Please Don't Take Mummy Away

by Maggie Hartley

'I think this is one of the best books I have read by Maggie Hartley' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and perfect for fans of Cathy Glass, a new powerful true story from Maggie Hartley, foster carer for over 20 years.



'Mummy! Where did you go? Please come back, Mummy.'

When police are called to a local supermarket late one evening, they find an angry shopkeeper and a silent young woman. It's the third time 24-year-old Zoe has been caught stealing in the past few days. Eyes filled with panic, Zoe has been hiding bread, milk, Calpol and nappies under her coat. As police officers break down the door of Zoe's flat they find seven-year-old Coco and two-year-old Lola, home alone, huddled on the floor in a freezing cold bedroom, crying out for their mummy.

When Social Services are called in, the girls are taken into care and are soon tucked up safely in bed at Maggie's house. It looks like a simple case of neglect, but things aren't always what they seem and, with Maggie's help, can Zoe convince Social Services that love is enough to be a good mum?

Readers LOVE Maggie
'Was gripped the whole way through'
'Could not put it down'
'I enjoyed every minute'

Genres: Nonfiction, Fostering

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[Erica⭐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very sad but educational story, just showing how this young mother Zoe on her own with her 2 young children Coco & Lola was let down by the system. Thank goodness Maggie was able to step in and help this family.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, really enjoyed it. I always love every book. I visit by this offer.

[Gail murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping good page Turner little emotional.

[Jemma Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story of a mother who faced extremely difficult choices. Due to a lack of support and a financial struggle to support her two lovely daughters, she frequently left the girls home alone at night in order to work and feed them, but social services quickly caught on and removed the girls from her care.

Throughout this story, it was difficult to hear that the social worker Pamela was judging the situation before considering it from the mother's perspective or thinking about how difficult things must've been, so in the end, I'm glad they got a new social worker for the girls' and mum's best interests. However the ending was so lovely, I am so glad that Maggie helped Zoe throughout the whole case or the ending would have looked different. The girls were reunited with their mother, such a happy ending.

I enjoy all of Maggie Hartley's books because they serve as a reminder that these things actually happen in life and that many people struggle.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story of a mum who faced really difficult choices, however the ending was so lovely. It was awful the way that Pamela judged the situation before really considering it from mum's perspective, or thinking about how hard things must have been. Maggie did a great job of speaking out about the professionalism of the social worker. Lovely happy ending.

[Lyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great heart wrenching read.
couldn't put it down.v

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live Maggie Hartley!!! I want to read all of her books

[Alicia Lovely · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Cathy Glass’ fostering memoirs and I often worry about what will read when I’ve read them all! It turns out I don’t have to worry so much now, as Maggie’s fostering memoirs are just as good so I’ve got lots more to go at!

I’m not sure who my heart went out to more in this story, little Coco and Lola or their poor Mummy.

Coco and Lola are brought to the caring hands of Maggie when their mother is caught shop lifting at night. She I caught pinching calpol for a poorly Lola and ends up having to desperately confess to the police that she left her children home alone while she was out thieving it.
When the social services get on the case, they discover that the little girls have no electricity, no hot water, no beds and their damp ridden flat is shabby and run down.

Despite the girls living in these conditions it does become apparent that they are clean, fed to the best of their mother’s affordability, polite, well mannered and loved. They aren’t abused children and they are usually happy and their mother Zoe does the best she can for them. They are truly loved and are just a case of a poverty stricken, single parent family, struggling to make ends meet.

Maggie works hard with the social services and with Zoe to enable her to win back her children and become more financially stable.

I was so pleased this story had a happy ending.

[Georgina Abbotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

zoe had made some choices that weren't the best but she thought she was doing right.you could tell how much she loved her 2 girls.zoe was caught shop lifting some items but it's not at all what people would think she. was trying to provide for her 2 girls.the girls social worker Pamela was not appropriate at all the way she was bringing zoe down she wasn't willing to give zoe a chance from the very minute the girls were taken into care Pamela was already talking about adoption.maggie was there. for zoe in her darkest moment when she couldn't see any option but to end it all she. believed her girls deserved better thankfully Maggie was able to help zoe and she got lots of support I'm glad the girls and there mummy got the happy ending they deserved thank you. to Maggie for writing this book showing the ins and outs of how difficult it can be especially when some social workers write the birth family off from the start she was also telling the children bad things about there mummy

[Amber D · Rating 4 out of 5]

an unfinished retelling

Overall this was a good read. Quick; read it in a few hours. It shed light on foster system and what it is like for children, parents, and foster families in general. If you have a connection or history with any of these, it will resonate with you.
Though it does get all the way to the end of the girls’ placement, it feels unfinished somehow - probably because the POV is more from Maggie than the girls and it seems like her story doesn’t tie up with the close of the book? Could just be me. Also felt like more insight on what mom was doing to get the girls back - like her experience in the classes and looking for resources (from her POV) would help fill out the picture.

[Nikki Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to say this, but I really do feel like there’s so many kids and the care system and how many of those kids could still be at home with their parents but with more support. We constantly hear of all these horrendous and very sad cases were these children are dying. Why is nobody saving these children? I understand caseworkers are overloaded. That they also have to deal with very dangerous parents. But as an adult, wouldn’t you rather take the threat than having that threat be to a child. I don’t know just thinking out loud. i’m right there with Maggie and Cathy. I’m not sure what the answer is but there’s some things that need to change drastically and now.

[Kathy Hennessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to feel like an a-hole writing this considering it's a true story and anyone who has had to navigate this real life situation fully deserves 5 stars, but....as a book, it was definitely GOOD, just not great. It's both sad and heart warming, and a really valuable eye opener to an unfortunate but very real situation that can result in the best intentioned parent finding themselves in a terrible situation. In terms of book story, I just wish there was more to it. Not necessarily more "drama", I wouldn't wish that on anyone, just....more story, it's very short.

[Cheri Smallwood-ellerker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A single mother struggling to feed and keep a roof over her two girls heads, When Zoe the girls mum is arrested for shoplifting , Coco and Lola who have been left home alone are removed by police and taken to Maggies, They are very scared and just want their mum, Maggie notices that the girls have wonderful manners, and are well behaved. This is not a mother who does not care and Maggie fights all the way to get the girls back home with their mum and have support in place. But is the brusque social worker going to agree.

[Jacki Rhinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good Read

This is another good read by foster carer Maggie Hartley. The two children come to Maggie cold, frightened, hungry and alone. But Maggie can't believe how different these two are from the many other children she has cared for throughout her decades of fostering. Read this book to find out what happens to the girls and their mother.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in day. Another fantastic read from Maggie Hartley that I couldn't put down. A story of a single mum in desperate circumstances who makes a foolish decision and her children end up in care. The story is written with emotion and understanding and I felt desperately sorry for the mother. Maggie writes so you care about the characters and can almost picture the settings.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Maggie Hartley

As usual this is a gripping read right from the first page. Maggie is amazing and fights for what is best for those in her care. I was shocked by the Vicky story and cannot wait for the next book.
Definitely read the books in order.

[Rebecca Fowkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what another fantastic book from Maggie Hartley. I had a couple of tears in places and was getting so annoyed with the social worker Pamela but so glad that Maggie spoken to her supervising social worker about it and Zoe was given a new social worker.

[Fiona Turnbull · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not impressed with this one. Just getting it out there for our there purposes to continue the releasing and updating saga of fostering. Would rather she held back and produce the good quality books all her others are like.

[Lisa Gatts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Don't Take Mummy

This was a touching story and I fell in love with all the people in the story.It really kept me turning the pages and staying up till the wee hours of morning.Thank you Maggie Hartley,you never let me down.

[Joanne Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie books are so good and well written

Zoe is a great mam. Who is struggling. Zoe has a horrible landlord and leaves Zoe with no choice

After getting arrested, Zoe has to prove she is a good mam.

A quick read and looking forward to Maggie next book

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome, had to listen in one day =)

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one from Maggie Hartley!! Shows how the system is not unbiased.

[mrs elizabeth skey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Maggie.

[Patsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my usual genre, it was passable. It got me out of a reading slump

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

another good one by Maggie hartley

[Lucia Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read 😀

[Sonia Critchlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was heart breaking.

[Sadie mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished this book and it is so beautiful done love all her books xx

[Shelley Boothman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely to read.

[Kymberly Ogilvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 million star for Miss Hartley

Obsessed with her books. So pure heart wrenching and real. The way she writes is amazing and personal.

Amazing read.