The Night the Angels Came by Cathy Glass

The Night the Angels Came Reviews

• 
  Emy

  Firstly, I have great respect for Cathy Glass as a foster carer, especially as it's something I've considered doing myself when I'm older. What comes across in her prose is how much she really cares about the children who come to live under her roof, and I love that about her.
  
  The Night the Angels Came is about a young boy, Michael, who comes to stay with Cathy because his father, Patrick, is dying of cancer. Michael's mother also died when he was very young, so his father is all he has left. Meanwhile, Cathy is still recovering from her husband, John, leaving her for another woman, and is struggling through the divorce process. What follows is a touching story that allows both Michael and Cathy to heal.
  
  The prose is not technically brilliant: you won't find any dazzling metaphors or sparkling adjectives here. It is plain, clear words - just words. The story is strong enough that it carries itself without the need for authorial brilliance. Because of the simple nature of the text, it is quite a quick read, but is by no means any less of a book for it. The chapters are also quite short, making it easy to dip in and out of, especially when you don't have much time.
  
  The story, of course, is a true story. But, even if it were not true, it would still be heart-wrenching. I found myself crying several times, even having to put the book down at one point.
  
  The Night the Angels Came is not one of your run-of-the-mill 'true story' books. It is written from the point of view of Cathy herself, a foster carer, and really offers a unique perspective of what foster care is truly like: its highs, its lows and, most importantly, its emotional rewards. If you are thinking of taking that step and registering as a foster carer, I'd recommend you read at least one of her books, just for some insight.
  
  I found Cathy easy to relate to and it never seemed as though she was deliberately depriving me of information, as is sometimes the case with first person narratives. I really trust her as a narrator, and I think that's important in a book.
  
  The last thing I have to say to anyone deciding what to read next: Give Cathy Glass a try. You might be surprised at what you find.
• 
  Demi

  Again not the best author of this genre and I find the constant praise of herself annoying even if other people said it. The story was very sad and I felt sorry for the little boy. However since Cathy was also supposed to be so upset I did find it odd that having already read the story that comes almost immediately after this one she didn't ever state that she was upset or missed anyone in that story. I understand that it was a completely different story but I would have thought she could have included her grief in that story also without mentioning any details. The writing was very methodical and lacked much style almost for me. I did enjoy the story and I think these poor children's story's should be told but they could be told better
• 
  Catherine Brown (c4thb)

  I love Cathy Glass. I find her writing style easy and flowing yet gripping. this story looked at another side of fostering and caring, and initially I was sceptical as to whether this would be as good, because although the stories and experiences of abused children are harrowing we all love a happy ending!
  I was however not wrong in deciding to read this book and it sits up there with the best. a beautifully told, heart wrenching yet heart warming story of Michael and his terminally ill father. of course as usual I read in practically one sitting; a highly recommended read.
• 
  Beth

  One of the most touching books I've ever read. It had me in tears several times, I felt so strongly for Michael and everybody else involved in this story, and a lot of that is down to the way Cathy Glass writes. She has a way of telling a story that makes you feel as though she is a personal friend speaking directly to you, and the way she writes is strangely comforting; I think I would be happy just reading a diary of her day-to-day life, when I finish one of her books I really feel like I am missing her!
• 
  Anne Marie

  Cathy Glass is an excellent author. I love sitting down and reading her books and can read them all in one sitting and would read them again. What I loved about this book is the fact it was a different reason as to why she was taking in the little boy. The story either way is truly heart breaking. I like to read it to see what the children truly go through when dealing with dysfunctional families. It also gives a light to what foster is truly about by someone that does it. The children in her stories are lucky to have her love and care for them like she does.
• 
  Nila

  Another winner from Cathy Glass,I just love all of her books about the children she fosters!! This story is NOT about a abused child just one she fostered because his mother was dead and his father soon became terminally ill. It was a great reminder that children come into foster for many reasons. Onto her other books for now....God bless all you foster parents out there doing the hardest job of all!
• 
  Dreamer

  A moving story of a young boy and his terminally ill father.
• 
  Di McLean

  When Cathy receives a call about a terminally ill widower terrified of leaving his son all alone in the world, she is wracked with sadness and indecision. After her devastating divorce, can she risk exposing her own young children to a little boy on the brink of bereavement?
  
  Eight year old Michael is part of a family of two, but with his beloved father given only months to live and his mother having died when he was a toddler, he could soon become an orphan. Will Cathy’s own young family be able to handle a child in mourning? To Cathy’s surprise, her children insist that this boy deserves to be as happy as they are, prompting Cathy to welcome Michael into her home.
  
  A cheerful and carefree new member of the family, Michael devotedly prays every night, believing that when the time is right, angels will come and take his Daddy to be with his Mummy in heaven. However, incredibly, in the weeks that pass, the bond between Cathy’s family, Michael and his kind and loving father Patrick grows. Even more promising, Patrick is looking healthier than he’s done in weeks.
  
  But just as they are settling into a routine of blissful normality, an unexpected and disastrous event shatters the happy group, shaking Cathy to the core. Cathy can only hope that her family and Michael’s admirable faith will keep him strong enough to rebuild his life.
  
  ***************************************
  
  This is one of the most moving but beautiful books that I have ever read. It tells of the true story of a fathers unconditional love for his son and the very emotional journey they make into Cathy's life and family.
  It was personally very uplifting to read of a parents unconditional love for their child instead of the usual neglect and abuse inflicted on children prior to coming into the Care System.
  Just have the hankies close by - there was times that I was sobbing, other times just shedding some tears.
• 
  Louise

  Story Description:
  
  HarperCollins(UK)|November 14, 2011|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-00-744262-1
  
  Eight-year-old Michael is part of a family of two, but with his beloved father given only months to live and his mother having died when he was a toddler, he could soon become an orphan. Will Cathy’s own young family be able to handle a child in mourning? To Cathy’s surprise, her children insist that this boy deserves to be as happy as they are, prompting Cathy to welcome Michael into her home.
  
  A cheerful and carefree new member of the family, Michael devotedly prays every night, believing that when the time is right, angels will come and take his Daddy to be with his Mommy in heaven. However, incredibly, in the weeks that pass, the bond between Cathy’s family, Michael and his kind and loving father, Patrick, grows. Even more promising, Patrick is looking healthier than he’s done in weeks.
  
  But just as they are settling into a routine of blissful normality, an unexpected and disastrous event shatters the happy group, shaking Cathy to the core. Cathy can only hope that her family and Michael’s admirable faith will keep him strong enough to rebuild his life.
  
  My Review:
  
  A well-written and beautiful story of one young boy’s struggle with the impending death of his father. Eight-year-old, Michael, had already lost his mother when he was just a toddler so and he and his beloved Dad, Patrick, have been a two family home since that time and they have a bond like no other.
  
  When Patrick ends up in hospital dying from cancer, Cathy takes in Michael and worries that her own children may be affected by the gloomy circumstances but much to everyone’s surprise her own children take to Michael like a brother.
  
  However, when Patrick dies, things change quickly and it wasn’t what I was expecting. Excellent novel that everyone should read!
  
• 
  Juliette

  I absolutely love Cathy Glass, I have read several of her books and have never been disappointed. Unfortunately, this one did.
  Michael's story was absolutely devastating, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But unfortunately, this book was boring and I feel bad about saying this.
  There was plenty of emotion in this book, I cried a little especially at the end. But it just made me cringe most of the time when I wasn't bored because of Cathy's relationship with the dad. Ethically it wasn't professional of Cathy doing as much with Michael's dad and I just felt that I was reading her love story and not her fostering memoirs.
  This book barely spoke about fostering. Now I understand that she has a life aside from fostering and that she's entitled to meeting people and creating relationships, but I just saw this book as too personal and slightly unprofessional.
  I think she has done a lot better in writing and having read a dozen or more of her books, I do have to say her books are usually very good and interesting.
• 
  Ashley Jacobson

  This story was great, but Cathy's writing was pretty awkward. She was like a school girl in love, which was weird. It did not take away from the story too much, but I thought it could have been written better. Michael, the boy she is looking after, has lost his mom and now his father is terminally ill. It is a moving story, but Cathy gets way too attached to the dying dad and acts irrational about it. She is finishing up her divorce and obviously liked the attention from this man, but it was unprofessional and, again, the writing was like that of a school girl in love. But I did like the happy, albeit hard, ending.
• 
  Monica Willyard Moen

  What can I say about this inspiring story? It caused so many emotions in me as I read it. Most of all there is love, God's love as well as love from people to each other. That's important. There are hope, forgiveness, and trust as well. Yet there is heartbreaking loss at the grief that comes with it. Still, love conquers all, just as it should. For once, something went right on this crazy planet.
• 
  Mandy Pinoteau

  Though the story of Pat and Michael was moving, this was not one of Cathy Glass's best works, the writing was not up to par with most of her books and I'm sure emotions tied in but to the reader who had no personal emotional ties it was rather tiring.
• 
  Leanne Drake-kavanagh

  I love reading Cathy Glass's books. This one had me in tears more than once.
• 
  Tanya

  Good book. Have your tissues ready
• 
  Abi Hook

  This book was very moving. I loved it from beginning to end. I looked forward to picking it up to read when I could. Very good read. :)
• 
  Christine

  I admit I needed a box of tissues after I read this one. But once again I finished it in one sitting.
• 
  Jan Cole

  Cathy Glass isn’t the best writer in the world and she has a formulaic approach to telling these children’s stories but at the heart of each story is a genuine love for the child she works with, and infinite patience. Cathy was in a vulnerable place herself when she was approached to foster Michael, an 8 year old whose father was dying of cancer. Michael’s mother had died 6 years previously. Michael’s father loved and adored his son and now that the end was nearing he wanted him to develop a relationship with a foster family before he had to go into care. Cathy, still adjusting to her husband’s abandonment, wondered if she and her young children (aged 4 and 8) had the emotional fortitude to help this child and his father.
  Patrick, Michael’s father was a generous and loving man. He and Michael had no close relatives but had many close friends. Cathy grew to admire the way he put Michael’s needs first and planned as best he could for Michael’s uncertain future. Patrick and Michael’s deep faith served as a rock steady navigation through this time and Cathy, a nominal Christian at best, grew to gain strength and comfort from their faith.
  This was a bittersweet story. The ending was realistic although no miracles occurred, other than the miracle of many people who loved this little family working together to working together to embrace the needs of this father and son.
  I cried but this was a very deep and thought provoking book. Available on audiobook from hoopla through the Duncan Public Library.
• 
  Kathy

  This book was very different from other books by Cathy Glass I have read. As a foster parent in England, Cathy deals with hurt, abused and damaged children, some of whom have retreated deeply into despair to the point of trying to commit suicide. Many of her books are about these children. This book is about a little boy with a wonderful loving father dealing with terminal cancer. Michael goes to Cathy's house for care whenever his father is hospitalized. She and her two children quickly develop an attachment to Michael and to his father Patrick. The reader can't help but wonder what kind of impact this will have on Cathy and her family at the time of Patrick's inevitable death. Cathy Glass has a tremendous gift of empathy and love for children and also a gift for writing about her experiences. This book is inspirational.
• 
  Lisas Books, Gems and Tarot

  Another one of Cathy’s book, and once again I’m reduced to tears.
  
  This particular book was slightly different to the others. Usually Cathy fosters children who have been taken away from their parents for one reason or another.
  
  This time Michael has been voluntarily put into Cathy’s care because his father is dying.
  
  It’s such a sad story. Michael had already lost his mother when he was very young, and now he has to face the fact that his father is going to die, and he will be left with no family.
  
  Cathy gets very involved this time, perhaps too much, and you can tell it affected her life more than it should have.
  
  But the time she did spend with Michael’s father, Patrick, were some of the happiest times for her, especially since her divorce.
  
  It was nice to see Adrian and Paula again, so much smaller than when I read the last book!
  
  I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• 
  Sonia

  2,5 stars.
  
  “Stars are opening in heaven where the love of our lost ones shines through. Look to the stars and don’t be sad.”
  
  Whilst the story has a lot of potential to be a great book, the writing is way too tedious that even listening to it was so boring and annoying at most parts (yeah I’m talking about those too much details of daily activities).
  
  Michael was just eight years old when his father, the only family he has, was terminally ill from lung cancer so he was put into foster care program. As the title hinted, eventually he lost his father. But what Cathy did as a foster parent to help Michael through the process is really admirable. And that’s what made me push through and finish the book.
• 
  Claire

  I’ve read lots of books by Cathy Glass who is a foster career but this story about 8 year old Michael is slightly different. Michael’s mum died when he was 2 years old and now his dad Patrick had lung cancer and not long to live. With no other relatives to look after Michael once his dad is longer able to, Patrick has to contact social services. Patrick has a couple of short spells in hospital and lives briefly with Cathy and her kids. They all become quite close and very good friends. When the inevitable happens it not only affects Michael but Cathy and her family too. Make sure you have plenty tissues!
• 
  Sharon Barrow Wilfong

  This is a case of interesting story, mediocre writing.
  
  A young boy's mother is dead and his father terminally ill. A newly divorced, now single mother of two, has agreed to foster and even adopt the little boy when his father inevitably passes.
  
  But unlike most foster cases the woman and the father get to know each other, and begin to fall in love. Now what?
  
  Like I said, the premise was good, but the writing was too wooden. Nevertheless, I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it and deciding for themselves.
• 
  Julie

  What a beautiful; book about loss, gaining new friends and family and healing from loss. Cathy agree to help a young boy whose mother died of cancer when he was 2 and now his father is also dying of cancer. Cathy agrees to help even though she has recently separated from her husband and has 2 small kids who have recently 'lost' their dad. In the end she agrees to help and it is a moving and learning experience for all involved. They are all well written, easy to read and so relatable to every reader.