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Saving Danny
The fifteenth fostering memoir by Cathy Glass.
Danny was petrified and clung to me in desperation as I carried him to my car. Trapped in his own dark world, he couldn't understand why his parents no longer loved or wanted him, and were sending him away. While Danny’s parents have everything they could wish for in material terms, they are unable to care for their only child. This is where Cathy comes in. On a cold dark evening Danny finds a place in her home where he can be himself; away from his parents’ impatience and frustration. Often in his own little world, six-year-old Danny finds it difficult to communicate, finding solace in his best friend and confidant George – his rabbit.
Cathy quickly becomes aware of his obsessively meticulous behaviour in addition to his love of patterns, he sees them everywhere and creates them at any opportunity – in his play and also with his food. She realises that patience is the key to looking after Danny as well as her well-tried strategies for managing children’s behaviour.
With his father refusing to cooperate, it becomes increasingly likely that Danny will be living with Cathy permanently until she gets an opportunity to speak her piece. Cathy Glass' book 'A Family Torn Apart' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10-10-2022.
Danny was petrified and clung to me in desperation as I carried him to my car. Trapped in his own dark world, he couldn't understand why his parents no longer loved or wanted him, and were sending him away. While Danny’s parents have everything they could wish for in material terms, they are unable to care for their only child. This is where Cathy comes in. On a cold dark evening Danny finds a place in her home where he can be himself; away from his parents’ impatience and frustration. Often in his own little world, six-year-old Danny finds it difficult to communicate, finding solace in his best friend and confidant George – his rabbit.
Cathy quickly becomes aware of his obsessively meticulous behaviour in addition to his love of patterns, he sees them everywhere and creates them at any opportunity – in his play and also with his food. She realises that patience is the key to looking after Danny as well as her well-tried strategies for managing children’s behaviour.
With his father refusing to cooperate, it becomes increasingly likely that Danny will be living with Cathy permanently until she gets an opportunity to speak her piece. Cathy Glass' book 'A Family Torn Apart' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10-10-2022.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2015
191 people are currently reading
2302 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Glass
174 books2,195 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 153 reviews
April 1, 2016
Cathy Glass books are a guilty pleasure of mine and like all her other books this one did not disappoint. She is not an eloquent or even particularly talented writer but for some reason I find her books compelling and usually complete the whole book within a day. The storytelling may be formulaic but I have an incredible amount of respect for all foster carers and always end up crying at points. Already cannot wait for her next book!
June 22, 2017
This is my first Cathy Glass book that I've read, and I can't wait to catch up on her stories. Saving Danny was touching, charming and inspiring.
August 23, 2021
Excellent as always.. I read it straight through as I simply couldn't put it down.
March 8, 2015
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway.
This was my first Cathy Glass book and I decided to research her before reading and found her story very interesting. I started reading Saving Danny yesterday evening and finished it this morning. I found myself especially intrigued by Danny's story, probably because I have my own experiences with autism and found myself empathising with some of Danny's behaviour. The only thing that annoyed me is that it felt like the word "meticulously" appeared on every other page, as well as a few other repititions.
Nevertheless I will be looking out for more of Cathy Glass' memoirs in the future.
This was my first Cathy Glass book and I decided to research her before reading and found her story very interesting. I started reading Saving Danny yesterday evening and finished it this morning. I found myself especially intrigued by Danny's story, probably because I have my own experiences with autism and found myself empathising with some of Danny's behaviour. The only thing that annoyed me is that it felt like the word "meticulously" appeared on every other page, as well as a few other repititions.
Nevertheless I will be looking out for more of Cathy Glass' memoirs in the future.
March 18, 2015
Another heartwarming story from Cathy. Excellent read!
April 18, 2024
I've read several Cathy Glass books. They all tell a true story of a foster child. They're very easy reads. Some of the British slang can be a bit odd for someone who isn't British but it's not bad enough that you don't get it. I always enjoy these books - some more than others. This one was decent but not my fav.
March 16, 2015
Cathy Glass has been a foster carer for more than twenty years, and through her books she shares these experiences, and the experiences of the children in her care.
This is the story of Danny, who comes into care under a voluntary care order as his parents cannot cope with his learning difficulties. Danny finds it difficult to communicate, except with his best friend and rabbit, George.
Cathy Glass is not the most technically talented of writers. Her prose is quite bland and sometimes filled with unnecessary information, but it is readable and not at all littered with grammar and spelling mistakes. But then, she is not a writer to read for her writing, but for the very human stories she tells. Every time I read one of her books, I am reminded what a difference some love and patience can make to a child's life. Saving Danny, compared to some of her other books, was particularly heartwarming, and had me shedding a few tears.
Cathy had a chance to shine in this book, with her behavioural strategies and parenting methods. It was intriguing to see what an effect her different style had on Danny's behaviour, but at times I felt a bit like it was an advertisment for the parenting book. At one point, she explicitly mentioned her parenting book, which didn't help. However, it did serve the purpose of showing how different Cathy's style of parenting was to Danny's parents' style, and what a difference it made.
The ending felt a little abrupt, but that isn't really Cathy's fault (as this is a true story). Things turned around much quicker than anyone thought they would. I was expecting a much different outcome, though .
That aside, I really loved seeing Cathy and Danny's relationship grow; perhaps it was in a different way to the other children she has looked after, but it was really lovely to see. This building up of the relationship and how it helps the child is the best part of Cathy Glass's books.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Cathy's certainly not lost her touch, and I look forward to reading her next book.
This is the story of Danny, who comes into care under a voluntary care order as his parents cannot cope with his learning difficulties. Danny finds it difficult to communicate, except with his best friend and rabbit, George.
Cathy Glass is not the most technically talented of writers. Her prose is quite bland and sometimes filled with unnecessary information, but it is readable and not at all littered with grammar and spelling mistakes. But then, she is not a writer to read for her writing, but for the very human stories she tells. Every time I read one of her books, I am reminded what a difference some love and patience can make to a child's life. Saving Danny, compared to some of her other books, was particularly heartwarming, and had me shedding a few tears.
Cathy had a chance to shine in this book, with her behavioural strategies and parenting methods. It was intriguing to see what an effect her different style had on Danny's behaviour, but at times I felt a bit like it was an advertisment for the parenting book. At one point, she explicitly mentioned her parenting book, which didn't help. However, it did serve the purpose of showing how different Cathy's style of parenting was to Danny's parents' style, and what a difference it made.
The ending felt a little abrupt, but that isn't really Cathy's fault (as this is a true story). Things turned around much quicker than anyone thought they would. I was expecting a much different outcome, though .
That aside, I really loved seeing Cathy and Danny's relationship grow; perhaps it was in a different way to the other children she has looked after, but it was really lovely to see. This building up of the relationship and how it helps the child is the best part of Cathy Glass's books.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Cathy's certainly not lost her touch, and I look forward to reading her next book.
February 24, 2023
I’ve finally come to a conclusion about Cathy Glass: the tales she tells are based on real events and they interest me for the same reason mysteries do. They reveal the inner workings of people who do (or want) things I don’t care about. I’m childless by choice and I can’t imagine myself doing the work Glass does* or living with one of the children she takes on. Which brings me to one aspect of her books that seems semi-fictional. Although I’m sure she’s a nice person, her invariable niceness in dealing with awful kids, worse parents, and endless time-consuming bureaucracy is too good to be true. I also suspect that in this particular book, Saving Danny, the main character’s conversation is largely fictional. None of the few 6-year-olds I’ve dealt with shares Danny’s autism, yet I doubt that any could come up with sentences like “Daddy says he loves me, But I don’t think he does.” or “It would have been better if I’d never been born.” Maybe it’s the very fact that none of the books seems completely “real” that enables me to read them without distress.
In any case, my recommendation is to try one, even if it doesn’t seem like your kind of book. You might like it better than you expect.
In any case, my recommendation is to try one, even if it doesn’t seem like your kind of book. You might like it better than you expect.
June 10, 2016
Liked it but expected a bit better
I have enjoyed all Cathy Glass's fostering memoirs. This perhaps was not as interesting as others. This time Cathy fosters two: Danny, a young autistic boy, and George, his best friend who is an enormous rabbit! Danny's parents were not able to cope with his tantrums and lack of communication and need for ritual.They also have problems of their own despite being a well-off couple.
I like the way Cathy incorporates domestic details in her writing. It makes one realize how a family is affected and involved in foster caring. She describes how she helps Danny overcome his negative behaviors yet accepts his need for ritual and routine, and shows plenty of patience.Danny becomes accepted for who he is and how he is.
However, when Danny is quoted, or his routines outlined, it makes for a bit of repetition and boring reading, but maybe this helps the reader see what caring for Danny was really like.There are a few typos in this book. Also, there are illustrations, such as a drawing of a rabbit, which I don't find necessary in a book geared for adults
I have enjoyed all Cathy Glass's fostering memoirs. This perhaps was not as interesting as others. This time Cathy fosters two: Danny, a young autistic boy, and George, his best friend who is an enormous rabbit! Danny's parents were not able to cope with his tantrums and lack of communication and need for ritual.They also have problems of their own despite being a well-off couple.
I like the way Cathy incorporates domestic details in her writing. It makes one realize how a family is affected and involved in foster caring. She describes how she helps Danny overcome his negative behaviors yet accepts his need for ritual and routine, and shows plenty of patience.Danny becomes accepted for who he is and how he is.
However, when Danny is quoted, or his routines outlined, it makes for a bit of repetition and boring reading, but maybe this helps the reader see what caring for Danny was really like.There are a few typos in this book. Also, there are illustrations, such as a drawing of a rabbit, which I don't find necessary in a book geared for adults
May 29, 2016
3.5 stars.
At first, I was disappointed in this book.
I felt that it was very strange that with Cathy's level of experience as a foster carer, she didn't recognize the OCD Danny displayed.
I also found this to book to be very clinical with little emotion. Not like her first books at all. I've found her to be patronizing as well. I don't like how she constantly told Danny "good boy". I understand that positive reinforcement is needed, but there are other ways to do it besides sounding like praising a dog. You tell a dog good boy. Not a child.
However, as I continued to read the book, I understand why Cathy did it as we got to know more about Danny. And it started becoming more like the books that I know so well from her. The emotion was back in it. The scene with Danny's father was heartbreaking.
The emotion came back in almost 3/4 through and I felt like I was reading the old books from Cathy that I liked so much.
At first, I was disappointed in this book.
I felt that it was very strange that with Cathy's level of experience as a foster carer, she didn't recognize the OCD Danny displayed.
I also found this to book to be very clinical with little emotion. Not like her first books at all. I've found her to be patronizing as well. I don't like how she constantly told Danny "good boy". I understand that positive reinforcement is needed, but there are other ways to do it besides sounding like praising a dog. You tell a dog good boy. Not a child.
However, as I continued to read the book, I understand why Cathy did it as we got to know more about Danny. And it started becoming more like the books that I know so well from her. The emotion was back in it. The scene with Danny's father was heartbreaking.
The emotion came back in almost 3/4 through and I felt like I was reading the old books from Cathy that I liked so much.
August 11, 2015
When I saw this book, I was compelled to read it. While I was familiar with Cathy Glass to the extent of browsing her books, I had never read one before. I picked this one up, and the moment I read the blurb I decided that I needed to read it. Just from the blurb I realised that it was very likely that Danny, the struggling boy Cathy cared for, was on the autistic spectrum, and wondered how this would be dealt with in the environment of foster care.
I hated Danny's parents for much of the book
I hated Danny's parents for much of the book
June 13, 2015
Saving Danny was a wind of emotions from the start. My heart was breaking to read that this little boy was put in foster care because his mother wasn't able to cope and his father completely block him from his life for being different. As the story went on, the pieces fit together and I begun to connect the dots. It was a sad situation but without Cathy glass help I don't want to think about what would have became of Danny and his parents. I think what stood out to me what the part where the dad, Richard, explained that the reason he acted the why he did was because of a family situation he grew up with which connected with every thought and action that came from him and how he just need reinsurance to turn everything around for the sake of his little boy.
June 12, 2015
Danny is a child with special needs. His parents couldn't handle anymore, and could not offer him the required time and patience, they decided to arrange for foster care for him. Danny came to Cathy's house an experienced foster caring expert. She noticed that at the age of 6, he could barely read stories of sample sentences, has mild difficulties expressing himself, and has times of angriness and no cooperation. She and the parents found later on that he is having autism and needs special care. At a later stage, his parents regretted the decision taken and made sure to have their child back home. they made sure to give the best of support and understanding to Danny.
September 20, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I have no clue why I decided to read it, but Cathy Glass has a way of intriguing you with every little detail about Danny. One of my favorite parts in this book was towards the end when Danny's father was able to see how Danny communicated with George his rabbit, and how Danny wasn't quite able to communicated with people as well as George, and how much Danny loved George as a best friend; the way Cathy Glass put this scene in perspective for the readers was phenomenal.
August 15, 2023
I am glad Danny's parents accepted him for who he is, and he was able to return home and live happily. I loved the book but as I am autistic and know a lot about the condition, I noticed some misinformation like listing autism and aspergers as 2 separate conditions, which is not true. Aspergers is no longer a diagnosis, and it is just autism spectrum disorder now, so aspergers is autism. However, this change is semi recently, so it might have been different when the book was written as more research is done regarding autism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2024
I had to stop reading. I'm a parent of a child who has severe autism and is non verbal and I found Cathy in this book to be self serving and quite frankly up her own arse. The language she uses ie "tantrum" when Danny was clearly having a meltdown due to his autism. Refusing to stick to the safe foods and thought she knew better! She paints herself and her children as these perfect people and I just couldn't go on.
April 15, 2015
I received this book through a good reads give away
Enjoyed this just like I've enjoyed all other books by Cathy Glass, It was again heart warming and emotional.
Saving Danny skips back a few years so anyone wanting to read the books in chronological order you need to read this nearer to the beginning.
well done cathy another great read
Enjoyed this just like I've enjoyed all other books by Cathy Glass, It was again heart warming and emotional.
Saving Danny skips back a few years so anyone wanting to read the books in chronological order you need to read this nearer to the beginning.
well done cathy another great read
August 12, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I found this book to be frustrating, It felt like exploitation of a child's misfortune and a way for the author to show the world how selfless she is. Came across more self serving than anything.
I found this book to be frustrating, It felt like exploitation of a child's misfortune and a way for the author to show the world how selfless she is. Came across more self serving than anything.
January 30, 2019
Another heartwrenching tale. Whilst Cathy must be an amazing human she comes across as a wee but Martyristic in this book.
March 10, 2020
I fell in love with Danny , how could you not! What a sweet boy he was!
This book was very emotional and hit you in the feels. A few times I had tears and the. I laughter along the way. I really enjoyed this book even thought I left for a few chapters nothing really was going on and then boom! It all hits at once.
I really love the turn around in this book and how it ended. I guess it hit me more so as I have a daughter with disabilities but not like Danny.
I also really enjoyed how eye opening this was for people who don’t understand Autism. This book is very much a awareness book and you get the wonder standing of Autism. It also a teaching book on how Cathy teaches the parents how to cope, you are also learning it.
Amazing book
This book was very emotional and hit you in the feels. A few times I had tears and the. I laughter along the way. I really enjoyed this book even thought I left for a few chapters nothing really was going on and then boom! It all hits at once.
I really love the turn around in this book and how it ended. I guess it hit me more so as I have a daughter with disabilities but not like Danny.
I also really enjoyed how eye opening this was for people who don’t understand Autism. This book is very much a awareness book and you get the wonder standing of Autism. It also a teaching book on how Cathy teaches the parents how to cope, you are also learning it.
Amazing book
December 26, 2017
I do like Cathy Glass' books and this one is not an exception. Glass' style of writing, while not being especially beautiful or eloquent, is quick and easy to read. Glass has a way of making sure you instantly care for the child as soon as they appear and, much harder, she makes you feel sympathy for the family. Reva is a struggling mother who needs help and Glass shows that but doesn't excuse her bad decisions and she especially shows this with Richard. Reva and Richard have their reasons for acting the way they do but Glass makes sure we never lose sight of Danny, the child caught in the middle of it.
Another enjoyable book! 4 stars!
Another enjoyable book! 4 stars!
August 18, 2023
I laughed and I cried. I must admit though, I’m a sucker for a boy with autism haha. I’ve got a soft spot in my heart from all the wonderful, unique, clever, and funny kids, young adults, and adults with autism in my life. I wanted to pick Danny up and take him home with me! The book had a nice ending, thankfully, because I know that not all foster stories are like that, plus it didn’t seem like it would have a traditionally happy ending. The family is extremely lucky to have been able to get the help they needed and that they were able to open their hearts to a son they didn’t understand, but with a personality just waiting to be seen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2025
Having just received an ASD diagnosis for my daughter, this story hit home for me with all the assumptions brought to light throughout it. I adore Cathy’s patience and calmness not only with Danny but with his parents. She never judged them, just wanted to help, and in doing so I think she saved this family. You just have to read to it to know what I mean. Cathy explains things in such descriptive but yet simple way that you just understand what is happening. She is a very, VERY inspiring person. Her love and care of each kid that comes in her care shines in every book she writes of their stories.
August 16, 2017
Such a moving story with the happiest ending, I used to read a lot of these books based on true story's but I hadn't read one in a while and I have to say this one moved me so much such a heart wrenching book but with the greatest ending. I hope Danny is doing well now, the way Cathy wrote the book he seemed such a beautiful little boy. I admire Cathy for all she does to help children who need the help she gives them. I'm in awe of her if I'm perfectly honest. My hand goes up to you Cathy your amazing and an inspiration to us all. xx
April 24, 2018
Cathy Glass is a fantastic social worker but most importantly, an amazing mother. In this book, we meet Danny who has been bought into Cathy’s care when his parents admit that they can’t cope with his challenging behaviour. Danny is autistic so Cathy faced a lot of challenges and overcame them all amazingly. This wasn’t my favourite book of hers - I did find myself skipping a lot of text as this read like more of a self help parenting guide for the most part. Having said that, I can’t deny (once again) the dedication and love Cathy shows all of her children
December 15, 2018
🌟 Another amazing book as always that I finished in 2 days.
Once you start reading this book you won't want to put it down. having an autistic son myself I can really relate to this book.
Very sad at times but with a happy ending, I like the way Danni’s parents shadowed Cathy looking after him for a better understanding of their son and to learn the best ways to cope with his meltdowns.
Cathy always seems to have the answers/strategies to ensure these children have a happy experience in her care. 🌟
Once you start reading this book you won't want to put it down. having an autistic son myself I can really relate to this book.
Very sad at times but with a happy ending, I like the way Danni’s parents shadowed Cathy looking after him for a better understanding of their son and to learn the best ways to cope with his meltdowns.
Cathy always seems to have the answers/strategies to ensure these children have a happy experience in her care. 🌟
September 19, 2023
Once again, one of Cathy’s books has made me cry.
I loved Danny so much. I certainly understood how difficult it was for him to communicate, especially when it came to his emotions.
Cathy helped him so much, and also Danny’s parents. Reva was at rock bottom, and voluntarily putting Danny into foster care must have been the most difficult decision of her life.
Throughout the book, I was ecstatic (and teary-eyed) whenever Danny overcame something. And I was pleased with the ending.
I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved Danny so much. I certainly understood how difficult it was for him to communicate, especially when it came to his emotions.
Cathy helped him so much, and also Danny’s parents. Reva was at rock bottom, and voluntarily putting Danny into foster care must have been the most difficult decision of her life.
Throughout the book, I was ecstatic (and teary-eyed) whenever Danny overcame something. And I was pleased with the ending.
I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 1, 2020
I’ve read many Cathy Glass books as I always like to read the stories behind the children however this was probably one of my least favourites. I just couldn’t get into it the way I normally would with a book of hers. I’m not sure if it was the actual story or maybe I’ve just read too much of her stuff and sometimes it gets a bit samey in that she always seems to have everything work out pretty much perfectly in the the end.
October 13, 2022
This book was so beautiful, it showed that not all children who end up being in some form of care are abused. Danny is such a beautiful, sweet little boy. Cathy and her family were incredible with him as always. His relationship with George was so beautiful to read, and I loved how it highlighted his relationship with his teacher assistant who do indeed make a difference. I wish Danny all the best with his family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
I will start out with a trigger warning about this one, as I have a neurodiverse child of a similar age and some of the child's behavior that adults were struggling with really hit home, so be aware if that's your situation. I really enjoy this author's books and this was such a sweet story because of the relationship between the little boy and his pet rabbit. It really shows you how important and therapeutic pets can be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews