(10) Damaged
Title: Damaged: The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child by Cathy Glass Publisher: Harper Element 352 pages Genre: memoir, foster parenting Synopsis: Although Jodie is only eight years old, she is violent, aggressive, and has already been through numerous foster families. Her last hope is Cathy Glass… Cathy, an experienced foster carer, is pressured into taking Jodie as a new placement. Jodie's challenging behavior has seen off five carers in four months but Cathy decides to take her on to protect her from being placed in an institution. Jodie arrives, and her first act is to soil herself, and then wipe it on her face, grinning wickedly. Jodie meets Cathy's teenage children, and greets them with a sharp kick to the shins. That night, Cathy finds Jodie covered in blood, having cut her own wrist, and smeared the blood over her face. As Jodie begins to trust Cathy her behavior improves. Over time, with childish honesty, she reveals detai...