I Miss Mummy

by Cathy Glass

Alice, aged four, is snatched by her mother the day she is due to arrive at Cathy's house. Drug-dependent and mentally ill, but desperate to keep hold of her daughter, Alice's mother snatches her from her parents' house and disappears.

Cathy spends three anxious days worrying about her whereabouts before Alice is found safe, but traumatised. Alice is like a little doll, so young and vulnerable, and she immediately finds her place in the heart of Cathy's family. She talks openly about her mummy, who she dearly loves, and how happy she was living with her maternal grandparents before she was put into care. Alice has clearly been very well looked after and Cathy can't understand why she couldn't stay with her grandparents.

It emerges that Alice's grandparents are considered too old (they are in their early sixties) and that the plan is that Alice will stay with Cathy for a month before moving to live with her father and his new wife. The grandparents are distraught – Alice has never known her father, and her grandparents claim he is a violent drug dealer.

Desperate to help Alice find the happy home she deserves, Cathy's parenting skills are tested in many new ways. Finally questions are asked about Alice's father suitability, and his true colours begin to emerge.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fostering, Memoir, Abuse, Biography, Adult, True Crime

362 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2010

About the author

Cathy Glass is a bestselling British author, freelance writer and foster carer.
Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres, and she has also written a parenting guide to bringing up children, Happy Kids, and a novel, The Girl in the Mirror, based on a true story.
Glass has worked as a foster career for more than 20 years, during which time she has fostered more than 50 children. Her fostering memoirs tell the stories of some of the children who came in to her care, many of whom had suffered abuse.
The first title, Damaged, was number 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers charts in hardback and paperback. Her next three titles, Hidden, Cut and The Saddest Girl in the World, were similarly successful, all reaching the bestseller charts.
The name "Cathy Glass" is a pseudonym for author Lisa Stone.

Reviews

[Betty Jo Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like reading stories from foster care providers. This author is very similar to Casey Watson, another UK foster carer. We have considered becoming foster parents ourselves so I like to read what it is 'really' like. Although the UK has a very different system than the U.S. I do like the interactions between the family members and like to see the effect that the foster children have on the whole family. This book was no exception to what I like about this type of book. Alice, a four year old girl, is removed from the care of her mother and grandparents and is being 'prepped' to live with her father, who she has never had a relationship with, and her stepmother, who can't have kids of her own and sees Alice as her one chance for motherhood. This is the first book I've read from Cathy Glass and I liked the fact that she is a single mom and still a foster parent. She also has two biological children, and another, older, permanent foster child at home. The story was good and I liked Cathy's personality and parenting approach. While this was an easy read, it was enjoyable.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by a good friend of mine, having never read any books by this author. Cathy Glass is an inspiration and she does write in the most amazing and dictating way. Poor little Alice does go through so much at the tender age of four. Such a lovely lady is Cathy, what a wonderful thing to do being a foster carer. Lovely written ending. Will be reading more of Cathy Glass's books.

[Jojo2012 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hope Cathy Glass puts some of the fortune she's made from selling these children's stories back into the social care system...

Very easy to read and informative for someone considering foster care; interesting for someone already doing the job to see how other carers struggle with social services and deal with decisions made that they don't necessarily agree with.

[Aspen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving story. I read this book on an eReader, and I liked that it was not edited for the US. It was kept with UK English, while a bit confusing to me, it made the story more true, and I liked that. The author is a good writer, she has a nice flow that keeps the story moving and she has a good heart for what she does. I would recommend this book.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another unputdownable favorite by Cathy Glass.

[Alja Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeugdzorg in GB. Niet eens heel anders dan in Nederland, veronderstel ik. Prettig geschreven en bomvol uitleg over welke keuzes waarom gemaakt worden. Rationeel en enorm menselijk komen samen.

[Lyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable!
Always trust gut instincts, children's reactions are usually correct as their innocence gives no bias.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sad and heartwarming story of a sweet little girl who was mistakenly taken into foster care for a year with no contact with her mother.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful story of a mom's unconditional love and support for her child. being a mom does not require DNA. I look forward to reading more stories of Cathy Glass and her family.

[kora. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 🌟

[Ana (O Mundo Encantado dos Livros) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iniciei a leitura deste livro com algum receio. Acredito que a leitura de uma história verídica deve ser feita numa altura em que se tenha um certo estado de humor para que se possa entender e afeiçoar à história da forma correcta. Nunca tinha lido nenhum livro desta autora, que tem um longo historial profissional em casos de crianças em situações problemáticas, mas fiquei cativada pela forma doce como descrevia cada pormenor. Este livro fala de uma menina de quatro anos que foi retirada aos avós por estes serem considerados demasiado idosos para cuidar dela e que se encontra com uma família de acolhimento, que será apenas a ponte entre a fase de transição entre a vida com os avós e a futura vida com o pai e a madrasta. Logo no início achei que havia muitos pormenores por explicar, que o pai e a madrasta não eram as pessoas que demonstravam ser. Havia muito mais para contar acerca do histórico do pai da criança, mas uma assistente social apressada em passar ao caso seguinte não teve o cuidado de tratar devidamente da situação e começou logo a tratar de retirar a menina aos avós. Não quero estar a contar mais detalhes de tudo o que se passou, quero apenas transmitir os sentimentos que transbordaram em mim. Este é um livro muito tocante que como mencionei antes nos leva a pensar na forma com que a justiça funciona, em como é ou não justo retirar as crianças aos pais sem que haja realmente uma investigação mais profunda acerca do caso. Tocou-me ainda mais a pequena Alice, que mesmo depois de tantos acontecimentos traumatizantes na sua tenra idade, se mantinha tão doce para com aqueles que mais amava (mãe e avós) e também a forma adulta com que ela agia em determinadas alturas. Era uma menina muito inteligente, que conseguia entender melhor as situações que em que se encontrava do que aquilo que as assistentes sociais pensavam.
Cathy Glass é uma autora que quero continuar a seguir…

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad but uplifting story about a little girl, Alice, who gets taken into the foster care system because somebody had gotten the impression that Alice's home life was unstable. Her foster carer, Cathy, gradually starts to realize that Alice shouldn't have been taken out of her home in the first place. Sadly, getting Alice back to her loving family isn't as easy as it should have been.

When 4-year-old Alice first came to Cathy's house, she was different from most of the other kids Cathy fostered. Alice was clean, socially adept, and had sweet memories of playing games with her mother and watching soccer with her grandfather. Cathy kept expecting to learn that all was not as it appeared, but the truth was that Alice had been living happily with her grandparents and mother. Social services had decided the grandparents were too old and mother too unstable, so they took Alice out of her home and planned to give custody to her father (who Alice didn't know).

This book made me wonder about the checks and balances within the social services themselves. Who decides if a child is being pulled out of a home arbitrarily or because the social worker has an agenda?

[Jaymee-laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel by Cathy glass. This is the first book of hers I've read where child abuse isn't part of the storyline, but it was still one of the saddest. It kept me interested until the end, and wasn't at all predictable.

The author tells the true story of Alice, a four year old girl in the foster system that she, as a carer, is asked to look after. Alice is being taken away from her mother and grandparents, and going to live with her father, who she doesn't know at all. When Alice arrives, bright, happy and wanting to return to her family, Kathy wonders if social services have made a terrible mistake removing Alice. She is torn between how she feels, and what her job is as a foster carer. She also can't understand why Alice was removed in the first place, and gets no answers from social services. She does however, when Alice reveals something to her that was shocking and explained everything. You will make a place in your heart for little Alice, and her story will keep you hooked until the end.

[Christine bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a little girl called Alice

Alice is to be placed with Cathy and her family on the Friday but it did not work
Before she even came to Cathy her mum had taken her and hid her for a few day,
Alice love her Nan grandpa and her mummy but she dont love her daddy and his new wife

this book will have you in tears, but Alice is a very brave girl and you will grow to love her as you read the book

for the people that have fostered or foster you will feel for poor Alice as you for every child that you have had come in to care.
The taken a child screaming from contact with the family home and trying to calm the child down, the meeting where you have shouting matches and waiting for the court to say what will happen

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find the case studies of Cathy Glass's foster children utterly fascinating. Although I am very aware that this is essentially a memoir written by Cathy and is thus suspect since she would naturally show herself in the best light, I have so much respect for how she handles the difficult day-to-day issues she must deal with in caring for these children. Alice's case history was particularly touching because she was such a young child and there were no allegations of any kind of abuse. How Alice became part of the foster system and how the foster system dealt with her are only two of the mysteries which unfold in this case.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

as always with Cathy Glass I loved this story! I think it was an objective view of how too many cooks spoil the broth as it were in Alices case and obviously how this impacted the social services getting it so wrong. I felt for Alice but she showed courage throughout the story and you fell in love with her. I did feel sorry for her family and the reason she was taken into care was so ridiculous so its no wonder Alices family had no trust in the social services but I am however glad the redeemed themselves in the end by bringing in somebody who actually bothered to investigate into the case. it was a great read

[Fazlina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first ever English novel which I finished successful. I encouraged to grab this novel because of the marks of ‘true story’. It is better to get into the true life rather than we just caught into the writer’s imaginations. I am not very sure with my feelings after red this, but honestly, my eye mist with the scenes. I love Alice (the one who miss her mummy) and am pleased to have a daughter with ingenious like her.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sad, sad story and not because of abuse like in the horrible case of Jodi but because there was none. There must be an incredible shortage of social workers in the UK because they were an issue with Lucy, Jodi, Alice. It's either a shortage or lack of empathy. Thank goodness Alice finally had Kitty but who knows how bad things could have turned or how long it would have taken if a decent social worker hadn't finally been placed.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this genre of abuse like stories this is excellently well written. The chapters are well paced, with good endings that make you want to continue reading. I particularly like this story as this child in many ways is not a victim of abuse, or neglect, she is well loved and well looked after, a family is just caught up in system they can't really comprehend. And pretty much everyone is well meaning and wants the best for everyone involved so a nice ending to a story where many dont end well.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story broke my heart because I really never understood why this little girl was taken away from her gradparents. It shows how children really can and do get lost in the system. I was happy that eventually she was assigned to a social worker who was interested in getting to the bottom of why this little girl was in care to begin with.

[Just · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this would have to be the worst foster story I have EVER read. Not because it was poorly written. Not because Cathy didn't do a great job. No it was because the social services got this case so very, VERY wrong! My heart was bleeding for poor little Alice but thank goodness for such a caring foster family as this one that saw her through it!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love reading stories written by Cathy Glass. This novel was uplifting and at times gut wrenching. It's about a little girl, named Alice, who despite being put through foster care usually seemed positive and happy. Cathy was right to trust her instinct that Alice was truly loved by her grandparents and mother. Great read

[Cindy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me incredibly sad. I cannot believe the social services did not check out the child's circumstances more thoroughly before they removed her from a loving home. And then to read they were thinking of placing her with an abusive father. That is unfathomable!!!

[Merete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Cathy's books! I think I have read almost all of them by now. They teach me things that my teachers at school don't (I study social work an protection of children and youth). So thank you for writing this fantastic book. It's easy to read and hard to put away.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering I am only young and have never really thought about fostering, Cathy Glass' books are one of those that you just have to kepp turning the page. Dealing with love, loss and suffering, her books offer an insight into her life as a foster carer.

[Louise Bookmac82 Mackin · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Spoiler Alert***
Another brilliant book by Cathy Glass!! This one really tugged on my heart strings as Alice's future was agonised over & due to her age, decided by the professional with very little regard to Alice's feelings even though Alice's feelings were the right ones.

[Jayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story about young Alice who is taken from her grandparents for little or no reason and then the struggle to make things right again.

[Sylwia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read that book in few hours !!!

[Andrew Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This shows the bureaucracy gone mad in child protection services. I have read three of Cathy's books now and none have failed to touch me.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK.