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The true story of Melody, aged 8, the last of five siblings to be taken from her drug dependent single mother and brought into care.When Cathy is told about Melody’s terrible childhood, she is sure she’s heard it all before. But it isn’t long before she feels there is more going on than she or the social services are aware of. Although Melody is angry at having to leave her mother, as many children coming into care are, she also worries about her obsessively – far more than is usual. Amanda, Melody’s mother, is also angry and takes it out on Cathy at contact, which again is something Cathy has experienced before. Yet there is a lost and vulnerable look about Amanda, and Cathy starts to see why Melody worries about her and feels she needs looking after.When Amanda misses contact, it is assumed she has forgotten, but nothing could have been further from the truth...
The book investigates the complex and often heartbreaking realities of child protective services through the lens of one young girl's experience. The narrative follows Melody, an 8-year-old girl, who is placed into care due to her single mother's drug dependency. While Melody exhibits typical anger at being removed from her mother, her intense worry for her mother, Amanda, suggests a deeper, more complex situation. Amanda's own vulnerability and distress during contact sessions hint at underlying issues that both she and the social services may be unaware of, leading to a critical turning point when she misses scheduled contact.
This book is likely to resonate with readers interested in true crime and personal stories of resilience within the child welfare system. The narrative's focus on the emotional complexities of both the child and the parent, as observed by the foster carer, suggests a deeply human and empathetic portrayal. The progression of the story, particularly the mystery surrounding the mother's absence, is expected to hold the reader's attention. The author's established reputation in writing about difficult foster care cases indicates a grounded and authentic approach to the subject matter.
Page Count:
100
Publication Date:
2018-08-23
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN-10:
0008305498
ISBN-13:
9780008305499
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