This story pulled me in from the beginning and really saddens me that this happened to this child. Cathy truly is an angel and a blessing for these children, I don't know of many people who have the time or proper attitude to handle children like this. This story really opened my eyes to what is out there and what these poor children go through. I was very intrigued by this story and will be looking to pick up more books by Cathy to learn more about these children and the system. She is an amazing woman and I am greatly inspired by her and thankful that I had the great parents I did, to be able to give my daughter a great life as well, and not to have my daughter have to become the parent instead of being a child like so many sadly so. ( )

Cathy Glass is a pseudonym for a prolific author who writes about her personal experiences as a foster parent in the U.K. Another Forgotten Child is Cathy Glass's latest book/memoir. Aimee is a terribly abused and neglected eight year old child who was on the at risk child protection register at birth, but still fell through the cracks of a woefully inadequate, unorganized system. This bureaucratic oversight resulted in Aimee being left with a vicious, drug addicted, negligent mother, Susan. When Glass took over her care, Aimee was filthy, dressed in ill-fitting rags, lice-ridden, covered in bruises, and had no experience with basic personal hygiene. She had a defiant attitude, and had been subsisting on a horrendous diet consisting mostly of sweets. Soon Glass also realized that Aimee was likely also the victim of sexual abuse.

Aimee's mother, Susan, who had all five of her older children removed from her care years ago, knew how to work the system and complain, exaggerate, and twist events to try and exploit the various social workers an get her way. She is very insulting, threatening, and difficult to work with. It is obvious that Aimee's ordered supervised visits with her mother three times a week, and the telephone calls on the days other days were not in her best interest.

Set up as relating a chronological series of events to the reader, like a journal, Glass's account of Aimee's arrival and her discovery of additional information is presented in a forthright way with no hyperbole or drama - beyond what Glass does to protect herself from Susan's unfounded accusations. She also includes many of the day to day actions that occurred while caring for Aimee. While there are times when this approach feels tiresome, the whole story is still very riveting. It is almost like you are reading a caseworkers detached account of a client.

The biggest thing Cathy Glass does, beyond helping Aimee, is making an incontrovertible case that Aimee was not properly watched and served by the social services system in the U.K. In her case they did not serve her best interests and their neglect cause a child to suffer harm needlessly for eight years.

Very Highly Recommended - I had a few reservations about Cathy Glass's Another Forgotten Child however, once I started reading it I could not put it down.

Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher and TLC for review purposes.


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I really like Cathy Glass's books. I would recommend them to anyone that liked Torey Hayden or Mary MacCracken. All of these authors trace the growth of children with enormous emotional challenges. Cathy Glass is British and so shows us another country's way of helping these children. The things that work and those that are problematic. Ms Glass's dialog is sometimes stilted, but she is a great storyteller. When I pick up her books, I just can't put them down. I get absolutely nothing done until the last page is finished. ( )

This is not a story for the faint of heart. It is the story of a foster parent who takes in a child that most would never touch. Aimee is eight years old and unlike her five older siblings, she was left with her mother instead of being removed. Eight years she suffers abuse at the hands of her mother and many others. No child should have to experience the things Aimee experiences. The book was frustrating at times because at one point in my life I worked for children and family services in my state. The things that you learn about happening to children is horrible. Cathy has done a wonderful job of letting the reader be an observer yet feel like they are right there. I have never been a foster parent. I have seen so much through my job as a teacher. Sometimes the things we learn from our students are just as heart wrenching and makes us wonder how someone could let something happen to a child for so long and do nothing. I have great admiration for people like Cathy. As a matter of fact a friend of mine, an author by the name of Karen Arnpriester is one of those angels who takes in kids. I have the highest respect for people like them. I believe that books like this should be read to bring attention to, and open the eyes of people who might not want to see what is going on around them. I highly recommend this book. ( )

Another Forgotten Child by Cathy Glass tells the true story of a young girl who came into her home through the foster care system after “slipping through the net,” and suffering eight years of unnecessary abuse and neglect at the hands of a drug-addicted mother who had already lost five older children to the care system. The story explains the horrific abuse suffered by Aimee prior to coming into care and takes us along her journey into her transition to a new life.

I chose to read this book because I think it is important for children like Aimee to have their stories told. I've previously read books about child abuse situations and they were written entirely from the perspective of the child (as an adult). This book gives the insight to foster care and child abuse from the foster care provider’s perspective. I feel that this perspective is a unique way to experience the chain of events that occurs as the child transitions from a very difficult life into learning how to be a child again and assimilate properly into “normal” society where they are a part of a healthy, safe environment.

The story started out a bit slow for me. However, as I read on, I found myself curious to see how Aimee adapted to her new life, and learn more about why she behaved the way she did. It was both heart-breaking and inspiring to know that this actually happened in real life. On one hand, you have Susan, a completely horrific and unfit mother. On another hand, you have Cathy, who opens up her home, her family, and her heart, to ultimately change the outcome of this little girl’s life forever.

This is the first of Glass’ books that I've read. The book is 309 pages and I read it in three days. The further into the story I got, the more I wanted to find out what would become of Aimee. I would probably read more of Glass’ books in this series. ( )