The Sunday Times and New York Times Bestseller. 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 behaviour 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 behaviour improves. Over time, with
childish honesty, she reveals details of her abuse at the hands of her
parents and others. It becomes clear that Jodie's parents were involved
in a sickening paedophile ring, with neighbours and Social Services not
seeing what should have been obvious signs.
It's clear that Josie needs psychiatric therapy, but instead Social
Services take Jodie away from her, and place her in a residential unit.
Although the paedophile ring is investigated and brought to justice,
Jodie's future is still up in the air. Cathy promises that she will
stand by her no matter what - her love for the abandoned Jodie is
unbreakable.
