Sparkle's Story: Thrown Away Children

by Louise Allen

Louise gets a frantic call to take in a damaged and destructive young girl. Separated from her siblings, Sparkle is hostile and angry.

A short while after settling in, Sparkle begins to identify as pansexual. A revolution is underway in the Allen household, with Sparkle’s transition motivating all of the young people to explore what becoming an adult means for them.

But it’s Sparkle’s escalating behaviour that causes concern.

Discovering a dark fact about Sparkle’s birth and the shocking events that the children in her house were part of, Louise is desperate for more help – and not just for the child in her care. As Sparkle’s erratic and violent behaviour increases, Louise finds herself and her homelife under serious threat.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2023

About the author

From an early age, Louise was adopted into a family who, from the beginning, said they didn’t want her. Her first book, Thrown Away Child, reveals the abuse and neglect she and a fellow adopted child suffered at the hands of their adopted mother, Barbara. Ten years ago, Louise and her family became a fostering family. They have looked after over twenty children, some have stayed long term. This led to the bestselling series, Thrown Away Children, where Louise is inspired by the stories of children in the care system. Within days, the book became a bestseller.

Louise now draws on her experience to write a new series of ‘How to’ books about adoption, fostering and parenting. How to Adopt a Child is the unvarnished truth about adoption. Louise is well known for “saying it as it is,” so not only is it witty and engaging, it also empowers adopters to feel confident and in control and to know where to turn to for help.

Reviews

[Gail murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of her best books is confusing drawn out

[Kelly Ferrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparkle’s Story. by Louise Allen.
Another one that starts slow .. has a build up and then a lot about Louise herself and her story of adoption. Story has some good points to it and some information about a subject that is now starting to be discussed in the last few years. (No info from me as not to spoil the crux of the story) ..
Read the book as was given to me as a gift but would not have bought it after the last couple I had read. More content on these children I feel is needed and less on Louise and her past injustices .. earlier books were good but the newer few have been a struggle to get into.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who know Louise Allen know how she writes and her aim.
This book is no different starting with a backstory, which unfortunately after a week I forgot about jt and needed to re-read. Not sure if it was because I’ve been so busy and distracted or it’s just a slow burner.

However the story of sparkles is one that is very relevant today and needs to be shared. We are all capable of presuming there are two genders, those are which defines us at birth male and female.

I have nothing but empathy and compassion for the Allen’s who have to contend with such scrutiny, in the form of her own trauma, her class and how hard she has worked to get where she and her family have.


Louise is often dampened by the way she writes. We know she writes in her own way, and her style. It’s authentic to her own identity, she’s not mainstream and I think she likes being unique different. It would be a boring world if we were the same! This book educated me as I’m sure it will educate and enlighten others.

On a final note I couldn’t imagine opening my door even as a care leaver to the young people Louise Allen and others have who suffer just as much as their placements. Adapting to a new child or young person, is on thing living in fear is another.

[katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, reading this made my blood boil. Not towards the author but the so called services who have been absolutely useless when it comes to looking out for Sparkle, I don't know where they find the audacity to even call themselves a service when all they do from the looks of this book is make things worse. God, I couldn't do a job like fostering purely for the fact that if services were like this with me I'd have hit someone by now haha sorry but it's true. It's admirable that foster carers do so much to do right by the people they're fostering but it would make me so angry dealing with things like this.

[Rebecca Fowkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, felt so sorry for what Louise and her family went through and Sparkle and for how they was all treated. Some of it was a bit confusing for me with the LGBTQ but glad that Louise was able to explain it.

I'm glad that Sparkle is doing much better now she is living with her Grandparents. Definitely recommend reading it and I'm looking forward to reading Louise Allen's next book: Marilyn's Story when that comes out.

[Samantha Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled to get into this at first. It was very different to other foster caterer books. It shows the true reality of life in current times for children and teenagers I suppose. It was quite a shocking read and sad. If I’d known more about the book before I bought it I probably wouldn’t have wanted it but I’m glad I did read it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. But slow starting, the topics that were discussed intrigued me as they are bit difficult and Louise’s opinions similar to my own. I would’ve like to hear more of sparkles story than Louise’s. I found this book in a library on a cruise I was on and I would try another of the thrown away child series

[Julie Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book I have read in this series. Another heartbreaking story about a child who has been neglected and exposed to things she should never have been witness to, leading her to be very confused about her identity.
Very interesting read, but I personally didn’t find this story to be as engaging as the previous books I read in the series.

[Abbie Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book, helpful and good to know I’m not the only person who struggles with pronouns. Sorry that Louise and family went through so much trying to support Sparkle without help or support.

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was good. Louise is never afraid to be honest about the shortcomings of the system!

[Jessica Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really struggled to get through this one not one of her best

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Louise says about needing more support for the LGBTQ+ community needs to happen these children are suffering

[Nic Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story from a foster carer. I felt there could have been more information about Sparkle, and more done to try & help her.

[Michelle wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant read by louise

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://mommysarmyreader.blogspot.com...

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series but this book is repetitive and very drawn out.

[Stacy Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most difficult one to listen to so far. Super heavy and sometimes too graphic.

[Fiona Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my days, what a challenging book to write and as Louise says in afterword that the gender identity will change again most probably after being printed. The hard work and dedication the Allen's went through to support Sparkle was outstanding. The heartache and tears and feelings and living in such a hostile environment which was their home. I think that seeing a traditional family for Sparkle would have been a point in which may have spun her head. Kids seem eager to belong to something whether a image, gender, sexuality, group. But it's got to the point that it's too much for schools to know whos who and that they are losing class time. It may seem old fashioned (I am only 48 years old)but when in uniform leave everything at the school gates and concentrate on all the free education that's being handing to them. Outside the gates do whatever or whoever you want to be.