The Child Bride

Description

Cathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family. When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what? Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house. Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her.

Cathy Glass is a pseudonym. She has been a foster carer for over 20 years, during which time she has looked after more than 100 children, of all ages and backgrounds. Cathy runs training courses on fostering for her local Social Services, and helps draft new fostering procedures and guidelines. Cathy has three teenage children of her own; one of whom, Lucy, was adopted after a long-term foster placement. Cathy has always had an interest in writing, combining fostering with occasional freelance journalism and commercial writing, usually when a particular issue stirs her passion. Before the success of Damaged she had written on health and social issues for the Guardian, the Evening Standard, Luton News, and the Hemel Gazette. She is also a published fiction writer, with poems and short stories published in a number of commercial magazines. Cathy's books have been constantly in the best-seller charts since Damaged was published in 2007, having sold over 2 million copies across her titles worldwide.

REVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net 'Heartbreaking.' Mirror 'A truly harrowing read that made me cry.' Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.' OK! 'Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass's book should change all that.****' First magazine 'A hugely touching and emotional true tale.' Star magazine