Helpless
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Narrated by:
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DeNica Fairman
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Written by:
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Cathy Glass
About this listen
The 32nd fostering memoir from international bestseller Cathy Glass
Struggling to cope with three young children, Janie turns to experienced foster carer Cathy Glass. Helping the family each morning, Cathy soon uncovers how dangerous their situation has truly become.
Riley and his two little siblings, Jayden and Lola, are not safe at home.
With all three children in her care, will Cathy be able to rebuild their lives – and Janie’s?
©2024 Cathy Glass (P)2024 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
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Unsafe
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: DeNica Fairman
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Damian is just seven when he is taken in by foster carer Cathy Glass. His mother, Rachel, loves her three young children dearly, but she is vulnerable, naïve and unable to cope on her own. Cathy sets about helping Damian overcome his eating issues, with the hope that he will eventually return home. But when Rachel’s new boyfriend, Troy, arrives on the scene, Cathy becomes deeply concerned. She soon realises that Damian and his siblings are in great danger.
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Cathy winding down
- By Charlie Belleville on 2024-01-26
Written by: Cathy Glass
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Will You Help Me?
- Ralph’s true story of abuse, secrets and lies
- Written by: Maggie Hartley
- Narrated by: Penny McDonald
- Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Six-year-old Ralph has only been in the care system for three days and has already been rejected by three different foster carers. After hitting a teacher at his school and causing mayhem since he arrived four months ago, staff are unable to get a hold of his mum and her partner. Social Services are called and when Ralph turns up at Maggie's house, she knows immediately it's going to be a challenge. From Britain's most-loved foster carer, a new powerful true story of abuse, family and hope.
Written by: Maggie Hartley
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A Long Way from Home
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The true story of two-year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage. Elaine and Ian had travelled halfway round the world to adopt little Anna. She couldn't have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she now in foster care and living with me? It didn't make sense.
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Not the best story
- By Nightskymama on 2020-07-08
Written by: Cathy Glass
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Little Girl Lost
- Written by: Casey Watson
- Narrated by: Kate Lock
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Six-year-old Amelie lives with her mother, Kelly, who suffers from bipolar disorder. After Kelly attempts to burn down their family house, it becomes clear that her daughter is in grave danger. Amelie is quickly taken into care. When she arrives with foster carer Casey Watson, Amelie acts much younger than her age. Casey must get to the root of Amelie’s behaviour, while doing what she can to keep the family together. Will Amelie ever find the safety of home?
Written by: Casey Watson
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A Sister's Shame
- The true story of little girls trapped in a cycle of abuse and neglect
- Written by: Maggie Hartley
- Narrated by: Penny McDonald
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Foster carer Maggie Hartley is used to all manner of children arriving on her doorstep, but nothing can prepare her for sisters Billy and Bo when they arrive at her home. It is clear from the moment she sets eyes on them that four-year-old Bo and seven-year-old Billy have clearly been subjected to unimaginable neglect, and it takes all of Maggie's skills as a foster carer to try to connect with the volatile little girls, who seem far younger than their years.
Written by: Maggie Hartley
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Willow's Story
- Thrown Away Children
- Written by: Louise Allen
- Narrated by: Melanie Crawley
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A young girl's life is shadowed by secrets and lies. When Willow arrives in the Allen household, curious things begin to happen. Who is the strange child dressed in outlandish clothes who refuses a mobile phone? What are the mysterious allegations that have been made about her?
Written by: Louise Allen
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Unsafe
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: DeNica Fairman
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Damian is just seven when he is taken in by foster carer Cathy Glass. His mother, Rachel, loves her three young children dearly, but she is vulnerable, naïve and unable to cope on her own. Cathy sets about helping Damian overcome his eating issues, with the hope that he will eventually return home. But when Rachel’s new boyfriend, Troy, arrives on the scene, Cathy becomes deeply concerned. She soon realises that Damian and his siblings are in great danger.
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Cathy winding down
- By Charlie Belleville on 2024-01-26
Written by: Cathy Glass
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Will You Help Me?
- Ralph’s true story of abuse, secrets and lies
- Written by: Maggie Hartley
- Narrated by: Penny McDonald
- Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six-year-old Ralph has only been in the care system for three days and has already been rejected by three different foster carers. After hitting a teacher at his school and causing mayhem since he arrived four months ago, staff are unable to get a hold of his mum and her partner. Social Services are called and when Ralph turns up at Maggie's house, she knows immediately it's going to be a challenge. From Britain's most-loved foster carer, a new powerful true story of abuse, family and hope.
Written by: Maggie Hartley
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A Long Way from Home
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
-
Story
The true story of two-year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage. Elaine and Ian had travelled halfway round the world to adopt little Anna. She couldn't have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she now in foster care and living with me? It didn't make sense.
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Not the best story
- By Nightskymama on 2020-07-08
Written by: Cathy Glass
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Little Girl Lost
- Written by: Casey Watson
- Narrated by: Kate Lock
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six-year-old Amelie lives with her mother, Kelly, who suffers from bipolar disorder. After Kelly attempts to burn down their family house, it becomes clear that her daughter is in grave danger. Amelie is quickly taken into care. When she arrives with foster carer Casey Watson, Amelie acts much younger than her age. Casey must get to the root of Amelie’s behaviour, while doing what she can to keep the family together. Will Amelie ever find the safety of home?
Written by: Casey Watson
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A Sister's Shame
- The true story of little girls trapped in a cycle of abuse and neglect
- Written by: Maggie Hartley
- Narrated by: Penny McDonald
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Foster carer Maggie Hartley is used to all manner of children arriving on her doorstep, but nothing can prepare her for sisters Billy and Bo when they arrive at her home. It is clear from the moment she sets eyes on them that four-year-old Bo and seven-year-old Billy have clearly been subjected to unimaginable neglect, and it takes all of Maggie's skills as a foster carer to try to connect with the volatile little girls, who seem far younger than their years.
Written by: Maggie Hartley
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Willow's Story
- Thrown Away Children
- Written by: Louise Allen
- Narrated by: Melanie Crawley
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
A young girl's life is shadowed by secrets and lies. When Willow arrives in the Allen household, curious things begin to happen. Who is the strange child dressed in outlandish clothes who refuses a mobile phone? What are the mysterious allegations that have been made about her?
Written by: Louise Allen
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A Family Secret
- My Shocking True Story of Surviving a Childhood in Hell
- Written by: Maureen Wood
- Narrated by: Rachel Atkins
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Abused from the age of eight by her older brother and then her step-father, Maureen Wood quickly became numb to the constant suffering. But Maureen’s world crumbled when her own mother started to abuse her too. A Family Secret is the harrowing true story of how one little girl survived sickening abuse by the people who should have loved her most and how an innocent baby finally saved her.
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A Brave Story
- By Tamara F. on 2023-05-26
Written by: Maureen Wood
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Stella's Story
- Thrown Away Children, Book 1
- Written by: Louise Allen
- Narrated by: Melanie Crawley
- Length: 8 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Named after the lager that christened her at birth, Stella's life is characterised instability and neglect. Her teenage mother abandons her in the first few weeks of her life, and left in the 'care' of her father, she ends up lying deserted in a house with no food, no water, no clothes and no warmth. She eventually lands in the care of foster carer Louise, who is determined to change her life for the better.
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Heartbreaking, yet, heartwarming
- By Laura R. on 2023-05-04
Written by: Louise Allen
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Neglected
- Scared, Hungry and Alone, Jamey Craves Affection
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Little Jamey, 2½ years old, is placed with experienced foster carer, Cathy Glass, as an emergency. The police and social services have no choice but to remove two-year-old Jamey from home after his mother leaves him alone all night to go out partying. When he first arrives with foster carer Cathy Glass, he is scared, hungry and withdrawn, craving the affection he has been denied for so long. He is small for his age and unsteady on his feet–a result of being left for long periods in his cot.
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Easy to listen to
- By Anonymous User on 2022-10-15
Written by: Cathy Glass
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Broken
- The Most Shocking Childhood Story Ever Told. An Inspirational Author Who Survived It.
- Written by: Shy Keenan
- Narrated by: Judy Mason
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
I was born and broken in Birkenhead, abused from infancy by a network of every kind of pervert from ‘thinks it’s love’ to ‘show it hurts’. I was unwanted, beaten, sold, swapped, photographed, filmed, left for dead, corrupted, blamed, betrayed, ignored and orphaned. But I was also born with a fire inside me. I call it my Phoenix Fire. I am no victim—that word only describes what happened to me. Nor am I a survivor because that implies I am over it. I am a Phoenix—a work in progress. This is my story....
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This isn't a true story.
- By Trevor on 2024-04-23
Written by: Shy Keenan
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The Asylum
- Written by: Ann Cusack - contributor, Carol Minto, Joe Cusack - contributor
- Narrated by: Fiona McNeill
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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For 46 years, Carol Minto has quietly gone about her life, carrying with her the most extraordinary and heartbreaking secrets. In The Asylum, Carol tells the full story of how she overcame unimaginable suffering, to find the happiness and solace she has today as a mother and grandmother.
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Painful to listen to.
- By J Brandon. on 2022-06-11
Written by: Ann Cusack - contributor, and others
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Silenced
- Written by: Rosie Lewis
- Narrated by: Madeline Gould
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
It’s February 2019, and experienced foster carer Rosie Lewis has joined Mockingbird, a new fostering scheme designed to help families stay together. After her first week in post, the foster carer takes a call from a social worker in the Child Protection Team—Bonnie, mother of four children, has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Her mother, Julie, volunteers to care for her grandchildren, but social workers insist on providing outside support.
Written by: Rosie Lewis
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Too Scared to Tell
- Abused and alone, Oskar has no one. A true story.
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Oskar's school teacher raises the alarm. Oskar's mother is abroad, and he has been left in the care of friends, but has been arriving in school hungry, unkempt and with bruises on his arms, legs and body. Experienced foster carer Cathy Glass is asked to look after him, but as the weeks pass, her concerns deepen. Oskar is far too quiet for a child of six and is clearly scared of something or someone.
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Excellent writer and narrator.
- By AC on 2020-06-13
Written by: Cathy Glass
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My Little Girl
- A Totally Gripping Psychological Thriller Full of Shocking Twists
- Written by: Shalini Boland
- Narrated by: Katie Villa
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Seven-year-old Beatrice has gone missing. Her mother Claire’s whole world has been turned upside down in just one moment, and she can’t stop shaking. She’s desperate to find her precious daughter, but nothing about the day she disappeared makes sense.
Written by: Shalini Boland
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Hidden
- Betrayed, Exploited and Forgotten - How One Boy Overcame the Odds
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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From the author of Number One bestseller Damaged comes the poignant and shocking memoir of Cathy's recent relationship with Tayo, a young boy she fosters whose good behaviour and polite manners hide a terrible past. Tayo arrives at Cathy's with only the clothes he stands up in. He has been brought to her by the police, but he is calm, polite, and very well spoken, and not at all like the children she normally fosters. The social worker gives Cathy the forms which should contain Tayo's history, but apart from his name and age, it is blank.
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Excellent and exciting
- By Cheryl Harnum on 2022-11-22
Written by: Cathy Glass
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3,096 Days in Captivity
- The True Story of My Abduction, Eight Years of Enslavement, and Escape
- Written by: Natascha Kampusch
- Narrated by: Jennifer Scapetis-Tycer
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On March 2, 1998, 10-year-old Natascha Kampusch was kidnapped and found herself locked in a house that would be her home for the next eight years. She was starved, beaten, treated as a slave, and forced to work for her deranged captor. But she never forgot who she was, and she never gave up hope of returning to the world. This is her story.
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Very well done!’
- By Traveling Momma on 2018-02-24
Written by: Natascha Kampusch
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The Night the Angels Came
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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A new memoir from Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author Cathy Glass. When Cathy receives a call about a terminally ill widower terrified of leaving his son all alone in the world, she is wracked with sadness and indecision. Can she risk exposing her own young children to a little boy on the brink of bereavement? Eight-year-old Michael is part of a family of two, but with his beloved father given only months to live and his mother having died when he was a toddler, he could soon become an orphan.
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A wonderful story
- By Angela on 2023-01-30
Written by: Cathy Glass
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Daddy's Little Princess
- Written by: Cathy Glass
- Narrated by: Denica Fairman
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Beth is a sweet-natured child who appears to have been well looked after. But it isn't long before Cathy begins to have concerns that the relationship between Beth and her father is not as it should be. Little Beth, aged 7, has been brought up by her father Derek after her mother left when she was a toddler. When Derek is suddenly admitted to hospital with psychiatric problems, Beth is taken into care and arrives at Cathy's.
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Great book
- By Jacques Robitaille on 2023-05-18
Written by: Cathy Glass
What listeners say about Helpless
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Charlie Belleville
- 2024-09-06
A solid entry in Cathy’s post-fostering career
Some spoilers ahead.
While the previous book from Glass was meandering and ultimately a bit pointless, feeling like a slow coast to a stop as she wrapped up fostering for good, this book manages to recover some momentum after all. Cathy’s new job as a community liaison who helps support families in their homes to prevent them from sliding into the disarray that necessitates removing children is as vital a role as she played before, although now she finds herself caught up in the story of the parents more than the children.
This was an interesting change of pace. Cathy knows how to manage children, and even in the writing of this book often gives our advice on incentives, child-rearing, discipline and consistency. But this is her first time managing an adult who behaves like a child, and her usual techniques are stymied in the face of toxic behaviour and cycles of poor decision making. It’s one thing to break a habit in a child and make new, healthy ones - what do you do with a parent who has children because of the bad choices and habits they had, and therefore will continue to have as it becomes their source of coping with those mistakes?
It’s painful, hearing Janey repeatedly verbally abuse her kids and endanger their new puppy. But it’s even more painful to realize that her trust is routinely betrayed by others in her life, as she’s preyed upon by people she believes to be her friends. A single mother on benefits is somehow still a target for the monsters of the world. Her loneliness is palpable, and it isn’t surprising that she tries to fill it in all the wrong ways - by dating bad men, getting a dog, and cosseting her youngest like a doll.
I also enjoyed the reflective visits to the retired foster care woman, whom Cathy has such an obvious bond with. As Cathy contemplates moving to senior care, I find myself looking forward to the stories she might tell from the other end of human existence.
Finally, the brief respite care of a child who comes out swinging against the foster care system repeatedly returning her to her unfit mother raises a question Cathy has occasionally rumbled on in the past - if the attempts to reunite children with their parents at any costs is actually a detriment. This comes to a head near the end of the book, where Cathy makes a call that ultimately removes Janey’s children from her. Janey feels betrayed that the one truly honest person in her life had “turned against her” - especially sad given her loneliness and bad judgement - but as Cathy rightly states, it was Janey who had betrayed herself. And yet Cathy’s guilt drives her to help Janey get her children back - even though she is weighed by doubts that it’s the best thing for them. Unfortunately this is a recent story, so time will tell if returning to their mostly well-meaning but very immature mother was the right thing for Janey’s three children and Max the dog.
I really enjoyed the self-reflection Cathy did in this book. It was more engaging than in the last, and featured her doubts and uncertainty in her new role in a way I haven’t seen since her first novels. Though she may have drawn out the material a bit too much, there is something to say for the repetitive self-destruction Cathy witnesses in Janey’s life, and the helplessness she feels trying to “parent” an adult.
Finally, this is the first time I feel Danica Fairman let down Cathy a bit. Her performance as Janey was a redo of Cass from “Cruel to be Kind”, but lacked the humanity and eventual warmth she lent that poor woman. Janey is given a distinctly detestable tone throughout, even in her more vulnerable moments.
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