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An Innocent Baby: Why would anyone abandon little Darcy-May?
When foster carer, Cathy Glass, is asked to foster Darcy-May, a two-day old baby, she is very concerned.
The baby is coming to her straight from hospital and will have no contact with her teenage mother, Haylea. Even more worrying, she will be brought to Cathy with a police escort as it’s vital her extended family don’t know where she is.
Abandoned at birth, Cathy and her family quickly bond with little Darcy-May although they have to accept she will eventually leave them to be adopted. But fostering is rarely straight forward, and when Haylea asks to see her baby a different story begins to emerge. It’s so alarming that even Cathy, a highly experienced foster carer, struggles.
The baby is coming to her straight from hospital and will have no contact with her teenage mother, Haylea. Even more worrying, she will be brought to Cathy with a police escort as it’s vital her extended family don’t know where she is.
Abandoned at birth, Cathy and her family quickly bond with little Darcy-May although they have to accept she will eventually leave them to be adopted. But fostering is rarely straight forward, and when Haylea asks to see her baby a different story begins to emerge. It’s so alarming that even Cathy, a highly experienced foster carer, struggles.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2021
374 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Glass
174 books2,193 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 181 reviews
September 17, 2021
This was a great book as always. Some parents don’t deserve children and Hayley’s parents were two such parents. What they put there child through was revolting and made this book very hard to read. Cathy was fantastic with both Hayley and Darcie-May. Both children ended up in the correct situations for there needs.
September 29, 2021
Cathy is asked to foster a newborn, who is just two days old. Upon Darcy-May arriving, Cathy learns that her fourteen year old mother Haylea does not want anything to do with Darcy-May, but later, a contact session is established. This is where Cathy meets the fourteen year old Mum Haylea for the first time. Haylea is living in a children’s home. However, Haylea gets Cathy’s address from the hospital and unexpectedly turns up at Cathy’s home, not to see her daughter but to see Cathy.
Cathy is then asked to foster Haylea as well as Darcy-May the daughter who is being put up for adoption and who Haylea wants nothing to do with. Cathy agrees to foster both and whilst fostering Haylea she discloses to Cathy about the abuse she has suffered at the hands of a paedophile gang, one of the gang being Haylea's father. Cathy now as some understanding why she doesn't want anything to do with her baby.
This book is most upsetting. But it is a story that has to be read. Awareness is so important.
Cathy is then asked to foster Haylea as well as Darcy-May the daughter who is being put up for adoption and who Haylea wants nothing to do with. Cathy agrees to foster both and whilst fostering Haylea she discloses to Cathy about the abuse she has suffered at the hands of a paedophile gang, one of the gang being Haylea's father. Cathy now as some understanding why she doesn't want anything to do with her baby.
This book is most upsetting. But it is a story that has to be read. Awareness is so important.
September 20, 2021
Cathy Glass does it again! What a emotional read.
February 2, 2022
Even though I think Cathy Glass is a fraud, there's still something almost soothing about her books. I think it's the fact that she tells us all the unimportant details about her day: what everyone drank while having a meeting at her house ("'A coffee would be lovely, thank you,' Shari said. 'Just water, please,' Jasmine said. Joy and Haylea didn't want anything."), explaining that she takes time each day to sit down at her computer to open emails with attachments because attachments are hard to read on her phone, or reassuring us that her daughter Paula changes out of her work clothes before having supper.
She'll talk about horrific abuse that her foster daughter has disclosed (she never gives too many details, which I also appreciate) and then in the next paragraph she's detailing how she took the baby to the park to give her a bottle, and on the way home she stopped to chat with an elderly neighbour because 'having lived in the same area for nearly thirty years, I knew a lot of people, and I do like a chat.' It's oddly fascinating.
But she never seems to foster regular kids who are in the system for regular reasons. She's always busting a pedophile ring or solving a kidnapping or discovering a child bride. The woman claims to have had more bizarre experiences in 20 years of fostering than I think any 20 foster parents would have experienced collectively. And funnily enough, the stories seem to be ripped from the headlines. And by the end of the book, the kids are always well-adjusted and happy. I'm not a believer anymore, but when this book fell into my hands, I wasn't disappointed.
She'll talk about horrific abuse that her foster daughter has disclosed (she never gives too many details, which I also appreciate) and then in the next paragraph she's detailing how she took the baby to the park to give her a bottle, and on the way home she stopped to chat with an elderly neighbour because 'having lived in the same area for nearly thirty years, I knew a lot of people, and I do like a chat.' It's oddly fascinating.
But she never seems to foster regular kids who are in the system for regular reasons. She's always busting a pedophile ring or solving a kidnapping or discovering a child bride. The woman claims to have had more bizarre experiences in 20 years of fostering than I think any 20 foster parents would have experienced collectively. And funnily enough, the stories seem to be ripped from the headlines. And by the end of the book, the kids are always well-adjusted and happy. I'm not a believer anymore, but when this book fell into my hands, I wasn't disappointed.
August 6, 2023
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and I enjoyed it as much as I would expect when you’re reading about something as despicable is child abuse. Kathy is asked to foster a newborn who is just two days old. Upon collecting Darcy-May, Cathy learns that her 14year old mother doesn’t want anything to do with her, but later, a Contact session is established. This is where Cathy meets the 14year old mom, (Haylea) for the first time. Haylea is living in a children’s home. However, Haylea gets Kathy’s address from the hospital and unexpectedly turns up at Cathy’s home not to see her daughter but to see Cathy.
Cathy is asked to foster Haylea mad well as Darcy-May (the daughter who is being put up for adoption and who Haylea wants nothing to do with. I understand there’s a shortage of foster cares, but an absolutely no instances with this be thought as appropriate.
I found the story and it’s pretty abruptly, but without a sense of definite end, it was more shock factors (Haylea being abused by a paedophile gang)
I recommend it and plan to read more by Cathy Glass
Cathy is asked to foster Haylea mad well as Darcy-May (the daughter who is being put up for adoption and who Haylea wants nothing to do with. I understand there’s a shortage of foster cares, but an absolutely no instances with this be thought as appropriate.
I found the story and it’s pretty abruptly, but without a sense of definite end, it was more shock factors (Haylea being abused by a paedophile gang)
I recommend it and plan to read more by Cathy Glass
January 25, 2022
I always love Cathy’s books they are amazingly well written and you get so engrossed you feel you are there in the story yourself as so well written. So sad to hear the stories she tells so heartbreaking and happy as well but you want to know what happens.
Cathy gets a phone call to take a two day old baby Darcy-May as her teenage mum does not want her. She realises something is serious when she arrives by police escort. Cathy and the family soon bonds with her but they no she will leave in time. But suddenly Haylea the mum asks to see the baby but soon Haylea will start letting out bits of her life and her struggles and things soon change and will it be a happy ending or not.
Cathy gets a phone call to take a two day old baby Darcy-May as her teenage mum does not want her. She realises something is serious when she arrives by police escort. Cathy and the family soon bonds with her but they no she will leave in time. But suddenly Haylea the mum asks to see the baby but soon Haylea will start letting out bits of her life and her struggles and things soon change and will it be a happy ending or not.
December 4, 2024
Beautifully written, beautiful ending and I'm so glad I read this. It's so heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time. Definitely reading more by Cathy Glass
June 1, 2022
This book is so moving. Having studied/ worked in the field of psychology and education and being so passionate about working with children and families this book really touched me; the story of Hayley and Darcy May from the eyes of Cathy is one so sad yet inspiring that I did not want it to end.
I am looking forward to read more of these emotional, informative and raw accounts/books.
I am looking forward to read more of these emotional, informative and raw accounts/books.
November 2, 2021
I enjoyed it however it has a lot of triggers and has sexual abuse in as well. I've always enjoyed Cathy glass work however this wasn't one of my favorites by her just OK
March 22, 2023
As ever with Cathy glass' books, I found her repetitive with her filler details. Anyone whose read more than one of her books will know how much she likes to repeat the phrase sandwich lunch for one 😂 but her poor author skills are acceptable due to the interesting content of the story of the children she fosters. This one was a damn awful situation for Darcy-May's mum. An eye opener to the horror some face
February 7, 2024
This is a page turner! One of Cathy’s better books, would recommend.
February 2, 2023
Greatest book ever. Could not put down!
July 9, 2024
So emotional....I love Cathy and all her good jobs with the fostercare. She's an True angel
November 5, 2021
Very emotional and touching book, I love this author
September 17, 2021
Round up to 4.5 stars.
September 30, 2021
As always, I do love Cathy’s books.
Like all of her books, it works well as a stand alone but amazing as her continued story - the story of her and her family’s life parallel and intertwined with fostering.
By reading this as a succession of her previous books in chronological order you get so much more from the book.
This is absolutely an interesting story, but we also get to follow along for more life-events relating to her own children that we’ve gotten to know and see developed through her many years of work, spanning over more than 20 years.
As I said, this individual story with Darcy-May and Haylea is an interesting and captivating one. It follows more paths than we usually get to see in Cathy’s work, that of her own, her family’s, Haylea and of course Darcy-May.
The story is a dark and tragic one but as per usual Cathy gives the individual story as well as the whole nature of fostering a positive and beautiful spin - showing us both the good and the bad.
Without spoiling the story, I would say that this is one of the darker stories that Cathy tells us.
One of the only problems I see with this book is the same that I see with all her books - the ethical dilemma of telling someone’s stories for a world to see and experience.
On different forums I’ve seen a lot of exchange about the nature of the book and although no one usually comments on Cathy’s actions regarding the children in the stories, the issue of the nature of telling these stories and how they are told comes to the surface.
As I said, I love these books and I always read them as soon as they come out but that doesn’t mean that I don’t too find it hard to swallow in some way that they are being shared. Are the stories combined from multiple in life people, are some pets imagined or is it all fiction? Is she even a foster caregiver or is she just someone that plays some role related to Child Protective Services?
How come you can take someone’s trauma and put it in a book with a different name and then also continue your job without anyone realising that the Glass family is actually that single foster mom with her three children down the street? I’ve also seen a lot of people talking not just about the legal and ethical aspects of sharing intimate and personal stories and details of someone else’s life but also how realistic it is, although I don’t really see this book as “unrealistic” as some of the other ones.
Many of these questions still remain though, and my take is that these books are part inspiration and part guilty pleasure just because of the ethical dilemmas.
My belief is that much of the stories are true but that multiple children can morph into on child and one trauma, especially in earlier books. I also believe that some aspects can be reimagined or changed partly to protect both the child but also the family. I still think that these are problems to this kind of writing, but it’s bittersweet.
If it were my story, or my relatives story, being shown it wouldn’t feel good even though people wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the story to me. Many of these problems disappear in books such as “Will You Love Me?”, about her adopted story Lucy, because here it’s highly likely that Lucy gave permission to the parts that were included. I find it hard to see that this story would be published with as much ability for input and choice from whom the story centres around, which is a problem.
Even though this type of storytelling has its problems I do really enjoy reading the books and it has inspired me greatly.
Overall this book was a good read, an perhaps not enjoyable story due to it’s dark nature but certainly a very captivating one. Recommend for those that enjoy darker biographies / nonfiction and has some extra tears to spill.
Like all of her books, it works well as a stand alone but amazing as her continued story - the story of her and her family’s life parallel and intertwined with fostering.
By reading this as a succession of her previous books in chronological order you get so much more from the book.
This is absolutely an interesting story, but we also get to follow along for more life-events relating to her own children that we’ve gotten to know and see developed through her many years of work, spanning over more than 20 years.
As I said, this individual story with Darcy-May and Haylea is an interesting and captivating one. It follows more paths than we usually get to see in Cathy’s work, that of her own, her family’s, Haylea and of course Darcy-May.
The story is a dark and tragic one but as per usual Cathy gives the individual story as well as the whole nature of fostering a positive and beautiful spin - showing us both the good and the bad.
Without spoiling the story, I would say that this is one of the darker stories that Cathy tells us.
One of the only problems I see with this book is the same that I see with all her books - the ethical dilemma of telling someone’s stories for a world to see and experience.
On different forums I’ve seen a lot of exchange about the nature of the book and although no one usually comments on Cathy’s actions regarding the children in the stories, the issue of the nature of telling these stories and how they are told comes to the surface.
As I said, I love these books and I always read them as soon as they come out but that doesn’t mean that I don’t too find it hard to swallow in some way that they are being shared. Are the stories combined from multiple in life people, are some pets imagined or is it all fiction? Is she even a foster caregiver or is she just someone that plays some role related to Child Protective Services?
How come you can take someone’s trauma and put it in a book with a different name and then also continue your job without anyone realising that the Glass family is actually that single foster mom with her three children down the street? I’ve also seen a lot of people talking not just about the legal and ethical aspects of sharing intimate and personal stories and details of someone else’s life but also how realistic it is, although I don’t really see this book as “unrealistic” as some of the other ones.
Many of these questions still remain though, and my take is that these books are part inspiration and part guilty pleasure just because of the ethical dilemmas.
My belief is that much of the stories are true but that multiple children can morph into on child and one trauma, especially in earlier books. I also believe that some aspects can be reimagined or changed partly to protect both the child but also the family. I still think that these are problems to this kind of writing, but it’s bittersweet.
If it were my story, or my relatives story, being shown it wouldn’t feel good even though people wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the story to me. Many of these problems disappear in books such as “Will You Love Me?”, about her adopted story Lucy, because here it’s highly likely that Lucy gave permission to the parts that were included. I find it hard to see that this story would be published with as much ability for input and choice from whom the story centres around, which is a problem.
Even though this type of storytelling has its problems I do really enjoy reading the books and it has inspired me greatly.
Overall this book was a good read, an perhaps not enjoyable story due to it’s dark nature but certainly a very captivating one. Recommend for those that enjoy darker biographies / nonfiction and has some extra tears to spill.
January 23, 2022
This book is about a foster carer who has been fostering for over 25 years and has cared for more than 150 children from babies to teenagers, this time she has taken a new born baby straight from the hospital into care at the mothers request because the mother is only 15 years old and isn't able to look after this baby as she's only a child herself. But the mother of this baby has been through a lot at the age of 15 and been through some horrible things.
What I liked about this book was how engaging it is and how detailed it is, you get hooked and you have to read on and can't put it down, I also like how she tells you about the children she has looked after and the name of the book she tells their story in. I also like how it tells the story of what the children go through but also what Cathy has to go through being a foster carer. This book made me feel sad and brought tears to my eyes when reading certain parts in the book.
In my opinion, I really enjoyed this book because after reading her other books you get to know Cathy's personality and her family and you feel part of the book.
To summarise my review this book is an amazing read I would say you don't have to read her other book but I think it is best if you do. I would recommend this book to adults as it has touchy subjects not for children to read and would also recommend that if you get triggered by any type of abuse then I wouldn't read this book as it may upset you. I have rated this book 10 stars such a good read.
What I liked about this book was how engaging it is and how detailed it is, you get hooked and you have to read on and can't put it down, I also like how she tells you about the children she has looked after and the name of the book she tells their story in. I also like how it tells the story of what the children go through but also what Cathy has to go through being a foster carer. This book made me feel sad and brought tears to my eyes when reading certain parts in the book.
In my opinion, I really enjoyed this book because after reading her other books you get to know Cathy's personality and her family and you feel part of the book.
To summarise my review this book is an amazing read I would say you don't have to read her other book but I think it is best if you do. I would recommend this book to adults as it has touchy subjects not for children to read and would also recommend that if you get triggered by any type of abuse then I wouldn't read this book as it may upset you. I have rated this book 10 stars such a good read.
October 25, 2021
Very good, quick, easy read, with a few unpredictable twists and turns.
It's the end of an era for Cathy and her family, and she had taken a break from fostering. She's back, and her new charge is a newborn baby, just 2 days old.
I've read quite a lot of this author's fostering memoirs, and find them interesting, quick, easy reads. Naturally, there are often hard circumstances, but she writes about them really well to keep you turning the pages.
When you've read a few of her books, they can be repetitive to a certain extent, as they're written to a formula, from her fostering logs she keeps for each child who has been in her care. She has many years of experience in fostering, so routinely doing things is understandable. And it means new readers can catch the series anywhere, without needing to read them in a particular order. After a seemingly 'usual daily happenings', the book suddenly became more unpredictable, with some shocking turns.
Another very good book, and I look foward to her next.
It's the end of an era for Cathy and her family, and she had taken a break from fostering. She's back, and her new charge is a newborn baby, just 2 days old.
I've read quite a lot of this author's fostering memoirs, and find them interesting, quick, easy reads. Naturally, there are often hard circumstances, but she writes about them really well to keep you turning the pages.
When you've read a few of her books, they can be repetitive to a certain extent, as they're written to a formula, from her fostering logs she keeps for each child who has been in her care. She has many years of experience in fostering, so routinely doing things is understandable. And it means new readers can catch the series anywhere, without needing to read them in a particular order. After a seemingly 'usual daily happenings', the book suddenly became more unpredictable, with some shocking turns.
Another very good book, and I look foward to her next.
November 21, 2021
I devoured this book and finished it within 24 hours. It was so heart wrenching that I had to blink back tears a couple of times.
I’m a bit surprised by some of the storyline, if it really is a true story. I’m surprised that Haylea was fostered by Cathy, despite Cathy first fostering Haylea’s daughter, Darcy-May. It would be different, I suppose, if Haylea was working toward keeping Darcy-May and Cathy was supporting and teaching her in that… but Haylea (understandably) couldn’t even look at her baby. I’m surprised that it was seen as the best fit, even with a shortage of fosterers.
Cathy Glass is an inspiration. She shows true compassion, patience, and strength. Saying that, I would sometimes like to read of times where she’s struggled…. When the baby has been so clingy that you hasn’t been able to do anything because they’ve wanted to sleep in your arms all day. Or when a she’s lost her patience, or when a child has broken her belongings in her house and it’s upset her. Everything just seems a bit too…. Polished?
I’m a bit surprised by some of the storyline, if it really is a true story. I’m surprised that Haylea was fostered by Cathy, despite Cathy first fostering Haylea’s daughter, Darcy-May. It would be different, I suppose, if Haylea was working toward keeping Darcy-May and Cathy was supporting and teaching her in that… but Haylea (understandably) couldn’t even look at her baby. I’m surprised that it was seen as the best fit, even with a shortage of fosterers.
Cathy Glass is an inspiration. She shows true compassion, patience, and strength. Saying that, I would sometimes like to read of times where she’s struggled…. When the baby has been so clingy that you hasn’t been able to do anything because they’ve wanted to sleep in your arms all day. Or when a she’s lost her patience, or when a child has broken her belongings in her house and it’s upset her. Everything just seems a bit too…. Polished?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2024
Tragic. Ugh. Those pitiful kids. This would have been a five star read for me. The reason I rated it four instead is because of Cathy. I like Cathy, and all her books, but I didn't like how she didn't understand the reason (or refused to understand) the first couple's problem. They were not unreasonable. Their concern about Darcy-May is totally valid. On top of that, they were not told of the secret and only knew about it on the day of the meeting.
Every kid deserves a happy home and loving parents, but what the couple did was save themselves and Darcy-May from the heartache that may come later. Sure, kids will not be like they're biological parents but, it there is a possibility and that will be a chance to take. Also Darcy-May deserved someone who will take the risk, which is again not the first couple's fault. Yes, I'm repeating myself, but I can't help it. This part disappointed me the most about the book.
Every kid deserves a happy home and loving parents, but what the couple did was save themselves and Darcy-May from the heartache that may come later. Sure, kids will not be like they're biological parents but, it there is a possibility and that will be a chance to take. Also Darcy-May deserved someone who will take the risk, which is again not the first couple's fault. Yes, I'm repeating myself, but I can't help it. This part disappointed me the most about the book.
September 21, 2021
This was another fantastic book written by Cathy. I have to say this one was broke my heart. I mean all of these books do, it shows the highs and lows Cathy has to deal with on a daily basis. Cathy is so professional and brilliant at what she does, she gives every child such a loving and stable home. This story is about Darcy May and her mother Haylea. Darcy May comes in to Cathy's care but her mother doesn't want anything to do with her, But she wants to stay with Cathy. When Cathy finds out why she doesn't want anything to do with her baby, it shocked me to the core. I felt sick. I felt better they were both being looked after by Cathy but for how long? I think this story really hit home and I think it will stay with me for a long time. I look forward to the next book.
December 27, 2022
This is the first book by Cathy Glass that I have read but it won’t be the last.
This book was excellently written. It was informative but so heartbreaking
Cathy is such a wonderful person and is the epitome of kindness.
This book was excellently written. It was informative but so heartbreaking
Cathy is such a wonderful person and is the epitome of kindness.
November 11, 2022
she finally acknowledged that social workers do work... nature is healing
April 17, 2023
DNF. The author literally details changing every nappy and mixing formula according to the instructions. I lost the will to press on.
February 24, 2022
Book review
Book - " An Innocent baby "
Author - " Cathy Glass "
Genre - " True life , Non- Fiction, memoir, inspiration "
Cathy Glass is a British author, freelance writer and foster carer. Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres.
This is the story of Cathy Glass and how her life is intertwined by the arrival of a two- day old baby- Darcy May and her teenage mother Haylea.
Mourning the loss of her mother, Cathy Glass who is a experienced foster carer is asked to take care of a new born who was unwanted by her immediate family. Finding herself in this unexpected juncture, Cathy Glass decides to take the child in a hope that it will help her in enduring the loss of her mother.
In the upcoming chapters, we are taken through the routine of Cathy with Darcy May and the intricate followup of the child care system in England. Needless to say, I'm mightily impressed with the system and makes me wonder will there ever be such a system of foster care in a populated country like India where we see new born babies born malnourished and has a huge percentage of malnourished and impoverished children below the age of 5 years.
As the story proceeds, though the routine offcourse is repetitive, it is still a pleasure to read the growth of Darcy May. I couldn't help but get a motherly vibe kick inside me. But as every story has a twist. Darcy May's mother Haylea is herself a child and few incidents over the period reveal a deeper sinister past which is horrific as this is not a fiction but a true story.
Will Cathy glass be able to give a shoulder to Haylea ?
Is Haylea's life under threat ?
Will both Darcy May and Haylea have a real chance at a peaceful and loving life ?
The author through her writing has highlighted several important issues which are a taboo in this world. With her reporting style, one gets a deeper insight into the grim world of broken houses, abuses and adoption processes.
This also made me realise how important it is for a child to have a loving family and what a beautiful thing it is to adopt. I will add Cathy glass books to my tbr as it's a treasure trove of indept analysis of subjects which merely gives a glimpse or speculates most often. The only question in my mind is will foster care work in India obsessed with a " Male child "and bloodline preservation ?
It is a topic to moot and for further research. Do read this book if you are interested in this topic and if not also, do give it a try.
Book - " An Innocent baby "
Author - " Cathy Glass "
Genre - " True life , Non- Fiction, memoir, inspiration "
Cathy Glass is a British author, freelance writer and foster carer. Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres.
This is the story of Cathy Glass and how her life is intertwined by the arrival of a two- day old baby- Darcy May and her teenage mother Haylea.
Mourning the loss of her mother, Cathy Glass who is a experienced foster carer is asked to take care of a new born who was unwanted by her immediate family. Finding herself in this unexpected juncture, Cathy Glass decides to take the child in a hope that it will help her in enduring the loss of her mother.
In the upcoming chapters, we are taken through the routine of Cathy with Darcy May and the intricate followup of the child care system in England. Needless to say, I'm mightily impressed with the system and makes me wonder will there ever be such a system of foster care in a populated country like India where we see new born babies born malnourished and has a huge percentage of malnourished and impoverished children below the age of 5 years.
As the story proceeds, though the routine offcourse is repetitive, it is still a pleasure to read the growth of Darcy May. I couldn't help but get a motherly vibe kick inside me. But as every story has a twist. Darcy May's mother Haylea is herself a child and few incidents over the period reveal a deeper sinister past which is horrific as this is not a fiction but a true story.
Will Cathy glass be able to give a shoulder to Haylea ?
Is Haylea's life under threat ?
Will both Darcy May and Haylea have a real chance at a peaceful and loving life ?
The author through her writing has highlighted several important issues which are a taboo in this world. With her reporting style, one gets a deeper insight into the grim world of broken houses, abuses and adoption processes.
This also made me realise how important it is for a child to have a loving family and what a beautiful thing it is to adopt. I will add Cathy glass books to my tbr as it's a treasure trove of indept analysis of subjects which merely gives a glimpse or speculates most often. The only question in my mind is will foster care work in India obsessed with a " Male child "and bloodline preservation ?
It is a topic to moot and for further research. Do read this book if you are interested in this topic and if not also, do give it a try.
February 29, 2024
I binged read this book in just over 7 hours as Cathy Glass just hocks you into her book from the very beginning to the very end. This book was so sad and I really felt sorri for the baby and the mother involved in this story. Unfortunately the mother went through a horrible ordeal and ended up pregnant so both mother and baby needed to be put into care. The way Cathy writes about people in her book is so emotional and so beautifully as she makes sure the whole story gets told the best she can. I am so happy the baby Darcy May got a loving home with her new her adopted parents and that her mother is settled in long term foster care and trying to slowly get her life back onto track. Cathy still sees them both from time to time. I am so glad the bad and horrible people in this book got sent to prison and that the police are still looking into this case as there is far more to it sadly. Xxx
June 22, 2025
I have read a few Cathy Glass books and every single one has touched my heart.
An experienced foster carer who writes about real life cases and children that she has cared for under a pseudonym.
I don’t want to say in this book review that I couldn’t stop turning the pages because it was such a good read… it’s not that this isn’t true, but it feels as if that sentence brushes over the horrific ordeals that these children have been through. You can’t stop turning the pages because you are waiting for everyone’s happy ending and you want everything to work out ok. They are a hard read at times and they will break your heart as Hayley does in this one, who she only got to foster for a short time, for her own safety.
A beautiful touching but heartbreaking story that will stay with you forever.
A child that has a child far too young and Cathy becomes part of both these children’s stories.
An experienced foster carer who writes about real life cases and children that she has cared for under a pseudonym.
I don’t want to say in this book review that I couldn’t stop turning the pages because it was such a good read… it’s not that this isn’t true, but it feels as if that sentence brushes over the horrific ordeals that these children have been through. You can’t stop turning the pages because you are waiting for everyone’s happy ending and you want everything to work out ok. They are a hard read at times and they will break your heart as Hayley does in this one, who she only got to foster for a short time, for her own safety.
A beautiful touching but heartbreaking story that will stay with you forever.
A child that has a child far too young and Cathy becomes part of both these children’s stories.
July 3, 2022
What can I say? An excellent read, but a very sad story about Cathy Glass and her fostering. I find all these books extremely sad, it’s almost unbelievable reading about what goes on behind closed doors and the suffering many of these children have endured. The children Cathy writes about have led such sad, heartbreaking lives, mostly at the hands of their parents and family members, which really beggars belief at the treatment they have had to endure, especially by those who should be protecting and nurturing their babies, not hurting and causing them suffering as so often happens in these stories.
My heart goes out to those foster carers who take care of many damaged and suffering children and teenagers, and who work so hard to try to put a little bit of security and normality back into their short lives. Thank you also for raising awareness of the children who are in these situations.
My heart goes out to those foster carers who take care of many damaged and suffering children and teenagers, and who work so hard to try to put a little bit of security and normality back into their short lives. Thank you also for raising awareness of the children who are in these situations.
October 10, 2021
Yet another story that has brought me to tears. As all Cathy’s books do, this one pulled on my heartstrings.
I adored little Darcey-May, and I was ecstatic that Cathy got to foster such a sweet baby. What I didn’t expect was Darcey-May’s mother Haylea, and her past.
I won’t lie: Haylea’s story is a difficult one to read, and often made me feel quite ill. I’m glad that she found Cathy and was able to open up to her.
It was also lovely to catch up with Cathy’s family. Paula, Adrian and Lucy have played huge parts in Cathy’s books and it was great to see what they were getting up to.
If you haven’t read any of Cathy’s books yet, then you must! It certainly opens your eyes to the world of fostering and adoption, and of all the children that need help.
I adored little Darcey-May, and I was ecstatic that Cathy got to foster such a sweet baby. What I didn’t expect was Darcey-May’s mother Haylea, and her past.
I won’t lie: Haylea’s story is a difficult one to read, and often made me feel quite ill. I’m glad that she found Cathy and was able to open up to her.
It was also lovely to catch up with Cathy’s family. Paula, Adrian and Lucy have played huge parts in Cathy’s books and it was great to see what they were getting up to.
If you haven’t read any of Cathy’s books yet, then you must! It certainly opens your eyes to the world of fostering and adoption, and of all the children that need help.
June 21, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Cathy Glass will always be one of my favourite Authors and at this point I've read at least ten of her books. Are they hugely dramatic but also engaging and educational? Yes.
I'll always love Cathy and her books but does she need to speak negatively about social services everytime? And say (falsely) that they take away children? And in her newer books she's always bitter towards her ex-husband but claims there's no animosity there...
I really enjoyed Darcy-May and Haylea's tale, even if it was incredibly sad, and I read this one in a few days so it was exactly what I was in the mood for right now.
If you're interested in social care, pick these books up, and maybe start with this one.
Cathy Glass will always be one of my favourite Authors and at this point I've read at least ten of her books. Are they hugely dramatic but also engaging and educational? Yes.
I'll always love Cathy and her books but does she need to speak negatively about social services everytime? And say (falsely) that they take away children? And in her newer books she's always bitter towards her ex-husband but claims there's no animosity there...
I really enjoyed Darcy-May and Haylea's tale, even if it was incredibly sad, and I read this one in a few days so it was exactly what I was in the mood for right now.
If you're interested in social care, pick these books up, and maybe start with this one.
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