Looked After Kid: Memoirs From a Children's Home

by Paolo Hewitt

Paolo Hewitt is the celebrated biographer of amongst others, Oasis, Alan McGee and the mercurial footballer, Robin Friday. He is a successful journalist who has made numerous TV and radio appearances. Yet behind this veneer, lies a troubled past, which this moving autobiography seeks to come to terms with. Paolo Hewitt was put into care at a very early age following his mother's breakdown. He was placed with a foster family where he was regularly beaten and humiliated by the mother, after enduring years of her destructive anger and sbusive behaviour he rebelled and was sent to an orphanage. He was ten years old. This is a compelling story that vividly details what life was like for kids in a British orphanage in the '70s. It has been written for all those children who, in the author's own words, 'go to sleep at night believing the world to be a dark, terrible place'. this book addresses the emotional struggle which children who lived in the orphanage faced and seeks to address the feelings of fear and rejection which afflict so many children without a normal family life. The Looked-After Kids is a poignant, well-observed and riveting tale of love, luck, broken promises, compassion, illicit sex and loyalty amongst friends.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2002

About the author

Paolo Hewitt was born on July 11, 1958 in Redhill, Surrey, England.

Paolo Hewitt is a former NME journalist and author of over 20 books, including, with Mark Baxter, The Fashion of Football (Mainstream), Oasis... There and Then (1996), Outside Bet (2012) and Casuals: The Story of the Legendary Terrace Fashion (2011)

Reviews

[Claire Fuller]

It doesn't feel fair to rate this book. I picked it up for research for the novel I'm writing now, and it was extremely useful for that. I felt for Hewitt and everything he'd been through, but the book wasn't very well written, and could have done with a much more thorough line edit. Interesting how similar his childhood was to Lemn Sissay's: 10 or so years with a foster family, and then rejected; teenage years in two or more children's homes, stealing and some general bad teenage behaviour.

[Michael Greig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Paolo and am also involved in supporting young people in care so was interested to read. I was disappointed to learn as I came to finish the book that some of it was fictionalised but I suppose that this is his prerogative. It was worthwhile reading and considering what life is like through the eyes of a child particularly during the 60s. Hopefully we have learned a bit since then but it will never be easy for a looked after kid

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good insight into the world of children's homes and how vulnerable young people pay the price of adult selfishness, weakness and brokenness.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oddly addictive. Read in a day/night.

[kamile · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me want to adopt a child for me to love and nurture in the future

[Borntolose73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this in a day. One of the most moving and inspiring autobiographies that I have ever had the pleasure to read.