What do you think?
Rate this book
The Cast-Off Kids
One hot summer's afternoon, two abandoned infants are brought to Trisha and Mike Merry's door, forlorn and afraid. Their mother walked out on them and now their young father has given up on them too. These cast-off kids desperately need somewhere to live and a family to love them. They've come to the right place.
Foster-carers Trisha and Mike welcome them into their home and their hearts. There are now ten children under five in this household, where every day is filled with cuddles, fun, sometimes tears, and more than a few challenges.
Foster-carers Trisha and Mike welcome them into their home and their hearts. There are now ten children under five in this household, where every day is filled with cuddles, fun, sometimes tears, and more than a few challenges.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2016
80 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 2, 2019
Review for 'The cast off kids' by Trisha Merry.
This book is about some of the many children Trisha and her husband Mike fostered over the years. It was a very good book but also heartbreaking because of the many sad reasons that the children came into her care. It was also very shocking to see how many children social services kept giving her and the very little information, practically none, that she was given by then. This was disgusting as in one case it proved fatal and another heart wrenching, I won't go into detail as not to spoilt it for those who wish to read but I will say that I hope one particular person was sacked after destroying the lives of 2 of her foster children. It was written very well and the only thing I can say is it would have been nice to find out what happened to one particular child after (the rest she does tell you), but this was not for her trying. I would love for her to find out and hopefully after the book came out she did. Highly recommended this books to those who enjoy reading books by foster carers and I rated it 5/5 on Goodreads.
This book is about some of the many children Trisha and her husband Mike fostered over the years. It was a very good book but also heartbreaking because of the many sad reasons that the children came into her care. It was also very shocking to see how many children social services kept giving her and the very little information, practically none, that she was given by then. This was disgusting as in one case it proved fatal and another heart wrenching, I won't go into detail as not to spoilt it for those who wish to read but I will say that I hope one particular person was sacked after destroying the lives of 2 of her foster children. It was written very well and the only thing I can say is it would have been nice to find out what happened to one particular child after (the rest she does tell you), but this was not for her trying. I would love for her to find out and hopefully after the book came out she did. Highly recommended this books to those who enjoy reading books by foster carers and I rated it 5/5 on Goodreads.
April 12, 2017
Very good read. Thoroughly enjoyed it, hence it only took me about 5 hours! Kept pulling on the heart strings.
February 3, 2018
very interesting read, those poor children
August 10, 2019
This is a particularly interesting story about a pair of foster parents and the foster children they looked after, back in the 1960s and 1970s. They had up to 11 children living with them at any one time! There are many things that seem to have changed about fostering since those days, and I'm pretty sure that the number of children they could look after at once is one of them.
The book particularly features a brother and sister who came to them at age 1 and 2 years and remained with them for the next ten years, during which time he children were mostly pretty happy. Sadly this came to an end when social services decided to reunite the children with the mother who had abandoned them when he boy was born - an arrangement which lasted all of two weeks. :-( Trisha Merry did not find out what had happened to the children till many years later, when one of the children managed to contact her.
At the time the Merrys were fostering, social services didn't usually tell foster parents anything at all about the background of the children they were fostering, which seems to me incredibly short-sighted. I know there are still problems in this area, but I think it has improved.
The book particularly features a brother and sister who came to them at age 1 and 2 years and remained with them for the next ten years, during which time he children were mostly pretty happy. Sadly this came to an end when social services decided to reunite the children with the mother who had abandoned them when he boy was born - an arrangement which lasted all of two weeks. :-( Trisha Merry did not find out what had happened to the children till many years later, when one of the children managed to contact her.
At the time the Merrys were fostering, social services didn't usually tell foster parents anything at all about the background of the children they were fostering, which seems to me incredibly short-sighted. I know there are still problems in this area, but I think it has improved.
January 19, 2026
The Cast-Off Kids looks into the day to day lives of young children in the foster care system who come into Trisha and Mike's life, with parents incapable of even showing up to appointments and all the past traumas that the children have brought with them. This story shows how children adapt to new lifestyles and the importance of being in a loving, safe home with role models that are concerned about your future.
This is thoughtfully written from the perspective of the foster mother who has seen it all and wants the best for the children.
A read that makes you understand the importance of simple kindness and human connection.
This is thoughtfully written from the perspective of the foster mother who has seen it all and wants the best for the children.
A read that makes you understand the importance of simple kindness and human connection.
December 6, 2017
The true story of a loving foster family. Two children in particular, Daisy and Paul, needed a loving home. After ten years, a meddling social worker brought their birth mother into their lives. She took the kids, but not because she loved them. They were taken away from a stable, loving home--the only home they had ever known--and then abandoned once again. Paul contacted Trisha as an adult, but no one was ever able to find Daisy. Good story, but bittersweet.
March 17, 2018
Took longer to read this book, as I had a super busy week, but whenever I got into bed I’d read a bit before going to sleep.
A very touching book about a life of a foster mum and dad, and all the children they looked after over the years. Shows there are some lovely people out there who will do anything for children :)
A very touching book about a life of a foster mum and dad, and all the children they looked after over the years. Shows there are some lovely people out there who will do anything for children :)
October 23, 2018
There were so many confusing British terms in this book. And for some strange reason I thought it was based in Australia the whole time. And I wasn’t completely sure if it was a true story until the very end when I googled it (and, yes, it is a true story, which kind of blows my mind). Which is why the ending is not a perfectly wrapped up story.
November 27, 2020
Very good book!
I flew through this book and I really enjoyed it. As a foster mom myself I know cases don’t always go the way we want but I was devastated for Daisy and Jack. I’m really glad they do not let kids linger in the system like that anymore. They should have been adopted.
I flew through this book and I really enjoyed it. As a foster mom myself I know cases don’t always go the way we want but I was devastated for Daisy and Jack. I’m really glad they do not let kids linger in the system like that anymore. They should have been adopted.
March 29, 2021
What an amazing Story
Trisha really knows how to bring you right in to her family and all the foster children and their adventures. Once you start reading you cannot stop. Some stories were so funny and some heartbreakingly sad. What a life the Merry’s have had. I’m glad they have chosen to share it with us. The love for all of her foster children just shines through.
Trisha really knows how to bring you right in to her family and all the foster children and their adventures. Once you start reading you cannot stop. Some stories were so funny and some heartbreakingly sad. What a life the Merry’s have had. I’m glad they have chosen to share it with us. The love for all of her foster children just shines through.
February 1, 2025
‘The Cast-Off Kids’ by Trisha Merry
This memoir is about a couple who foster children, from newborns to teens. I feel like the author took a Mary Poppins approach to the kids, their issues, the circumstances and the basic attitude in the home. It does lightly touch on each child’s situation, while focusing heavily on other children. It’s enlightening without being depressing.
This memoir is about a couple who foster children, from newborns to teens. I feel like the author took a Mary Poppins approach to the kids, their issues, the circumstances and the basic attitude in the home. It does lightly touch on each child’s situation, while focusing heavily on other children. It’s enlightening without being depressing.
November 24, 2017
Wonderful yet sad.....
The Merry’s, a British couple fostered many children over the years. Their ages and why they were fostered in some cases are heartbreaking.
It is a wonderful book.
The Merry’s, a British couple fostered many children over the years. Their ages and why they were fostered in some cases are heartbreaking.
It is a wonderful book.
November 25, 2017
Extent book
I do hope by now someone has found Dasie. Sad what the mother did to these children. Saddly SRS got worse now and ignore kids to point of murder.
I do hope by now someone has found Dasie. Sad what the mother did to these children. Saddly SRS got worse now and ignore kids to point of murder.
July 1, 2019
Amazing Parents
I can't imagine two people doing more to help children who have had terrible experiences with their birth families doing what these two did to turn their lives around. If there were more people like this in the world it wouldn't be so messed up. God bless them!
I can't imagine two people doing more to help children who have had terrible experiences with their birth families doing what these two did to turn their lives around. If there were more people like this in the world it wouldn't be so messed up. God bless them!
February 23, 2020
Another brilliant book from Trisha Merry. I felt so sorry for Daisy and Paul with how their Dad and Mum treated them. Was so glad that Paul managed to find Trisha again when he was an adult and I just hope that they have managed to find Daisy and that she is alright.
February 22, 2021
Loved this.
Was very interesting to read about fostering in the 1960s and 1970s, and that she had ten foster children allowed in her house at one time!
Lots of interesting little stories about the children she cared for, but was also very sad that see how social services failed some children.
Was very interesting to read about fostering in the 1960s and 1970s, and that she had ten foster children allowed in her house at one time!
Lots of interesting little stories about the children she cared for, but was also very sad that see how social services failed some children.
July 12, 2023
A great read
This book had you laughing crying getting angry at social services for what they did to two of the children just because he was a rookie social worker and wanted to score points with his manager
A great book and a must read
This book had you laughing crying getting angry at social services for what they did to two of the children just because he was a rookie social worker and wanted to score points with his manager
A great book and a must read
May 30, 2017
Couldn't put this book down, read it in a day :)
June 18, 2017
Trisha
Started reading this and couldn't put it down,Trisha has a heart of gold looking after all these children that came into her life.
Started reading this and couldn't put it down,Trisha has a heart of gold looking after all these children that came into her life.
July 30, 2017
excellent book would definately recommend
August 18, 2017
Beautiful memoirs. Trisha and Mike seem to be wonderful people. Reading this made me feel part of their family. So lovely. Tear jerking in parts.
November 19, 2017
Thank goodness for people like the author and her husband! What a sad story in a lot of ways.
December 16, 2017
What a wonderful book! Trisha and Mike provided a wonderful living home for many foster children in the UK.
December 28, 2017
This is a peek into the foster system. Some of it good, some of it not so much.
January 15, 2018
wow this is a brilliant read.
October 14, 2019
Emotive story, those poor kids when things went wrong....being adopted muyself makes me doubly grateful for the life I have had.
January 9, 2021
A must read
Uts sad to hear how some kids were failed by the system im.glad pail.found his happy ending after many years of suffering
Uts sad to hear how some kids were failed by the system im.glad pail.found his happy ending after many years of suffering
May 7, 2021
Very moving both sad a d upl
September 4, 2021
I loved it, but it sure is upsetting to read about some of social service’s old, careless practices.
September 28, 2022
A fabulous book, as it shows what wonderful people are Trisha and Mike. And the stories of abused children are sad beyond belief. How on earth can human beings do such things to children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews