Review of 'Too Hurt to Stay' by Case Watson

[Angela]

I didn't really get too enthusiastic about this book, even though the story did sound intriguing. I struggled through it, but I didn't like something about the author's writing. She and her husband are foster carers, which is very admirable, and we need good ones like them badly, but there was something a little TOO wholesome about this family...and how they took on this little foster child who was an absolute tearaway, very, very difficult to manage or understand. Eventually it all ends up warm and happy at the end as they learn to manage him and also find out more about what has caused him to behave the way he does...But there was a little bit too much of a feeling like the author was blowing her own trumpet a bit too loudly...nevertheless, that's just my opinion, and I'd love to hear what other people thought of it.

[Fiona]

It does sound like that from the description and from reviews from others I've read. Unfortunately there are lots of foster parents who are as bad/abusive/screwed up as the homes a lot of these kids have been taken from and that is heartbreaking.
I would prefer to read about how things really were - because nobody is perfect and no family is perfect, and when things seem a little too shiny my bullshit radar goes off.

[Angela]

Yeah me too, the shininess gets a little bit too glary...:)