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Ava's Story: Thrown Away Children
Ava's Story is the fourteenth instalment in the popular Thrown Away Children series.
Medical professionals Katy and Jonathan had been trying for a baby for eight long years. Finally after putting nearly every penny they had into IVF, they got their dream family - with twins. Ava and Tom were devoted, lively siblings and their parents were over the moon.
Then one day, when they were just three years old, everything changed. Their parents had been collecting their grandparents from the airport, while they were at nursery.But 3pm came and went and no one arrived to take them home.
Instead the classroom assistant was told the heartbreaking Ava and Tom's parents and grandparents had been involved in a collision on the M25.
All four had died.
Ava's story tells the tragic tale of what happened next - as Cath, the mum of the twins' first foster family, falls in love with little Tom but has an inexplicable hatred for his sister, and after some difficult months, insists on handing her back.
Medical professionals Katy and Jonathan had been trying for a baby for eight long years. Finally after putting nearly every penny they had into IVF, they got their dream family - with twins. Ava and Tom were devoted, lively siblings and their parents were over the moon.
Then one day, when they were just three years old, everything changed. Their parents had been collecting their grandparents from the airport, while they were at nursery.But 3pm came and went and no one arrived to take them home.
Instead the classroom assistant was told the heartbreaking Ava and Tom's parents and grandparents had been involved in a collision on the M25.
All four had died.
Ava's story tells the tragic tale of what happened next - as Cath, the mum of the twins' first foster family, falls in love with little Tom but has an inexplicable hatred for his sister, and after some difficult months, insists on handing her back.
Audible Audio
Published September 24, 2026
About the author
Louise Allen
21 books125 followersFrom 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 28, 2026
Book Review | Louise Allen — Thrown Away Children Series
Some books entertain you. Others challenge the way you think.
This one did both, although I wouldn’t describe it as an easy read.
Having grown up in foster care myself, I found Louise Allen’s writing particularly thought-provoking. Not because our experiences were identical, but because so many of the questions she raised made me reflect on the care system, the responsibilities of professionals and the enormous influence adults can have over a child’s future.
There were moments when I felt genuinely angry, frustrated and upset.
I found myself questioning decisions, examining people’s motivations and wondering how certain situations had been allowed to continue. Particularly troubling were the occasions when professionals appeared to turn a blind eye, when financial considerations seemed to influence decisions and when remaining silent appeared easier than challenging what was happening.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words, particularly when children are the ones living with the consequences.
One question stayed with me throughout.
Would Ava’s story have unfolded differently with another foster carer?
Would somebody else have recognised the importance of her relationship with Tom? Would they have challenged the barriers and continued asking difficult questions?
I don’t know.
And perhaps that’s precisely why I found the book so compelling.
Although this was Ava’s story, Tom was never really absent from it. Their relationship remained an important thread throughout, reminding me that a child’s life cannot simply be separated into individual placements, professionals and decisions.
Children have histories, attachments and relationships that matter.
What I particularly appreciated was the way Louise brought the story full circle. Something introduced at the beginning eventually took on a much deeper meaning, and I thought that was beautifully done.
Without giving anything away, I found the conclusion incredibly moving and satisfying.
I also love Louise’s writing style. She doesn’t simply tell you what happened. She encourages you to question why it happened, whether things could have been different and what those experiences reveal about the wider care system.
I found myself stopping frequently, following my own thoughts and considering perspectives I hadn’t initially recognised.
That’s what I enjoy most about reading.
A book that makes me think beyond its pages.
Although this is a relatively recent publication, I believe its themes will remain relevant twenty or thirty years from now. The importance of listening to children, recognising their relationships and challenging decisions that may not serve their best interests isn’t something that becomes outdated.
I procrastinated over starting this book, yet once I finished it, I was still reflecting on everything I’d read.
A frustrating, emotional, intellectually stimulating and ultimately beautiful story about the importance of belonging.
And perhaps that’s what stayed with me most.
There’s a difference between finding a child somewhere to live and helping them find somewhere they truly belong.
📚 If you enjoy memoirs, fiction and thought-provoking reads, come and join us on Facebook at Memoirs & Fiction Book Club! ❤️
Some books entertain you. Others challenge the way you think.
This one did both, although I wouldn’t describe it as an easy read.
Having grown up in foster care myself, I found Louise Allen’s writing particularly thought-provoking. Not because our experiences were identical, but because so many of the questions she raised made me reflect on the care system, the responsibilities of professionals and the enormous influence adults can have over a child’s future.
There were moments when I felt genuinely angry, frustrated and upset.
I found myself questioning decisions, examining people’s motivations and wondering how certain situations had been allowed to continue. Particularly troubling were the occasions when professionals appeared to turn a blind eye, when financial considerations seemed to influence decisions and when remaining silent appeared easier than challenging what was happening.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words, particularly when children are the ones living with the consequences.
One question stayed with me throughout.
Would Ava’s story have unfolded differently with another foster carer?
Would somebody else have recognised the importance of her relationship with Tom? Would they have challenged the barriers and continued asking difficult questions?
I don’t know.
And perhaps that’s precisely why I found the book so compelling.
Although this was Ava’s story, Tom was never really absent from it. Their relationship remained an important thread throughout, reminding me that a child’s life cannot simply be separated into individual placements, professionals and decisions.
Children have histories, attachments and relationships that matter.
What I particularly appreciated was the way Louise brought the story full circle. Something introduced at the beginning eventually took on a much deeper meaning, and I thought that was beautifully done.
Without giving anything away, I found the conclusion incredibly moving and satisfying.
I also love Louise’s writing style. She doesn’t simply tell you what happened. She encourages you to question why it happened, whether things could have been different and what those experiences reveal about the wider care system.
I found myself stopping frequently, following my own thoughts and considering perspectives I hadn’t initially recognised.
That’s what I enjoy most about reading.
A book that makes me think beyond its pages.
Although this is a relatively recent publication, I believe its themes will remain relevant twenty or thirty years from now. The importance of listening to children, recognising their relationships and challenging decisions that may not serve their best interests isn’t something that becomes outdated.
I procrastinated over starting this book, yet once I finished it, I was still reflecting on everything I’d read.
A frustrating, emotional, intellectually stimulating and ultimately beautiful story about the importance of belonging.
And perhaps that’s what stayed with me most.
There’s a difference between finding a child somewhere to live and helping them find somewhere they truly belong.
📚 If you enjoy memoirs, fiction and thought-provoking reads, come and join us on Facebook at Memoirs & Fiction Book Club! ❤️
September 30, 2026
💔❤️🩹Ava's Story💔❤️🩹
💔❤️🩹By 💔❤️🩹
💔❤️🩹Louise Allen💔❤️🩹
📖Review Post 📖
I have read several of Louise's beautiful books which tell the stories of just some of the children that she has fostered over the years. Each and every single one has a heart-breaking story behind it and this book is no exception. This is the latest and fourteenth book in Louise's 'Thrown Away Children' series but each book can be read as a standalone.
You definitely need to grab the tissues and clear your schedules before starting this book as it will leave you hooked and with tears streaming down your face.
It is such an emotive, heart-breaking yet also heart healing story of what Ava went through from such a young age from losing her parents to be putting in care and even when she should be somewhere she feels safe she goes through even more heart aching abuse. She then gets sent to Louise and her family who help to bring her out of her shell, be the child she is meant to be but also uncovers the true and dark reason why she was really separated from her twin brother. It is a storyline filled with lies, secrets, emotions, strength, family, healing, determination and so much more. I absolutely love Louise and not only for what she does but the fact that she is down to Earth, is realistic about the system and says it as it his. She is such an amazing person along with her husband Lloyd and her children, especially Lily, who was incredible with Ava, and who can forget Dixie and Doug who also help in their own ways!
If you have never read any of Louise's books then grab your copy of this beautiful page turner and I can guarantee it wont be your last!
This truly is a beautiful book that really does show you the ups and downs of fostering. Louise is such an inspiration and I love the fact that she does not sugar coat things at all. She is a voice for these children and in particular in this book where she comes across so called carers who she is up against.
An emotive, beautiful, inspirational and heart wrenching page turner.
💔❤️🩹By 💔❤️🩹
💔❤️🩹Louise Allen💔❤️🩹
📖Review Post 📖
I have read several of Louise's beautiful books which tell the stories of just some of the children that she has fostered over the years. Each and every single one has a heart-breaking story behind it and this book is no exception. This is the latest and fourteenth book in Louise's 'Thrown Away Children' series but each book can be read as a standalone.
You definitely need to grab the tissues and clear your schedules before starting this book as it will leave you hooked and with tears streaming down your face.
It is such an emotive, heart-breaking yet also heart healing story of what Ava went through from such a young age from losing her parents to be putting in care and even when she should be somewhere she feels safe she goes through even more heart aching abuse. She then gets sent to Louise and her family who help to bring her out of her shell, be the child she is meant to be but also uncovers the true and dark reason why she was really separated from her twin brother. It is a storyline filled with lies, secrets, emotions, strength, family, healing, determination and so much more. I absolutely love Louise and not only for what she does but the fact that she is down to Earth, is realistic about the system and says it as it his. She is such an amazing person along with her husband Lloyd and her children, especially Lily, who was incredible with Ava, and who can forget Dixie and Doug who also help in their own ways!
If you have never read any of Louise's books then grab your copy of this beautiful page turner and I can guarantee it wont be your last!
This truly is a beautiful book that really does show you the ups and downs of fostering. Louise is such an inspiration and I love the fact that she does not sugar coat things at all. She is a voice for these children and in particular in this book where she comes across so called carers who she is up against.
An emotive, beautiful, inspirational and heart wrenching page turner.
October 11, 2026
I honestly think this is Louise Allen’s best story yet!
I was hooked from start to finish and found myself rooting for Tom the whole way through. I just wanted everything to work out for him!
The only thing I struggled with slightly was having to go back and remind myself of Cath’s chapter when I got to the end, just to piece everything together. But other than that, I thought it was absolutely brilliant.
Louise has done it again! Definitely a 5-star read from me, and one I’d highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked from start to finish and found myself rooting for Tom the whole way through. I just wanted everything to work out for him!
The only thing I struggled with slightly was having to go back and remind myself of Cath’s chapter when I got to the end, just to piece everything together. But other than that, I thought it was absolutely brilliant.
Louise has done it again! Definitely a 5-star read from me, and one I’d highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2026
Another wonderful book.
Jon and Katy have good jobs, a good life, money, and they've just spent a year travelling around the world. They've done it all before settling down to have a family. But the best laid plans don't always happen as you would like them to.
I really like Louise Allen's fostering memoirs series; really like her style of writing. She gives background info first, of what happened before the child arrived with Louise. Quick, easy and absorbing reads.
Some other fostering memoirs can be quite repetitive, but this author manages to keep them fresh every time. This had different subject matter, something I never saw coming. Everything had seemed so lovely and a comfortable life for this couple, I didn't see why these children would need fostering. But this just shows, you never know what's coming in life. Things can change in a heartbeat.
Louise didn't have an easy early life, so she can see things from the other side too. She also makes me smile sometimes: She has other children as well as this latest foster child-teenagers, and she tells of the hectic craziness and joy of family life.
A heartwarming and heartbreaking story with an uplifting resolution. An excellent book.
Jon and Katy have good jobs, a good life, money, and they've just spent a year travelling around the world. They've done it all before settling down to have a family. But the best laid plans don't always happen as you would like them to.
I really like Louise Allen's fostering memoirs series; really like her style of writing. She gives background info first, of what happened before the child arrived with Louise. Quick, easy and absorbing reads.
Some other fostering memoirs can be quite repetitive, but this author manages to keep them fresh every time. This had different subject matter, something I never saw coming. Everything had seemed so lovely and a comfortable life for this couple, I didn't see why these children would need fostering. But this just shows, you never know what's coming in life. Things can change in a heartbeat.
Louise didn't have an easy early life, so she can see things from the other side too. She also makes me smile sometimes: She has other children as well as this latest foster child-teenagers, and she tells of the hectic craziness and joy of family life.
A heartwarming and heartbreaking story with an uplifting resolution. An excellent book.
September 26, 2026
I never leave reviews but my goodness this book? I couldn’t stop reading. It broke my heart and made me grin. I’ve read the whole thrown away series but this one will stay with me a long tije. Two beautiful children with so much tragedy in their short lives. Hoping the true Ava and Tom a lifetime of good things
October 6, 2026
One of my favorites of Louise’s books! It was both beautiful and tragic. And always with a touch of Louise’s humor.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews