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Original poster

AIBU to assume that Cathy Glass books are fiction?

61 replies

Weetabixelly · 04/07/2021 19:44

They purport to be true, but how can they be? Surely no Foster Carer would be allowed to get away with publishing the stories of children they have fostered as it would be such a massive breach of confidentiality.

Even, if the children in her books agreed (as adults) to her publishing their life stories , it still seems so exploitative?

OP posts:
MiaMarshmallows · 04/07/2021 22:28

I read a lot of this genre and always thought the same about her books. I do think that as someone said upthread, it's actually based on a few experiences she's had with a few children then made into a story to make it look as though it's just about the one if that makes sense.
There are loads of this type now. Her, Casey Watson, Maggie Hartley and Torey Hayden to name a few.

JaceLancs · 04/07/2021 22:23

Casey Watson is another of similar ilk and yes it’s Torey Hayden
I always assumed they were composite characters and enough details changed to be more fiction based on fact ‘stories’
I’ve worked in child protection and would never be able to share most of the ‘stories’ I come across they are mostly tragic and would not translate well into this sort of genre

Kanaloa · 04/07/2021 22:07

I’ve only read one, ages ago, but I always presumed it was sort of based on her experiences rather than an actual true story. Otherwise surely the children could object to their lives being published? I’m not sure though.

CrouchEndTiger12 · 04/07/2021 22:04

I read one and it was utterly dull. I kept reading just to see if it got any better. It didn't.

It wasn't a story, it was a description. Of every single detail of being a Foster mum and why she did everything she did. Of how amazing her own children were.

So boring.

Tiddleztheelephant · 04/07/2021 22:01

I quite like them but I've always assumed that they were very loosely based on her experiences, sort of 3 or 4 stories rolled into one.
Cathy Glass' books are far too tidy and always have a neat, happy ending which can't possibly be realistic.

Belledan1 · 04/07/2021 21:20

There are a lot of similar authors now. The last one I read she was promoting lots of her other books including a recipe book throughout the story!!

Crackbadger · 04/07/2021 20:55

@StarryNight468

I think they're full of rubbish. I could not imagine any LA allowing that data out even if foster dc agreed it. The LA 'own' that data, the information governance policies would surely stop that being released if it was true.

Although I did use to read books from child psychologist in America, I think her name was Trudy and it's just clicked that she's probably not real either.

Torey Hayden?
bigbluecup · 04/07/2021 20:47

I used to enjoy her books. I always just assumed that they were loosely based on actual events but not close enough to be linked to any particular child or even foster carer

StarryNight468 · 04/07/2021 20:45

I think they're full of rubbish. I could not imagine any LA allowing that data out even if foster dc agreed it. The LA 'own' that data, the information governance policies would surely stop that being released if it was true.

Although I did use to read books from child psychologist in America, I think her name was Trudy and it's just clicked that she's probably not real either.

Girlstuff · 04/07/2021 20:41

I used to enjoy her books but the last few where crap
The whole book was a brag about how her son was getting married and that her mum died
The boy was just the cover for that news

I often wonder the same thing to be honest-surely the children would have to consent

Brainmuddled · 04/07/2021 19:49

I often thought that too when I used to read them. I really enjoyed them at 1st but then felt they got very repetitive as though she was explaining why she did absolutely everything and after a few books I lost interest.