Helpful Score: 11
Imagine living in fourteen different foster homes in nine years--sometimes with your younger brother, sometimes never knowing if you will see him again. Imagine yearning for your mother but never knowing when you might be able to see her. Imagine living in tight, cramped quarters with other foster kids who often taunt you and destroy your belongings. Imagine the fear of not knowing if the next placement will have nice parents, or cruel ones. Imagine never being able to trust any adult because there's never been one that truly cares. Ashley Rhodes-Courter experienced all of this and more in her time in foster care. School was her only safe haven--a place where she excelled but never got to stick around one school for any meaningful length of time. We follow Ashley through this horrible time in her life right on through to her adoption. And meeting J.K. Rowling. And meeting the President of the United States. And speaking in front of large groups, including the U.S. Senate. Ashley's courage to tell her story sheds light on the plight of thousands of foster children throughout the U.S.
I seriously couldn't put this down and read it faster than any other book in recent memory. Her story effortlessly flows and even though it is a nightmare at some points, it feels amazing to cheer her on in the end.
I seriously couldn't put this down and read it faster than any other book in recent memory. Her story effortlessly flows and even though it is a nightmare at some points, it feels amazing to cheer her on in the end.
Helpful Score: 3
I read this book over six months ago and still think about it nearly every day. The writing style isn't outstanding, but the content/message will blow you away. I hope to someday help make a difference in the foster care system. I can't believe it's still this jacked up.
Helpful Score: 1
A wonderful, page-turning memoir. It's embarrassing to know that the foster care conditions described in "Three Little Words" still exist today, but Ms. Rhodes-Courter is doing great things for awareness of the problems with our current system(s).
If you enjoyed "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls, you'll probably like "Three Little Words."
If you enjoyed "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls, you'll probably like "Three Little Words."
Helpful Score: 1
This expose of the foster care system is long overdue. a refreshing memoir of a child who beat the odds and is willing to speak up about the horrors she endured. I fell in love with her writing and look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
Helpful Score: 1
Ashley and her younger brother Luke are taken from their mother at a young age and placed into foster homes.
Soon Ashley learns she cannot trust the adults in her life and her life is very topsy turvy. Some foster homes she is with her brother, others she is not. They never know from one day to the next where they will be or where they will sleep.
Ashley gives a real life account of the pain and sorrow of foster care and the injustices in the system.
Ashely eventually ends up at a The children's home. It is more stable and a cleaner enviroment. They have programs for the children and adoption days. Eventually she is placed with a family that wishes to adopt her. She does not trust them, and keeps waiting for the other shoe to fall so to speak.
As time goes on, she realizes she can trust them and even love.
She is able to testify against some of the foster people that were very abusive.
She was asked to speak at various functions, the Dave Thomas adoptive functions and even went to the white house.
I amazing account of a sad young girl that has rose above her terrible circumstances..
Soon Ashley learns she cannot trust the adults in her life and her life is very topsy turvy. Some foster homes she is with her brother, others she is not. They never know from one day to the next where they will be or where they will sleep.
Ashley gives a real life account of the pain and sorrow of foster care and the injustices in the system.
Ashely eventually ends up at a The children's home. It is more stable and a cleaner enviroment. They have programs for the children and adoption days. Eventually she is placed with a family that wishes to adopt her. She does not trust them, and keeps waiting for the other shoe to fall so to speak.
As time goes on, she realizes she can trust them and even love.
She is able to testify against some of the foster people that were very abusive.
She was asked to speak at various functions, the Dave Thomas adoptive functions and even went to the white house.
I amazing account of a sad young girl that has rose above her terrible circumstances..
This was a wonderful book. I would recommend anyone to read it.It is sad, but there is hope! This little girl had a whole bunch of hope. Great read!
This is one of those books that makes you wish you had the power to change the world in an instant. I must say it's a danm shame when the system neglects the neglected children. I had to sit the book aside a few times because I couldn't see past my tears.
Firstly and this is just my opinion, the kids should have been left with their mother. Not everyone is perfect and educated. Some people make mistakes, but that doesn't mean they should loose their children. As soon as their mom got out of jail the first time her children should have been returned to her. The one thing that made me angry with the mother was that she decided that she only wanted her daughter. If the mom didn't want to deal with the little boy's father she should have never had a child with him!
I understand that Ashley was damaged from all the trauma of moving from home to home and not feeling wanted, but she does seem a bit self centered. I couldn't understand the way she treated her little brother. She was the only one he had in the whole world and she doesn't seem to understand that this is why he always clung to her.
I would love to read a book about her brothers life and his feelings! If Ashley felt so rejected just imagine how rejected her brother must have felt.
I think this book should be required reading for anyone who is going to be a foster parent or work for child services.
Firstly and this is just my opinion, the kids should have been left with their mother. Not everyone is perfect and educated. Some people make mistakes, but that doesn't mean they should loose their children. As soon as their mom got out of jail the first time her children should have been returned to her. The one thing that made me angry with the mother was that she decided that she only wanted her daughter. If the mom didn't want to deal with the little boy's father she should have never had a child with him!
I understand that Ashley was damaged from all the trauma of moving from home to home and not feeling wanted, but she does seem a bit self centered. I couldn't understand the way she treated her little brother. She was the only one he had in the whole world and she doesn't seem to understand that this is why he always clung to her.
I would love to read a book about her brothers life and his feelings! If Ashley felt so rejected just imagine how rejected her brother must have felt.
I think this book should be required reading for anyone who is going to be a foster parent or work for child services.
A very realistic depiction of what it is like to be taken away from your mother and bounced from one foster home to another. Not overly depressing though and has good insights into how children survive and even are resilient against all of the odds. Great read for Court Appointed Special Advocates or anyone interested in child welfare.
Amazing and heart wrenching story of a young girl who spent her childhood in fostercare. Unable to put it down once I had started reading it!
Wonderful book! Thank you very much!
"Sunshine, you're my baby and I'm your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she's not your mama." Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system.
Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative, humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed - and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice.
Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative, humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed - and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice.
