Erin P. reviewed on 3/31/2009 + 26 more book reviews

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.

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