ended up there because I asked to be put there, instead of staying with my family. Also like Zeena, I had teacher who suspected (and a couple who even called authorities), but no one could officially do anything to help me until I sought the help myself.
I hope Zeena continued to do well. While it said she was in University studying law, I hope she continued, and now helps children like herself.
It's horrible that things like this happen to children. Having a 5 year old, I am all too aware that danger can lurk everywhere. However reading stories that end well, such as this one, gives hope as well.
Way to go Zeena, and Cathy (and Tara and Norma) for all being VERY strong women, and for standing up for children.
Zeena's story is amazing, horrifying, and wonderful.
I shook with tears at points, and smiled with happiness at others.
As a child that ended up in car at 15 (not 14 as in Zeena's case). I also ended up there because I asked to be put there, instead of staying with my family. Also like Zeena, I had teacher who suspected (and a couple who even called authorities), but no one could officially do anything to help me until I sought the help myself.
I hope Zeena continued to do well. While it said she was in University studying law, I hope she continued, and now helps children like herself.
It's horrible that things like this happen to children. Having a 5 year old, I am all too aware that danger can lurk everywhere. However reading stories that end well, such as this one, gives hope as well.
Way to go Zeena, and Cathy (and Tara and Norma) for all being VERY strong women, and for standing up for children.
April 23, 2015
Cathy Glass, writes true stories from her hard core experiences as a foster carer in the UK. She seems to take on very difficult cases. Her books are always heart wrenching and her writing style is very easy to read and hard to put down. As unbelievable as this book was it was one of her better stories with a fairly happy ending.
July 19, 2018
The content of the book is obviously tragic and deeply upsetting. “Zeena” a 14 yo British girl was raped in Bangladesh by her cousin when she was nine, then married off to her rapist’s uncle and sex trafficked by her father.
Disclaimer: this isn’t the kind of book that I’d normally buy for myself but I was given it as a gift. I like evidence-based facts, good writing and the ability of an author to remove
themself from the subject matter.
This is not what I found.
I wanted more details, facts and statistics. What’s the official process for taking a child into care when they’ve disclosed that they’ve been abused? How many girls does this happen to? What are the prosecution rates of these types of offences?
Instead, we get a minute-by-minute account of the author’s routine, including how much she pays for hospital parking and each day’s weather. It’s extremely repetitive in irrelevant details (her daughter is always five minutes late leaving the house in the morning) meaning that you can skip ten pages and not much has happened.
My main problem with this book, however, is its disdain for accuracy. I’m a journalist by profession and I will not put a direct quote into writing unless I’m sure the source said it. Much of The Child Bride is filled with dialogue that can not possibly be accurate leading me to worry how much Glass has put her own voice into the story.
For instance, Glass quotes the child protection officer as saying: “We found some photographs of you and Tracy-Ann when we searched your parents’ home. In the photographs you were both dressed ready to entertain your father’s clients.”
a) “Tracy-Ann” has protection of anonymity under British law and so the police would not have given her name to Zeena and Cathy so readily.
b) When is it ever acceptable to say that a sex trafficked child is “ready to entertain”???
c) Could Glass recall that conversation in such detail that she was able to quote the officer word-for-word.
If you want a happy-ending and inspiration porn then you might enjoy this book. It’s too sensational and not critical enough for me.
Disclaimer: this isn’t the kind of book that I’d normally buy for myself but I was given it as a gift. I like evidence-based facts, good writing and the ability of an author to remove
themself from the subject matter.
This is not what I found.
I wanted more details, facts and statistics. What’s the official process for taking a child into care when they’ve disclosed that they’ve been abused? How many girls does this happen to? What are the prosecution rates of these types of offences?
Instead, we get a minute-by-minute account of the author’s routine, including how much she pays for hospital parking and each day’s weather. It’s extremely repetitive in irrelevant details (her daughter is always five minutes late leaving the house in the morning) meaning that you can skip ten pages and not much has happened.
My main problem with this book, however, is its disdain for accuracy. I’m a journalist by profession and I will not put a direct quote into writing unless I’m sure the source said it. Much of The Child Bride is filled with dialogue that can not possibly be accurate leading me to worry how much Glass has put her own voice into the story.
For instance, Glass quotes the child protection officer as saying: “We found some photographs of you and Tracy-Ann when we searched your parents’ home. In the photographs you were both dressed ready to entertain your father’s clients.”
a) “Tracy-Ann” has protection of anonymity under British law and so the police would not have given her name to Zeena and Cathy so readily.
b) When is it ever acceptable to say that a sex trafficked child is “ready to entertain”???
c) Could Glass recall that conversation in such detail that she was able to quote the officer word-for-word.
If you want a happy-ending and inspiration porn then you might enjoy this book. It’s too sensational and not critical enough for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2015
This was the standard Cathy Glass fare with a more sensational story. 14-year-old Zeena asked to be taken into foster care because she was being abused, but she wouldn't say who was doing the abusing. She was fostered by Cathy and her family for a few weeks before moving on to a safer place. It turns out that she'd been married off to a much older man at 13 (not a spoiler since it's in the book's title) and things had gotten worse from there.
I love Cathy Glass's books but the last few just haven't seemed to ring true. She's written more than 20 books about her foster children overcoming neglect and abuse, but she didn't think to tell this extremely strange and sensational story until now? And it just happens to be a hot-button issue in the UK right now? I can't find any evidence that someone's verifying the facts before publishing her books.
I know there are many Zeenas in the world who are being sold as child brides, and I'm glad this issue is being brought to the public's attention. But stealing their stories just to sell a few books, especially if the story isn't true, doesn't seem right.
I love Cathy Glass's books but the last few just haven't seemed to ring true. She's written more than 20 books about her foster children overcoming neglect and abuse, but she didn't think to tell this extremely strange and sensational story until now? And it just happens to be a hot-button issue in the UK right now? I can't find any evidence that someone's verifying the facts before publishing her books.
I know there are many Zeenas in the world who are being sold as child brides, and I'm glad this issue is being brought to the public's attention. But stealing their stories just to sell a few books, especially if the story isn't true, doesn't seem right.
October 26, 2014
Cathy is not only an amazing foster caregiver , but an inspiration and a talented author. Child Bride was another great story , shocking that zeena's parents could force their daughter into marriage so young and treat her as bad for what happened to her on holiday , it was the boy who should had a day in court , charged for what he did to her but no the families all keep quiet and pretty much disowned Zeena , only speaking to her to make her do all the house work and raise her younger siblings . Her father and uncle stalked this poor child after she called social services and went to care , making threats to set her on fire if she didn't come back home so she could be sent away to the man ( old man) they forced her to marry. But with Cathy's help Zeena was able to stand strong and not give in to their threats. Zeena's story has a happy ending and her father was arrested and charged. She managed to forgive her mother for mistreating her and they were able to build a relationship once her father was out of the picture.
February 15, 2017
Warning: This book isn't for a weak stomach.
As expected from Cathy Glass, another great memoir of her life.
I kind of expected something like this right from the start. I mean, look at the title.
The writing, although by no means gory, is very detailed that you will feel this very angry fire deep inside your stomach.
Also I reduced the star only because I feel that in spite of Damaged has more sickening abuse, she has more anger written in this book. I feel like she had a general affinity to hate middle east Asian especially Muslims? I don't know for sure, but as I have read almost all her works, I always feel that she is more forgiving towards Caucasians..
As expected from Cathy Glass, another great memoir of her life.
I kind of expected something like this right from the start. I mean, look at the title.
The writing, although by no means gory, is very detailed that you will feel this very angry fire deep inside your stomach.
Also I reduced the star only because I feel that in spite of Damaged has more sickening abuse, she has more anger written in this book. I feel like she had a general affinity to hate middle east Asian especially Muslims? I don't know for sure, but as I have read almost all her works, I always feel that she is more forgiving towards Caucasians..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2022
Cathy Glass prowadzi rodzinę zastępczą. Wszystkie książki to historie dzieci którymi się opiekowała. "Nastoletnia panna młoda " to historia 14-letniej Zeeny, której rodzina pochodzi z Bangladeszu. Dziewczynka sama zwraca się z prośbą o umieszczenie w rodzinie zastępczej,jako powód podaje wykorzystywanie. Nie precyzuje dokładnie o jakie wykorzystywanie chodzi.
Kiedy w końcu Zeena decyduje się na wyjawienie swojej historii, Cathy jest wstrząśnięta okrucieństwem jakie spotkało dziewczynkę.
Czasem czytając książki oparte na faktach trudno uwierzyć, że są na faktach...😔
Kiedy w końcu Zeena decyduje się na wyjawienie swojej historii, Cathy jest wstrząśnięta okrucieństwem jakie spotkało dziewczynkę.
Czasem czytając książki oparte na faktach trudno uwierzyć, że są na faktach...😔
February 18, 2016
I quite enjoy reading "The Child Bride", it is a very touching story and the author Cathy Glass described the emotions of Zeena very well which made me understand the struggles of Zeena. However, it's quite lengthy in terms of details but overall, it's a great book.
January 31, 2021
OMG this was one of the saddest things I have ever read. It was an eye opening story of what can go on and what some kids put up with and survive. It is a sad read but a must read. I am on the look out for more of her books that I am passing onto my family.
June 17, 2016
This is a fascinating narrative that reads more like a novel than nonfiction. It's another story of man's inhumanity to woman, as the poor girl, a born and bred Briton with Bangladeshi ethnicity, begs to be taken from her home because she's being abused. It turns out that her family has been treating her like a slave, forcing her to cook all the meals, get her four younger siblings into bed at night and out of bed in the morning. But that's not the worst of her abuse.
It turns out that when the family went to Bangladesh for a vacation when she was nine, she was raped by a much older and more powerful cousin. Strangely, in that particular part of that culture, the girl is blamed if she's raped and is considered a whore who has dishonored the family. Thus she becomes the household slave. But there's something much worse that she is terrified of telling her British caregiver.
It turns out that her father and uncle have been prostituting her out in her British neighborhood, and collecting the profits. She and a classmate at her school are forced to service numerous men, God knows how many times a day, and she is told that she will be killed if she tells anyone.
One day her mother tells her that just the two of them are going back to Bangladesh for her birthday. It turns out the whole trip was a setup for her being forced to marry the uncle of the boy who raped her, and the uncle is in his 50s. She unwillingly marries him and he rapes her again on her wedding night. She asks her mother why she couldn't have married the boy who raped her, who was at least within a few years of her own age, but it turns out the uncle couldn't find a wife, and it was his turn to marry someone next.
Her mother takes her back to the UK, where she finds that her new husband will be able to join her in three years. He gives her a phone through which he harasses her every day, and she keeps telling him she doesn't want him and he shouldn't come to the UK. All of this is very secret, and the foster mother thinks she has a boyfriend who is always calling her. The carer takes her to the doctor, where she finds that the girl has both herpes and chlamydia, and she doesn't know which "client" she got it from, so they can't medicate him also.
The whole sordid story comes out in dribs and drabs until she finally tells the author what has really happened to her. Her father and another uncle drive to her school to harass her, and she feels she has to take the bus to and from school, or else the father and uncle will see the carer's license plate and know where she's living.
Finally, a police protection officer and a social worker get her out of the carer's house out of fear the father and uncle have found out where the carer and the daughter live. They find a nonposted card shoved through her mail slot that is a veiled threat from the father, and she has to move again to a safe house.
In the end, the police nail both the father and the uncle and imprison them, and the girl is allowed to go back to live with her mother and adoring siblings. So it ends on a happy note.
I couldn't stop reading this and read it until 3 a.m. last night because it was that good and also scary. It's a fabulous book. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a good story, anyone who has done work with abused children. The story is so poignant and tragic that it just grabs you and doesn't let go. Anybody would love this book.
It turns out that when the family went to Bangladesh for a vacation when she was nine, she was raped by a much older and more powerful cousin. Strangely, in that particular part of that culture, the girl is blamed if she's raped and is considered a whore who has dishonored the family. Thus she becomes the household slave. But there's something much worse that she is terrified of telling her British caregiver.
It turns out that her father and uncle have been prostituting her out in her British neighborhood, and collecting the profits. She and a classmate at her school are forced to service numerous men, God knows how many times a day, and she is told that she will be killed if she tells anyone.
One day her mother tells her that just the two of them are going back to Bangladesh for her birthday. It turns out the whole trip was a setup for her being forced to marry the uncle of the boy who raped her, and the uncle is in his 50s. She unwillingly marries him and he rapes her again on her wedding night. She asks her mother why she couldn't have married the boy who raped her, who was at least within a few years of her own age, but it turns out the uncle couldn't find a wife, and it was his turn to marry someone next.
Her mother takes her back to the UK, where she finds that her new husband will be able to join her in three years. He gives her a phone through which he harasses her every day, and she keeps telling him she doesn't want him and he shouldn't come to the UK. All of this is very secret, and the foster mother thinks she has a boyfriend who is always calling her. The carer takes her to the doctor, where she finds that the girl has both herpes and chlamydia, and she doesn't know which "client" she got it from, so they can't medicate him also.
The whole sordid story comes out in dribs and drabs until she finally tells the author what has really happened to her. Her father and another uncle drive to her school to harass her, and she feels she has to take the bus to and from school, or else the father and uncle will see the carer's license plate and know where she's living.
Finally, a police protection officer and a social worker get her out of the carer's house out of fear the father and uncle have found out where the carer and the daughter live. They find a nonposted card shoved through her mail slot that is a veiled threat from the father, and she has to move again to a safe house.
In the end, the police nail both the father and the uncle and imprison them, and the girl is allowed to go back to live with her mother and adoring siblings. So it ends on a happy note.
I couldn't stop reading this and read it until 3 a.m. last night because it was that good and also scary. It's a fabulous book. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a good story, anyone who has done work with abused children. The story is so poignant and tragic that it just grabs you and doesn't let go. Anybody would love this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2015
This was my first time ever picking up a book by Cathy Glass, and I managed to finish this book in about 4 hours in one sitting.
I found this story to be absolutely heart wrenching, and difficult to put down, once you get into it..The beginning started off a little slow but, then picked up pace about three chapters in. About halfway through the story, things started becoming clearer, and then suddenly the revelation of, and the full horror of what has happened to this poor girl, hits the reader all at once.
Cathy Glass's writing is very easy to understand and to read, it flows along easily as well. There are not a lot of unnecessary descriptions, and the chapters are rather short. Therefore, the story moves along at a nice pace.
I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys reading true stories about children in foster care, and the problems that they must overcome in their lives.
I found this story to be absolutely heart wrenching, and difficult to put down, once you get into it..The beginning started off a little slow but, then picked up pace about three chapters in. About halfway through the story, things started becoming clearer, and then suddenly the revelation of, and the full horror of what has happened to this poor girl, hits the reader all at once.
Cathy Glass's writing is very easy to understand and to read, it flows along easily as well. There are not a lot of unnecessary descriptions, and the chapters are rather short. Therefore, the story moves along at a nice pace.
I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys reading true stories about children in foster care, and the problems that they must overcome in their lives.
August 24, 2016
It was nice to read about a teenager's experience. Zeena seems very strong to me, despite what she went through. As always, Cathy has a really approachable and kind manner, as much with Zeena as with any other child or teen she fosters, and this really comes across in her writing. There are very sensitive issues here, but Cathy's adolescent/ young adult children deal with what happened to Zeena with a wiseness beyond their years. As with all books by Cathy Glass, I cannot fault the flow of the story or the character voice.
September 28, 2014
I was fascinated by this story of a young foster girl who had been forced into an early marriage against her will, facing estrangement and retribution by her family if she refused or rebelled. Seeking refuge she asked to be placed in foster care but it took safety, time and loving care before the true extent of her abuse and her bravery became known. Another well written story based on a true story by Cathy Glass.
September 27, 2015
Cathy Glass, a veteran foster carer in the UK, takes in a very frightened young girl from Bangladesh, who admits being abused and wants to live with a non-Asian family. As Zeena settles into her new home and more details of her shocking story emerge, steps need to be taken for her protection.
I was immediately caught up in this book and learned a great deal from it. The author is a wonderful caring person and I want to read more of her work.
I was immediately caught up in this book and learned a great deal from it. The author is a wonderful caring person and I want to read more of her work.
August 15, 2016
The Child Bride was an ok book.this is a very sad story,This book could have been written and released as a short story Most of the book read as if the author had dictated notes from her day to day routine, often repeating unnecessary details. The "story" while heartbreaking, was stretched out so that halfway through the book I was skipping ten pages of waffling to get to one page of the actual story.
good story could have been way shorter
good story could have been way shorter
May 20, 2016
Enjoyed this book a lot. It was definitely a page turner. I would read more of Cathy Glass' books but don't think I'd read them close together. I have a feeling there will be a lot of "family" and foster care repetitive information. This info is necessary when writing these books but could become tiring to read over and over again. I do recommend this particular book as it was an eye opener to different cultures and child abuse that goes on that we don't realize in our current counties.
January 8, 2015
As always, Ms. Glass does not disappoint. The story of Zeena had me in tears more than once. Her story is a tale of a wretched parent and another that does what the other wants. I have deep sympathy for Zeena and what she went through but am greatly pleased that she had the strength to overcome her past. A courageous young woman.
January 4, 2015
I finished this among others I've read within two days. I bought it both on audiobook and eBook, since I can not find the hard copy anywhere. I could not put this book down. Its one of my favourite books that I've read to date. I have almost finished all of her books that she has out just started reading this author last year. Highly recommended.
June 23, 2016
Cathy Glass books are always the greatest! Once I started reading this book it stayed on my mind until it was finished. The Child Bride was a heartbreaker. I am always shocked at the magnitude of the abuse of children and I love how this author makes us aware of things that could be happening in our own neighborhoods.
September 27, 2016
I started reading the Child Bride by Cathy Glass and once I got into it (which didn't take long) I couldn't put it down. The true story of 14 year old Zeena is sad and horrible but the love, kindness, love and support of foster carer (Cathy Glass) is amazing. It is well written and easy to follow. I am looking forward to my next Cathy Glass novel.
August 8, 2016
I have so much respect and admiration for Cathy Glass - such a warm woman doing an incredible job. I was shocked and saddened by poor Zeena's story but as always, Cathy made such a difference to her situation and I'm glad to see Zeena surviving. Shocking yet seemingly becoming more and more common.
March 25, 2017
The writers style is very straightforward and somewhat bland but the story of Zeena herself is just horrific. Abusers should be made to suffer for what they do to these children. I hope they catch all the abusers that this child had to put up with.
December 13, 2017
I’ve never read any of Cathy’s books although I’ve heard of them. I’m so glad I took the time out to read one, I was so touched by the story and love the way it’s simply and so factually written, you can really get a feel for her personality. I now want to read them all. Would recommend.
December 2, 2014
Not as good as many of the Cathy Glass books but still a worthwhile read. Never fails to amaze me the atrocities carried out by men in some cultures.
February 6, 2017
Hard to read and many many triggers but was also heartfelt in many ways.
March 2, 2017
I love true stories even if they are tragic. I feel that it show how some people can overcome the situation they are put in.
July 5, 2017
This is written well as always. I came away wondering how many girls like her are living in my town, living in quiet fear.
February 6, 2022
Loved this book but was also terrifying and disgusting of what is done to young girls in different cultures
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews