A Life in the Shadowlands

by John Stokes

Living in the eye of the hurricane. That's been my life as a Foster Carer. Mostly, it's been in a peacefully calm and loving place that is, however, constantly surrounded by the raging storms of trauma, fury and teenage angst. Drugs, drink, crime and all the horrors of abuse can come to visit and disrupt our lives but a loving home survives and is always shelter from the storm and sometimes for the storm.

I would not for anything change a life that has also allowed me so many wonderful, crazy and magical experiences whilst showing so many young people that there is a path to a different life and that a storm can pass and be recovered from. Most of all, I have been blessed to look after some amazing young people who have enriched my life as you will see from the stories of my life in the Shadowlands.

A single man, a Foster Carer raising other people's children for over 35 years and always looking forward to the next storm that a Social Worker brings to my door.

312 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[Rachael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this and really wanted to like it as a fellow foster carer living in the same town the author mentioned a few times. But half way through I realise it’s more a chronological report of every business and business partner that John has set up or helped set up or been involved with. I don’t think there was much of a ‘story’ to it … and I gave up half way through. Sorry 😬