I Miss Mummy: The true story of a frightened young girl who is desperate to go home

Description

Cathy Glass, the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Girl Alone and Daddy's Little Princess, tells the story of Alice, a young and vulnerable girl who is desperate to return home to her mother. Alice, aged four, is snatched by her mother the day she is due to arrive at Cathy's house. Drug-dependent and mentally ill, but desperate to keep hold of her daughter, Alice's mother snatches her from her parents' house and disappears. Cathy spends three anxious days worrying about her whereabouts before Alice is found safe, but traumatised. Alice is like a little doll, so young and vulnerable, and she immediately finds her place in the heart of Cathy's family. She talks openly about her mummy, who she dearly loves, and how happy she was living with her maternal grandparents before she was put into care. Alice has clearly been very well looked after and Cathy can't understand why she couldn't stay with her grandparents. It emerges that Alice's grandparents are considered too old (they are in their early sixties) and that the plan is that Alice will stay with Cathy for a month before moving to live with her father and his new wife. The grandparents are distraught - Alice has never known her father, and her grandparents claim he is a violent drug dealer. Desperate to help Alice find the happy home she deserves, Cathy's parenting skills are tested in many new ways. Finally questions are asked about Alice's father suitability, and his true colours begin to emerge.

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.' The Mirror 'A truly harrowing read that made me cry.' The 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