A Baby's Cry by Cathy Glass

A Baby's Cry Reviews

• 
  Liane

  I quite enjoyed this book but it was so ridiculously detailed at times.... I opened the cupboard door, reached in, took out the pole that I used for opening the loft. I went up the stairs carrying the pole and opened the loft hatch using the pole to unlock the hatch, I pushed the door open and reached for the light..... I went around the house collecting the toys, I picked up a soft elephant, behind the cushion I found a rattle, on the floor was another toy, I put them in the bag, I went into the kitchen, I opened a drawer, I took out the bibs and put them on the side. I opened another drawer and took out the cutlery set, I put them in a bag, I put the bags at the bottom of the stairs, I picked up a coat. I carried the coat and bags up the stairs, I went into the room and I put them on the bed...... Tediously and unnecessarily detailed through out. She could probably cut out all the unnecessary page filling rubbish, lose about 30-40 pages and make a good book into a great book. The story itself is good, if somewhat embellished in places, but take that with a pinch of salt and you are left with a touching story which really shows the work and love of good foster carer and a positive reflection of the work of social services. I have read three or four before this and never noticed such tedious detailing so I assume it is one of her earlier attempts at a novel. I already have another to read, hopefully it will be much better edited/formatted/written, if not then I think it will put me off reading any more, I haven't got patience for all reading such pointless meticulous detailing! I want to read a book not a report!!
• 
  Glenda

  This was the most boring book that I have read by Cathy Glass. I was expecting some shocking twist but it was just a long winded drawn out tale of fostering a baby. Yawn. The writing was tedious and over descriptive, ex. I reached for the bottles, sterilized them and then filled them with milk and then I fed him, after that I burped him and then changed his nappy... Blah, blah, blah...
• 
  Rachel Miller

  
  
  Overall I enjoyed the book, especially re-living having a baby in your life. Although at times I found it over descriptive in the mundane of life such as description over putting things away or what went in the bag.
• 
  Kayleigh

  Gosh what a book to read. I've always loved true stories, and these ones from Cathy Glass and her journeys through fostering over the years are some of the best books I've read. The way this was written gripped me from the beginning and I was in tears by the end. I FEEL the pain, I FEEL the love and I FEEL everything that's happening. Honestly I recommend these books so much! This one has a lovely happy ending and if it weren't for Cathy and the sheer fact of how truly amazing and supportive this lady is it wouldn't have been! Foster carers, you are amazing! Thank YOU. (You can also get an update on the children Cathy fosters on her website, which ultimately had me in tears more 🥺🤣) #fostercare #cathyglass #ababyscry #love #fear #heartbreaking #disclosures #baby #bookblogger #book #booksofinstagram #booklover #kindle #kindlebooks #primereading #thankyou #happyending
• 
  Lynda Mcintyre

  Badly in need of an editor!
  
  Interesting story. It was way too wordy and detailed, almost like a diary between 2 covers. An editor could have guided the author into a decent rewrite.
• 
  Laura

  Hmmm. A ok story but it dragged a bit and was a bit tedious as a previous reviewer said in all the unnessesary detail! I was hoping for a few twists or surprises but there weren't any.
• 
  Jenny Morgan

  Compared to other Cathy Glass books this is the weakest of the ones I've read so far. It felt like at times she was just padding out the story. Not enjoyable!
• 
  Sandra

  The preview way oversells this book as a compelling mystery of sorts. I'm not sure why the author felt the need to share so many mandate details throughout the book. Disappointing
• 
  Lori Masad

  The entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking the plot would reveal itself soon. That just never happened. It was an incredibly long book that went nowhere. I was very disappointed.
• 
  Katie Marie

  Wow! Foster care eye-opener for sure. This one had a happy ending.
• 
  Monica Willyard Moen

  This is a heart rending story of a mothers love and how far she will go to protect her baby.
• 
  Emy

  When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby. But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realises she has more to worry than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy.
  
  For some reason, this didn't grip me as much as Cathy Glass's previous books have done. I felt for baby Harrison, and Cathy, and Harrison's birth mother, but I felt kind of detached. One of the strong points of Cathy's books is how she deals with the children that come into her life, and it just was not the same when that child was a baby and not able to interact with Cathy in the same way. Maybe that's just me, though.
  
  As others have said, it was a bit too over-descriptive in places - the bit about the loft really stuck in my mind as well! And then, the worst sin (in my opinion) was spelling 'losing' and 'loosing'. ARRRRGH! D:
  
  That said, I don't read Cathy Glass for brilliant prose or sparkling turns of phrase. I read it for the human stories. The story of Harrison and his mother was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I actually cried a couple of times (particularly towards the end). This, more than her other books, touches on the hardship that is felt by the foster family when a child leaves them, and it hit close to home for me. I have a little brother around the same age as Harrison was when he left the family, so it is very easy for me to imagine Cathy's pain.
  
  Overall, whilst this isn't Cathy Glass's best book, it's still worth a read. :)
• 
  Jenny Hayworth

  Unfortunately the horrifying reasons why this loving mother was forced to give up her child to save its life and her own are still all to real today for many women. It's a crime that religion and culture can move some people to commit murder and think that this is okay and approved due to moral judgements they make of those who do not conform. The power of a mother's love and the unending pain of separation of mother and child resonates. Sometimes a mother will lose her child if it is the only way she can save its life but it leaves brokenness in its wake. This story sheds light on a crime that sometimes still occurs in our society if parties involved are discovered and the cost to those who try and keep their families love whilst trying to be authentic to themselves. So sad many are forced to choose between one or the other.
• 
  Angela

  A touching, happy-ending story. It is nice to read one of these types of books that clearly has a happy ending! I realized, as I usually do when reading fostering books, that I could never do it; I'd feel too attached. It's amazing how selfless foster carers are and I have so much respect for them. It can't be easy by any means. It's a great book that is hard to put down. Definitely recommend.
  
  Warning: Although I recommend this book and like it, I have to warn prospective readers. It is ridiculous the way that she describes literally everything she does. It warrants many eye rolls and yawns. Be prepared.
• 
  MaryJane Rings

  I liked this book. There were times that it may have appeared to be redundant with details and descriptions but I think it set Cathy's mindset for the task of having a new baby in the house and then closure at the end. I think that this is a very poignant story of a mother's love and the biases of culture. It is sad when the confines of people and their beliefs keep us from the people we love. I was unfamiliar with the fostering system in the UK so this was very interesting to me. It seems that there is much more involvement between social service and the foster mother. This seems a much better arrangement than in the US. I would recommend this book .
• 
  Veronica

  If this book had been fiction I would have been highly disappointed. It’s still disappointing and I know it’s nonfiction.
  I guess I don’t get why Glass felt this child’s story needed to be told. Unusual, yes and heartbreaking at times but considering how it was resolved? I just don’t get it.
  It gets 2 stars because I finished it in one sitting.
• 
  Katrina

  I am always shocked by Cathy's stories as they are true, always bring me such sadness, but in another way so much joy as she is helping these children and families, this story was very emotional, more because of what Cathy had to go through when saying goodbye.
• 
  Bubblesthefairy

  Well i said i wouldnt read another Cathy Glass book after the last one but i gave in.... This one was much better and left you wondering what was going to happen, which i always like to happen. I feel that there is far to much explaining about common sense things... I may read another who knows!!!
• 
  Chin Pei

  Such a caring and sweet carer. Life is very unpredictable and I think the world need more Cathy Glass to avoid abuse case..
• 
  Jeanine

  Story of a baby in foster care. Good book.
• 
  zapkode

  {My thoughts} – Rihanna is not your typical mother that needed the foster care system to take her child from her due to neglect. It’s actually quite the opposite for her. She loves her baby and wants what’s best for him and decides that from early on him going into the foster care system and being placed for adoption is her child’s best option at a good and normal life.
  
  There is so much confidential and secretive information surrounding her case that even the foster carer Cathy doesn’t know why little Harrison has been placed with her. She knows it’s for his and his mother’s safety but not the details that led to his mother ultimately making such a heartbreaking decision.
  
  Harrison the young baby that is Rihanna‘s son has his first year followed through this book. It details everything he’d been through while in Cathy’s care as well as how hard it was in Cathy’s eyes for her family to see Harrison off when it was finally time for him to leave their care.
  
  During Harrison’s stay with them they’d also done respite care for a young girl named Ellie. Ellie’s situation was the opposite of Harrison’s although both broke my heart to read about. Ellie’s is a much more common reason for a child to end up in the foster care system.
  
  I have to admit upon reading this book, it made me sad to hear about the situations of all involved, but also made me glad that there are people like Cathy. Without such wonderful people/families the children in such situations wouldn’t stand a chance. They wouldn’t have the opportunity to get out of their bad circumstances and they ability to move forward in a more positive and healthy environment.
  
  I look forward to reading more books like this one in the future.
• 
  Dan Stern

  
  A BABY'S CRY is one of Cathy's best books yet. She has managed to outdo herself yet again! Harrison is shrouded in such secrecy that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough wanting to know more and more information about him and wondering if Cathy was ever going to receive the answers to the questions about him and his reasons for being in care were ever going to be replied to.
  
  Cathy's own children became so attached to Harrison and called him `Harry' for short and soon looked at him as their `little brother'. They so loved coming home from school to play with him and help Cathy take care of Harrison.
  
  Suddenly a strange woman begins appearing across the street from Cathy's home which frightens her own children but each time Cathy looks out the window at her or opens the door, the woman dashes off before Cathy even has the chance to call to her and ask her what she wants or who she is. Then one night, this very same strange woman knocks on Cathy's door late at night when her own children and Harrison are asleep in bed and Cathy is terrified! Should she call the emergency number at the agency she works for? Or should she call the police?
  
  Harrison is eventually placed but after almost a year, leaving Cathy's home is extremely hard on her own children who ask why they can't adopt Harrison because they still feel he is their `brother' but Cathy tries her hardest to explain to them that it wouldn't be in the best interest of little Harrison.
  
  This one was definitely a page-turner and I'll be highly recommending it to my friends and anyone else who'll listen! Congratulations on a well-written page-turner, Cathy!!
• 
  Jan Cole

  Cathy becomes foster mom for a newborn, picking him up from the hospital after birth. His mother requested not to see him and wanted all contact to be made through her attorney. Once she gets baby Harrison home, she looks through his suitcase and finds beautiful, expensive clothing for him for different ages and a note from his birth mother requesting that he be dressed in these clothes the first year of his life. Clearly his mother cared about him and could afford a child.
  
  The mystery grew larger as the social worker told Cathy that the mother’s background and the presence of the baby were to remain a secret as her life could be endangered if knowledge of his birth and whereabouts became known. Cathy was to report immediately if she saw any strangers watching her house.
  
  No one would answer any questions regarding baby Harrison who thrived under Cathy’s care. But Cathy caught a lady lurking about her house one Saturday morning and the plot twisted as only true to life stories can.
  
  This is a quick read. Far from being abused, the baby in Cathy’s care was very much loved. Available at the Duncan Public Library.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Chloe Hynes

  This book is an eye opener and allows you to experience the life of a foster carer and how they can become emotionally attached to the child they are fostering. It also allows you to experience multiple scenarios of how and why children can be put into foster care. This is a heart wrenching story that shows how far a mother will go to protect her child. When foster carer Cathy Glass is asked to foster a newborn baby called Harrison Smith, Cathy faces so many unanswered questions as to why Harrison has been put in to foster care. I became so attached to Harrison and his journey and found that the ending was a lovely ending that was sad in parts. Parts of this story were quite unbearable and hard to read especially as a first time mother. In my opinion, this book is a 4 ⭐️ read. For me, it didn’t reach 5⭐️ simply as it contained parts which were too over descriptive and sounded more like a report than a novel. Other than this it was a beautiful heartfelt read.