| Title | : | Cut: The True Story of an Abandoned, Abused Little Girl Who Was Desperate to Be Part of a Family |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0007280971 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780007280971 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 310 |
| Publication | : | First published August 4, 2008 |
Cut: The True Story of an Abandoned, Abused Little Girl Who Was Desperate to Be Part of a Family Reviews
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I like books about people who overcome terrible childhood experiences and turn their lives around. And I like books about children in foster care who find love and acceptance, or books about teachers who manage to break through to a special-needs child, or books about an adult whose life was enriched, not destroyed, by unusual experiences in childhood. I find these books inspiring.
But I don't like the books that give gory details about abuse. I understand that it happens, but I prefer the books that acknowledge a bad past with a few sentences and then move on.
I've found that Cathy Glass walks this line very well, and I've kind of been on a Cathy Glass kick since discovering her books a few months ago. Cathy is a foster carer living somewhere in Britain, and her books are based on her own experiences. Children come to her angry, depressed, and hurt. She tries to help them put themselves back together.
Despite the long and overly dramatic title, this was a low-key sort of story about a 13-year-old, Dawn, who comes to live with Cathy and her family. Dawn is used to having complete freedom and runs wild, although she gradually accepts the structure that Cathy and John give her. Dawn also drinks, lies, and cuts herself. But slowly and eventually, she begins to find peace. -
This is a book that would have made a better short story, in my humble opinion. There was a 'secret' that was teased was teased for FAR TOO LONG, which was frustrating and had a pay-off that wasn't worth the build.
The Foster-Mom-Main-Character fluctuates between being a saint-like, heroic, selfless, angelic, most-perfect-mom-ever character and conversely she can also be a complete dolt, naive to the ways of the entire world, blind + just *ignorant* to the point that...this flip-flopping began to feel like *a lazy writing device* rather than an actually realistic character/person- especially as this was supposed to be a TRUE/REAL person! *shakes head*
I am giving it 2 stars because for the first 1/4 I was convinced that this would be an actual, competent, important story; to the point that it tricked me-it got me-I fell for it. Good for you, crappy book- you win. I'll give ya 2 stars for successfully sucking me in, and then making me rage-read all the way to the end. Well done on ya. Thank Goodness this was free.
**UPDATE** Looking back at this review, I want to warn my 'Past Self' that allllll of Cathy Glass's books follow this same basic formula! So, you can lather, rinse, and repeat this review for ANY of Glass's books that you might consider reading! Look out, 'Past Me'! EACH OF HER BOOKS ARE ALL MADE OF THE SAME FORMULA AND NEVER ANY BETTER OR DIFFERENT! --Jen from Quebec :0) -
Although the subject matter of this story is quite sad (it's about a child that harms herself and has dealt with emotional and physical abuse), Cathy Glass did a phenomenal job in writing the story. Even though Glass was one of the main characters in the story she did not take away the true main character of the story, which was the child she was a foster carer to, named Dawn. Glass was able to project her wonder as to how this polite girl got to be so stressed and anxious that she was walking in her sleep and when she was awake she revolted by not going to school, and when in secret she cut herself using sharp objects. I was suggested this book by a teacher of mine and i wasn't really excited to get it and read it at first. Sometimes when teachers suggest reading it's more like a text book style and dry as a piece of burnt toast. This book was amazing though. It captured the child's perspective as well as the perspective of Glass and her husband. It was very humbling for myself as a reader also because it gave me chance to reflect on my childhood and be thankful for how lucky i was and the experiences i was able to have with my family. The ending of the book was great ant i will be heading to the bookstore to buy my next story by Cathy Glass as i am interested to read about other children that she has fostered. The other fabulous thing about this story is that it was actually true. Glass had to change some names and places for privacy issues but the premise and the story were true. Gives a whole new meaning to a 'hard knock' life and what some people may consider as having it tough.
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Didn't like this book? Is it even legal for this women to foster kids then tell their personal stories to the world and make money from it? The fact she changes name it's bullshit, because the parties involved know who she is referring to.
I hope the social services department in England or where the hell she lives still isn't as effed up as she made it seem. Though I'm sure it's effed up all over the world and kids fall thru the cracks all the time.
Got a kid who runs away, drinks, cuts herself and attempts suicide? According to the social work she must be allowed her own space her weekends to do with as she pleases until 9:30 (the kid is 12 btw) AND money to spend. The hell? Not tell her foster family WITH a newborn that she sleepwalks, cuts, attempts to set fires, and was involved in an arson that severely burned an infant? Breaking into your house while you're on vacation and stealing from money put into saving for your infant son? Everyone treated this 12 yr old like she was a 18 or something and it annoyed the hell out of me. That and Cathy constantly "it's okay, love. don't worry, love. we'll fix this, love".
The whole thing was just ridiculous and hard to read because it was like there were NO adults in the story until the end where they suddenly realize: we don't have to proper tools to help her, let's take her to a doctor/ward where she can get the help she needs? No shit? -
Aunque se lee fácil, es una historia que resulta un poco irreal a pesar de ser real. Parece ser que la mayoría de obras de esta autora narran sus experiencias como madre de acogida temporal. Ella y su marido John decidieron ser foster parents tras ver un anuncio y, aunque no sabían muy bien qué esperar de esto, se ve que les fue bien, ya que han pasado décadas ejerciendo como padres de acogida. En “Cut”, Cathy narra lo que ocurrió con Dawn, la segunda menor a la que acogieron.
Antes de empezar a hablar del libro en sí, me gustaría comentar algo que me planteé durante la lectura: ¿es correcto que alguien cuente lo que ha vivido como padre/madre de acogida? A menos que los menores que han sido acogidos lo autoricen cuando sean adultos, no veo bien invadir su privacidad narrando detalles personales de sus vidas. Cathy Glass no es la única que tiene libros de este estilo, así que no la estoy demonizando a ella en concreto, sencillamente es que creo que lucrarse con libros así es algo que podría ser cuestionable. En todo caso, quiero aclarar que la puntuación que le he restado a “Cut” no se debe a esto, tengo otras razones que expondré a continuación.
Al ser vivencias supuestamente reales, lo que ocurre no se puede valorar igual que si fuera ficción, pero no puedo evitar sentir que Cathy se describía a sí misma como una mujer demasiado perfecta. Tal vez ella realmente es así, pero es que resulta surrealista la actitud que tiene con Dawn en ciertos momentos.
Dawn tiene 13 años y llega a casa de Cathy y John porque su madre no se ve capaz de hacerse cargo de ella. A Cathy y a John no les explican las razones exactas, pero Cathy cuenta que es que eso era lo normal en esa época porque el sistema de acogida tenía bastantes carencias en lo referente a informar a los foster parents (el libro es de 2008 y lo que se cuenta ocurrió unos 23 años antes). Dawn da la impresión de ser una adolescente muy educada y nada problemática, pero pronto se descubrirá que es sonámbula, que miente y que no se le da nada mal causar problemas y quedar siempre como una víctima.
Lo de ser sonámbula no es un defecto, el problema es que lo que hace mientras está sonámbula te deja claro que hay información relevante sobre ella que se está ocultando. Por cómo lo describe Cathy, a mí me parecían increíblemente siniestras las “excursiones” nocturnas de Dawn, pero ni Cathy ni su marido querían hablar mucho con ella sobre el tema. Bueno, no querían hablar de nada. Todo se solucionaba con frases en plan “no pasa nada, mi amor, intenta no volver a hacer x cosa”. Yo no voy a negar que Dawn tenía un pasado doloroso, ya que eso se desvela al final, pero no por eso se le debería haber consentido todo.
Dawn hace lo que le da la real gana y Cathy se lo permite queriendo dar a entender que es que no quiere invadir su privacidad (lo de contarlo luego en un libro vamos a pasarlo por alto, debe de ser que está muy mal ponerle límites a un menor, pero luego contárselo al mundo es fantástico) ni que Dawn se ponga nerviosa.. No quiero ahondar en los problemas que causa Dawn ni en los problemas psicológicos graves que tenía porque eso supondría contar todo lo que ocurrió, solo diré que Cathy no evitó algunas cosas porque no quiso, bastaba simplemente con que no diera a entender que es que ella quería confiar en Dawn y por eso no actuaba. Puedes perdonarle un error a una persona, dos también, pero a la tercera ya te deberías plantear tomar medidas, y más aún si esa persona está poniendo en riesgo su salud. Cathy nunca pierde la paciencia, todo lo perdona y desprende amor pase lo que pase… perdonadme, de verdad que sí, obviamente no conozco a Cathy Glass en persona y no sé si es así, pero es que no me lo creo. Todo el mundo tiene un límite y su eterno buen humor y optimismo me resultaron falsos. Mientras que ella se pinta como un ser perfecto, de su marido sí que describe momentos en los que él quería tirar la toalla. No es que lo ponga como un ogro, John también es un ejemplo de la paciencia, pero tiene más reacciones “lógicas” a lo que Dawn hace.
A esto hay que añadirle que Cathy y John habían tenido un bebé poco antes de que Dawn llegara y que determinados comportamientos extraños de Dawn podían afectar al niño, así que más me extraña la infinita paciencia que tuvieron y que obedecieran ciegamente a la trabajadora social encargada del caso de Dawn, la cual poco más que les dice al matrimonio que le den un sueldo a Dawn y que la traten como si fuera la huésped de un hotel.
Le doy un 2/5 porque, a pesar de que me parece poco creíble lo que se cuenta y de que veo graves fallos en la forma de actuar de Cathy y de los servicios sociales, la lectura me pareció amena y nunca tuve ganas de abandonarla debido a que supo intrigarme lo suficiente como para querer saber cómo iba a acabar todo. Si no fuera por eso, le daría el 1/5. -
The Story: Dawn is rejected by her parents and is left at the social care institution. She is then taken in by her foster parents Cathy and John. They treat her as a daughter but little do they know that, Dawn is going to be hard to handle. One night, Cathy awakes to find Dawn standing over her baby, Adrian's cot. This freaks them out and a nightmare is about to start. They know something is wrong with Dawn and try to help but it's not going to be easy as Dawn's past is kept secret from them. "Cut" is a true story of an abandoned, abused girl who tries to be part of a family.
My Thought: A hard-to-put-down book which I thoroughly enjoyed from the start to it's end. "Cut" tackles the issue of psychological trauma experienced by a child who was abused and subjected to the domestic violence which caused her to act beyond our (or her) own understanding. This is a heavy, critical issue but Cathy managed to deliver in a very easy-to-understand voice and the story telling flows through so well, I almost don't realize that so much time has passed because I get so engrossed in the book. Begins the story with how much she and John desperately want to start a family, Cathy makes a decision to foster a child. Her first foster son, don't give much of troubles but with Dawn, it's going to different. Dawn is sent by her social worker, Ruth. She's a polite, shy 13 years old girl and Cathy for an instant comes to treat her like a daughter. That's what I love most about Cathy character. But then, the story becomes creepy as Dawn starts to sleepwalk toward her baby cot, and re-enact the self-hurting and self-blaming behaviors in her sleepwalking. Dawn also play truants, get drunk, and repeatedly went missing and the worst of all she cut herself. "The hurt builds up inside me until I can't stand any more. I have to cut to let it out". This statements give me the chill along the spine!
Living in worries and so much stress, Cathy and John tries to find out what goes wrong with Dawn. But, her social worker, Ruth is not much a help as she said that all the details about Dawn's past is confidential. What the hell? I start to hate Ruth by then because I think that Cathy have the right to know Dawn's background . But Cathy reaction is different from mine, of course. She tries very hard to help Dawn and she knows that she can make Dawn happy again. I really admire Cathy and John for not giving up on Dawn though their family is put in misery. This is a good book indeed. Through her own binocular Cathy manages to grip my heart with her effortless style of writing, easy to love characters (except for Ruth) and a heart-wrenching and mind-blowing thrills. The ending is well put just in a way I love it to end. Well done to Cathy Glass for such a great work and I'm so grateful that I read this book as it is one of the books that change something in me. So, without hesitation, I recommend this to all of you.
Afterwords: This book reminds me of a movie, "Mockingbird Don't Sing" which I watched with my classmates in our forensic psychology class. -
I was in a place where i had no computer and absolutely nothing to do, while i was searching for something interesting to past time i came across a pile of old books, among them the book that stood out more was the "Cut" so i decided to read it just to keep myself busy with something. I didn't know what kind of book it was at the time because i didn't bother to read the description i only looked at the cover so i thought i would have some fun while reading it.
Of course i didn't get what i was expecting but after i realized that this was a book about an abused child(a kind of book i usually avoid) i decided to give it a chance and keep reading. I am very glad i did that because i learned for the first time the term "self harm" and it's meaning and in the end Dawn's life improved with the help of her foster parents and the doctors which gave me hope that those children can come back after having a traumatic experience -
As Cathy Glass's first book it's a real eye opener to see what it was like for foster carers back then, and how little support they got. From reading Cathy's other books, it's nice to see the actual progress that is made in that area and also how she grows as an experienced Foster carer.
But anyway back to this book. The story in itself is quite sad, and to think of how much pain Dawn went through for so long, however the ending is heartwarming, and it's stuff like this that gives me hope for myself on my bad days. -
This is my first of Cathy Glass's. It took me less than 12 hours to finish reading this book, I was so hooked up to it but unfortunately not for long. Gradually the story got so flat and the ending was predictable.
I got bored with Glass's leniency towards Dawn whenever she played truant, or went back home late on nights she was allowed out. Basically, it was boring. I just want to finish for the sake of knowing what really happened to Dawn in her childhood. Period.
As I am not good with synopsis, just refer other's review. Heh -
Again, a brilliant read. Heart-wrenching as it uncovers the stark truths of what unexplained behaviour can hide about someone's past. And the the extreme courage and patience to find the ability to try and help.
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Cut deserves every star it can get. At intervals it had me wiping tears, and the ending was just how I wanted it to be. I always recommend Cathy's foster memoirs to my friends.
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There are a lot of triggers in this book but it’s amazing. I think this is the authors first book so definitely interesting to see how she was at the start of her fostering career.
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A heart warming book, but could have been better if the writer had abbreviated some of the detailed descriptions of her exchanged phone calls with the authorities she so generously supplied. Cathy glass knows how to grip the reader’s attention till the very last page and weave from true events touching stories, she nevertheless is a bit too idealistic for a human being, but maybe this is how a good foster parent should be to be able to deal with disturbed kids.
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I've finished "Cut" by Cathy Glass in less than a week, despite of the fact that I had major exams coming up. That's how riveting it was. Written very canorously, the author let the readers in to her fostering life with an intensely distressed girl, Dawn, and walked us through her turbulence and eventually, triumph.
The author introduced the readers to the world of fostering - from its ancient system to the latest ones. It is an honest account of her life and how she began in this career that also served as her purpose. Dawn was the second child she fostered and back then, she had less experience and had to come up with efficient ways to raise children in care. She also exposed certain faults in the system - some that had been changed and some that had remained. Most importantly, Cathy Glass showed how a compassion of a carer could help turn a child's life around.
This memoir also shed light on sensitive topics that occur in our society but are rarely talked about - self injury, the psychology of sleepwalking, the motives behind a child's truancy, and neglect. One of the delicate subjects it focused on was self-harming, which was Dawn's way of coping with the trauma she couldn't speak of.
Self-harm is indeed a matter that should be taken seriously. While most people see it as a way of seeking attention, those who hurt themselves are actually in need of professional help and support in recovery and healing. The author gave emphasis to the struggle of this young-adult with this twisted kind of pain relief and how much of an inner turmoil could manifest horribly in clandestine.
"Cut" is disturbing and awakening. I specially recommend it to anyone whose career or course of study is in line with humanities, social work, or general education, as there are lots of important points you can take from this book. I also endorse this to those who has a loved one struggling from self-injury. There are lots of reasons why a person self-harms and this book might give you some insight. If you are distressed or troubled on your own, I kindly ask you to read this book at your own risk and practice self-care before, during, and after, as this is a wild ride. -
As with her other book I read Damaged I could not seem to stop when I wanted. How horrible these childrens lives are and we take them in with such mysteries, we never know until it starts to show on the outside. I have only opened my home to two children other than my own. Both arrived holding big secrets that formed into agression. The tiring hours it takes n your mind and body. Cathy Glass chose to do this for so many yeras almost knowing she would get one that would try her heart and mind. What a great mom to have done this. These children like Dawn need people who will love them even when they are so called "bad" thats almost when you got to love them the most! I think if Dawn to took the time to call Cathy later on in life she must have done some good for the girl even though she though she had made her worse or could not prevent what ultimately happened to end her stay with the family. Sometimes we are to late to the table on these things and not much can help a child, especially when they are already in their teens when you get them. As Cathy said had she gotten her 5 years earlier she thought she could have made a bigger differance I think this is a true statement. Those earlier years are very importain to that setting rules and boundries. From this book I decided I do not have much good things to say about the UKs policies on such matters. Foster homes are sometimes more than just a long sleepover. They need to know the childs background some what to even help at all. So the fact that the social worker said that it was confidential thats really sad. I think this book is as great as her last I read and look forward to many more of her books...Way to go Cathy!
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I really enjoyed reading about where it all began, since I am a big fan of Cathy Glass. Cathy and her husband foster a 15 year old boy before their first one, Adrian is born. After Adrian is a few months old, social services calls and says they are bringing a 13 year old girl. They were more told than asked. The girl’s worker is basically horrible and doesn’t tell Cathy anything about her. The girl, Dawn, sleepwalks at night and mutters odd things while asleep. She is generally agreeable when awake and home, but gets into trouble when she leaves the house. Even so, the awful worker doesn’t restrict her time out. Dawn is also a cutter.
Cathy is told that no one knew where Dawn was between the ages of 5 and 9. Why does Dawn mime lighting a match while sleepwalking? Eventually, these questions are answered, but not before many alarming events take place first.
This book was well-written and engaging with a good pace. It was refreshing to read about Cathy as a newbie, as she always seems perfect in her other books. But she had typical fears as any new parent does. This is a really great place to start if you’re new to Cathy Glass. A very enjoyable read and I am glad we got some later updates on Dawn. -
Man! This was a good story, but a hard read! It reminded me of my days working at a girls home and I was scared for Cathy and her family. I know what it feels like to love someone, but be worried about protecting yourself from them. It is hard to be on guard to protect yourself and keep them safe, while at the same time trying to let down your guard and really connect with and help them. I cannot imagine what Cathy and Jon went through. No support from social services. No idea what they were doing. A new baby of their own. And a girl who is so hurt inside that she is spiraling out of control. Luck was on their side! But the best part of the story was Dawns ability to rise above and create a new, beautiful life. She finally got the help she needed and was able to confront a past that she had suppressed and which had scarred her. She did the hard work and made something beautiful of herself. I know the pride of seeing someone you love achieve that, so it was beautiful to read. It made my heart happy, not only for them, but also for the girls I love that I had the pleasure of working with. Some have created really beautiful lives for themselves and I couldn't be more proud of them!
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After reading Another Forgotten Child by Cathy Glass, I knew I had to read more of her books. I wanted to go back closer to the beginning of her foster carer years and Cut seemed like a good place to start. So I ordered it over to my local branch of the library and read through it quicker than I've read through any other book so far this year.
Cut focuses on Dawn, the second foster child to come in to Cathy and her family's home. I have to say this story, her story, was even more shocking and intense than Aimee's for me. I thought I was emotionally prepared, but wow. These kids have had to endure things no one should ever have to. By the end of it, I was a blubbering mess.
I've always had an interest in becoming a foster family and appreciated the honest, eyeopening telling of their experiences. Cathy Glass has earned a new fan. I know I will be watching out for more of her books in the near future. -
A well written account of a young girl who is placed in foster care with Cathy & her husband when social services employed a 'dump & run' policy.
Dawn's problems soon become evident in a series of events which are unexplained by her social worker & mother leaving little help for the family.
Eventually the truth of Dawn's emotional problems comes to light & help is finally given when she is moved back in with her mother.
This is a very harrowing book to read yet I felt compelled to finish it so I could understand why this young girl was acting the way she was. The outcome is rewarding when you discover Dawn is able to move on & heal herself into a new life. -
Wonderful Story
The book is a very powerful one and should be read by teachers, foster parents and those dealing with abused children. This is the story of a young girl named Dawn, who, through no fault of her own, is sent to foster care because she is out of control and her mother feels helpless to deal with her.
Cathy and John, her foster parents, have such patience and kindness towards Dawn in spite of the pain and problems she causes them. But, ultimately, Dawn's cries for help are answered properly and she faces a healing journey through her deepest and darkest experiences. -
One of those books that you can't wait to finish! (in a good way, of course). This is a first-person account of the foster carer of a disturbed little girl with a history of truanting, alcoholism, sleepwalking and arson. I won't give the ending away but brownie points for Cathy Glass for penning a gripping story, the only 'funny' part was that Cathy constantly tries to justify her husband's annoyance at Dawn's behavior to the reader which made me think if she has presented the facts as dispassionately as you'd expect the writers to. A touching read nevertheless.
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3.5 stars for this book. Only because it would be morbid of me to like this book anymore than that. This was an excellent account of the life of a foster parent and the horrible abuses these innocent kids face everyday. The foster care system leaves lot to be desired. Breaks my heart knowing there are precious kids out there needing our help, but dont receive it. Sad world this is and Cathy Glass has done an excellent job sharing her experiences with us.
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Wow. Hi guys. So I'e been in a heavy reading slump.. my longest one ever, and haven't finished a book since February :0
I finally decided to pick this book up i had hidden in my bookshelves for sometime. And well, I quickly read this entire book in just a few sittings. It was so refreshing to finally have a book that I could not put down.. I stayed up all night to finish it.
This book is sad. But its real, and fast paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. -
Read this in one afternoon - couldn’t put it down! Tragic story but written in such a sensitive way. Fostering is such an important topic and this book is a real eye-opener for anyone considering. Yes, very rewarding but the challenges that can come with it is significant. Self-harm is a complex and raw issue and needs to be discussed more openly. Resilience and the human spirit is an interesting thing and I guess that’s why I enjoyed this book (and the ending).
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I've been on a Cathy Glass kick this week after reading Damaged. I finished this one over the weekend and I'm now working on Hidden, which I will review in a day or two when I'm done (aren't the holidays wonderful for reading?) Anyway, Cathy's writing voice is like a warm blanket and a hot chocolate. Despite the subject matter, which is horrific, it's hard to put them down. This book was no different.
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Whilst this book contains the harrowing experience of a young lady who surely didn't deserve her lot, this is written with compassion and grace. The story flows well, and whilst you could easily come to dislike Dawn for rebelliousness, Cathy had ensured this isn't an option for the reader. Your love for Dawn and the tragedies she has experienced, only continues to grow.
