Member Review

This memoir left me heartbroken.

The meaning of Ootlin-Scottish Dictionary: alien or outsider

I found myself alternating been anger and sorrow, and it left me with many questions to which the following I’d love to receive answers:
• How can the care system allow children to be adopted by people without any idea how to raise them?
• Do they not have to receive counselling or training?
• How can care homes be places where children will be exposed to drug taking?
• How can care workers not see that children are beaten and exposed whether psychological or physical torture?

After reading the memoir, I searched for everything I could on Jenni Fagan. She’s overcome her past, writing both fiction and poetry. She gained her doctorate and has produced a film.

It begs the question; is Jenni one of the exceptional geniuses who come through the care system, beaten, and broken and yet, by some miracle of believing in themselves, able to survive and make their way through life?

Jenni Fagan, you opened this reader’s eyes to the care system and the horrendous mistakes made. Has the system set about fixing the system, or is it still in chaos? Your story has genuinely shocked and saddened me. I meditated while doing the forgiveness mantra for the little girl Jenni who must have felt so utterly alone and unloved. I’m so pleased to learn how your life turned around and how successful your writing is.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.