The Heart Knows Something Different: Teenage Voices from the Foster Care System

by Youth Communication, Jonathan Kozol (Foreword), Al Desetta (Editor)

A New York Public Library "Books for the Teen Age" selection. There are more than 450,000 children living in foster care. The Heart Knows Something Different collects over three dozen personal narratives by young writers, ages 15 to 20, and provides an insider's account of growing up in "the system." It takes us into a world largely hidden from public view, and attests to the mix of pain and fear, and sometimes hope, and sometimes even happiness that the foster care experience involves.

Genres: Fostering, Nonfiction, Social Work, Adoption

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

Reviews

[Tina M Bowers-Plumstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book filled with individual stories written by youth in foster care in the early '90's. A perfect read if you want to see how it is through the eyes of the children in care. I highly recommend this book to those that are considering opening their homes, to current foster families, and even to youth that are in care as a guide to let them know they aren't alone.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was published in 1996, and most of the stories were written around '94, so keep in mind that it's showing the foster care system 30 years ago, mainly in the NY area. If you want a current snapshot, this isn't the right book - not that it's the book or authors' fault that, you know, time has passed.
Even so, it's still a valuable read as it addresses stigmas on foster children that still persist today. The stories are insightful and even though they are at times difficult, it's worthwhile.

[Sarah Casady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows an inside look adolescents in foster care. Themes of hope and of pain are prevalent throughout the book. I really appreciated seeing how the stereotypes of youth in foster care were broken down. The book is outdated in relation to foster care, though. The system still needs work, but most adolescents aren't in the system for the length of time these writers were. The US of group homes is also dramatically declining today. It is a good look into the history of the system, though.

[erl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insider’s view of life in foster care. Mostly NYC, 1990’s. Nothing brilliant, but an important perspective.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of vignettes written by teenagers in foster care. Some of the stoires were heartbreaking, but, really, all together I think the book lacked something for me. It is a little dated as well.

[Jaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. Each story touched my heart.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is quite dated, but then, so is the foster care system. An interesting look at young people responding to the system and telling their different stories.