Mummy Told Me Not to Tell by Cathy Glass

Mummy Told Me Not to Tell Reviews

• 
  Keena

  I had previously read Cut and Damaged by Cathy Glass, and this was by far the best out of all of them. The biggest thing I have to complain about is the covers of the books; they're very deceiving because the children on the covers tend to be many years younger than the children the book is actually about.
• 
  Louise

  Story Description:
  
  Seven-year-old Reece was the last of six siblings to be taken into foster care. By the time he arrived at Cathy’s his disruptive behaviour had seen him go through four carers in little over a month. But as an experienced foster carer, with a reputation for handling difficult children, Cathy welcomed Reece into her home despite knowing virtually nothing about his family history.
  
  Little by little Reece began to warm to Cathy and her family, and learned to trust those around him. But his total refusal to discuss anything to do with his home life suggested there was more to his behaviour than social services knew or understood. When Cathy was finally allowed to read his files she discovered the truth was far more shocking then she could ever have imagined…
  
  My Review:
  
  I was totally pulled into the story of seven-year-old Reece right from the beginning and have never felt so deeply sorry for a young child in my life as I did Reece. The abuse he suffered at the hands of his own family is utterly appalling to say the least.
  
  Cathy Glass, with her many years of experience of caring for children such a Reece, was able to provide him with the love, guidance, support, discipline, morals, and values he needed to grow into a healthy productive member of society. Without her advocacy of Reece, who knows what would have happened to this poor child. Thank goodness there are people like Cathy Glass who are willing, out of the goodness of their hearts, to take these children in and give them some semblance of a normal life.
  
• 
  Ruth Turner

  
  I struggled to stay interested with this one. I found that the way the book was written, not the story itself, was flat and lacking in emotion.
  
  I also didn't particularly like Reese and I'm not sure why. Usually, no matter if the child is likable or not, I feel a certain sympathy and compassion. But not this time.
  
  Not one of her better books.
• 
  Ailin Skye

  La terrible verdad es que a veces la sociedad e incluso el sistema hace oídos sordos a lo que se grita en silencio. Hay cadenas que vienen desde un primer eslabón que grita desesperada sin ser escuchada y esto va generando que se siga repitiendo una y otra vez lo aprendido. Mamá no me deja contarlo, a pesar de ser un libro muy crudo es a la vez esperanzador. Me dejó el corazón roto al presentar lo que se vive, pero a la vez me deja claro que si hay gente buena, el mundo, la infancia que está resquebrajada, puede tener algo de esperanza en un futuro luminoso.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Cathi Glass era una pluma desconocida para mi, es especialista en niños de acogida con problemas especiales y ha sacado varios libros en donde cuenta la realidad de un sistema que aún tiene que perfeccionarse, su pluma es ágil y a pesar de que retrata de forma clara las cosas, también deja la esperanza de algo bueno. ¡Feliz lectura!
• 
  Mariota

  El libro me ha gustado mucho, y me ha tenido totalmente enganchada. Pensaba que era una novela pero es un hecho real, relatado por una madre de acogida. Parece que ha escrito más libros sobre este tema y diferentes niños que ha acogido.
  Totalmente recomendable.
• 
  Jennifer

  Heartbreaking and touching, Cathy Glass tells the story of Reece, a troubled 7 year old, broght into her care after going through 4 carers in 6 weeks. The things Reece has been subjected to at home are heartbreaking, and no child should have to deal with the things Reece has had to deal with. With a firm and loving hand, Cathy does her best to get Reece on the right path.
  
  I have to admit, with the discription of Reece at the beginning of the book, I realize that I would in no way ever be able to do what Cathy does. Through the book you start to love Reece with all your heart, going through his journey with him. Cathy writing is beautiful and I will continue to read her books. I highly recommend this book
• 
  Patrícia

  Existem segredos que nos ultrapassam. Que moem cá dentro, que corrompem o que de mais belo temos, que nos fazem agir erradamente e que nos quebram os ossos, colam os lábios e atam as mãos. Existem segredos capazes de destruir vidas, vidas pequenas e inocentes que deveriam ser por nós preservadas e amadas, cuidadas. Existem segredos que...
  
  ... «A mãe não me deixa contar». Este é um romance que nos emociona e toca, que nos permite verter uma lágrima mas também esboçar um sorriso, mas que, acima de tudo, comove pela veracidade que demonstra e pela história sensível, revoltante e absolutamente perturbadora que conta. Não se tratando do primeiro relato do real que leio escrito por esta autora, sabia já, de antemão, mais ou menos o que esperar em termos emocionais, no entanto, o resultado acaba sempre por ser uma novidade, um espanto e uma renovada revolta pelas delicadas e ainda extremamente jovens vidas que por aí crescem no meio do caos.
  Cathy Glass é, como muitos de vós sabem, um pseudónimo. Um outro e secreto—mas não como o segredo deste menino—nome utilizado por uma autora cuja necessidade de divulgar um pouco da sua humanidade enterneceu já milhares de leitores por todo o mundo. A sua escrita é incomparavelmente cativante e cheia de uma ternura, de um carinho que não só se encontra expresso ao longo das páginas como também é trespassado para o leitor, e este—eu, por exemplo—continua a muitas vezes não acreditar, a não conseguir verdadeiramente entender como é que vidas como estas, contadas por Glass, tiveram o começo que a sina lhes ofertou.
  
  É-me um pouco difícil—bastante, para ser sincera—escrever sobre este livro, admito, pois trata-se de uma narrativa que me afectou tanto a nível emocional que simplesmente me escapam as palavras certas, se é que tais existem, para descrever o quão especial Reece—e os sete anos que, até ao começo da sua história, viveu—é, na realidade.
  O que este esconde muito para lá da espessa e aparentemente impenetrável máscara social que são defensivamente usa é excepcionalmente singular, pois por baixo de todas as vivências erradas, de todos os despojos psicológicos, de todos os maus tratos físicos e verbais está um rapazinho inocente cujo maior desejo é sentir-se em casa, é ser amado. Reece é, à primeira vista e contacto, uma criança extremamente controversa e com uma série de defeitos, mas todos os seus problemas foram adquiridos através do hábito de uma contínua convivência incorrecta a todos os níveis. Custa-me pensar, reflectir e imaginar todos os males que este catraio sofreu ao longo de sete anos, mas, precisamente no outro espectro da equação, está também a salvação que Cathy Glass muitas vezes representa para estes meninos—o conforto e a aceitação que até então lhes era desconhecida.
  
  
  Opinião completa, aqui:
  
  http://pedacinho-literario.blogspot.p...
• 
  Bouchra Rebiai

  This book was incredible, even though finding out what the truth behind Reece's story was quite painful. I enjoyed every single word of this book. It gives you more than the story of a battered little boy. It gives you all the details of his stay at Cathy's place, and loads of information for anybody who is interested in being a foster-parent one day.
  
  This book is a must-read for all people interested in foster care and all kids who think they have terrible parents.
  
  One thing I do hope dearly is that Cathy altered names and places and dates so that even if the real Reece read it one day, he wouldn't know that this is his story.
• 
  Lorraine

  This book was AMAZING I just couldnt put it down. I loved that it felt as though you knew Cathy and Reece, it was nice to know that good things came to him at the end. Really sad in parts but thats what drew you in, really felt as though you was part of the story.
• 
  Rebecca

  Can't wait to open the pages of this one tonight. Finished it on two days, absolutely riveting read. Had trouble putting it down. Made me realize that there are some very disturbed people in this world and it is definatley the children who suffer . Can't wait to get my hands on more of her work.
• 
  Sarah

  I normally really enjoy books by Cathy Glass but this one I couldn't really get into, hence it took me a month to read. There was something that I didn't like about the child that was the main character. Not sure whether it was his behaviour or whether I just didn't like the way Glass portrayed his character. Towards the end you find out very sad news which explains partially why he has such problems and then I felt really bad for him. But the news is also quite disturbing and horrifying so I had my jaw dropped a lot when I was reading what could have contributed to his issues. I also did not like how the social worker, assigned to the case, was so lax about how he dealt with things. Quite often he was under/mis-informed, he rarely met with the children that were under his charge, and he had a not caring attitude towards his job. He was always making excuses for why his actions weren't on time, etc. and the main excuse was that he had just gone through a divorce. Then you find out that he did get an extended leave so he should have been able to collect himself and put his heart and soul into his work upon his return. So yes, I found this book a bit off when compared to the other Cathy Glass books, but they all can't be winners I guess. I will read her books again but I may take a break from them for a while.
• 
  Ella Books

  Este libro le tome mucho cariño pero no me encantó pero está demasiado bueno para que lo podamos leer entre todos. Aquí miras la representación de un trabajador social que consiste en trasladar a niños con problemas, ya sea porque viven violencia en sus casa, sus padres no es tan aptos para educar etc...
  Una mujer, que tiene el rol de dar un hogar mientras se le consigue un hogar permanente a niños, niñas o jóvenes adolescente. Pero en esta historia habla de un niño con problemas grandes donde desde temprana edad lo llegan a "bautizar"como un niño problema, donde le dicen que es un "tiburón" porque le gusta morder, un niño que se comporta muy de bajo de sus edad, por lo tanto la mujer que lo cuida le comienza a educar nuevamente con valores, principios y mostrar que no todo es con violencia ni obscenidades en la família. La historia es linda, hermosa, porque vemos el cambio que tiene el niño y descubrimos cual es si final que por cierto es su mayoría es muy realista.
• 
  Fatty Brítez

  Lenguaje sencillo, historia perturbadora. No disfruto de este tipo de libros porque es demasiado real, pero está bien contado.
• 
  Angie

  The ending of this story left me elated and satisfied, but the journey I had to undergo with Reece, Cathy, her family, and other key role players to get to this wonderful finale was harrowing and painful. I thought I had heard and read enough to understand the extent abusive parents will go to to damage their own flesh and blood, but this book made me realize that I had no clue.
  
  I could almost not fathom a mother such as Tracey and for a while there thought the author was exaggerating about how terrifying and massively disturbed Tracey is, but once all the distressing details came together to form a bigger picture of Reece’s home life before he was removed from his mother, I had to accept that the world is filled with such monsters.
  
  The sadder truth is that there are parents doing even worse things to their children than Tracey has done to Reece and his siblings. All I can say is that I’m grateful for foster parents such as Cathy who take these children into their homes with love, patience, understanding and compassion, and give them a fresh start to a new life. I have a seven-year-old son and it pained me to read this book, knowing I would never in a million years do to my kids what Tracey did to hers.
  
  Thank you, Cathy, for sharing this story with us.
  
• 
  Magda Pais

  A historia do pequeno Reece de sete anos que, em poucas semanas - e depois de retirado dos pais pela protecção de menores - passa por algumas famílias de acolhimento que o devolvem ao sistema. Quando chega a casa de Cathy (a autora), Reece é uma criança caótica e sem regras, que não fala sobre o seu passado. Acompanhamos o esforço da autora para conseguir contrariar a violência intrínseca de Reece de modo a conseguir que Reece comece a ser uma criança o mais normal possível, pondo de parte todo o seu passado.
  
  Tocam-me especialmente estes livros sobre crianças, principalmente quando mostram uns pais que, em vez de defenderem os seus próprios filhos, são os causadores de toda a maldade que cai sobre as crianças. Escapa-me esta incapacidade de amarem e protegerem os seus filhos, acabando por ser terceiros que o fazem.
  
  Não foi uma leitura fácil mas é, sem duvida, uma leitura que vale a pena.
• 
  Angela Lopez De Arriba

  Un testimonia esperanzador pero desgarrador a la vez. Basado en niños de acogida que la autora ha tenido en su hogar, esta es la historia de uno de ellos.
  Reece es un niño de siete años que en seis semanas ha estado en cuatro hogares de acogida. A Cathy se le cuentan que su comportamiento es algo así como salvaje. Con mucho tiento y con apoyo de sus hijas Reece va adaptándose a su nuevo hogar. Seva desvelando poco a poco la historia del pequeño y de su familia.
  
  
  https://sonrieangela.blogspot.com/
• 
  Yenni Rodriguez

  
  Mamá no me deja contarlo es una historia que se quedará para siempre en mi mente y corazón. Un libro que plantea una cruda realidad pero que a su vez está cargada de tintes de esperanza que nos devuelven un poquito la fé en la humanidad. Un libro que nos invita a reflexionar, que te romperá un poquito el corazón pero que logrará reconstruirlo y motivarlo un poquito con su final. ¡Imperdible!
• 
  Sara L

  Brutal
• 
  Julianne Billings

  Fantastic. Love Cathy Glass!!
• 
  Izayana

  Mamá no me deja contarlo es una historia emotiva, donde se visualiza una problemática mundial: el abuso infantil. El lector tiene desconocimiento del porqué el protagonista, Reece, actúa de la manera en que lo hace. Siendo este el impulso para conocer la experiencia vivida por la autora.
  
  Continúa acá:
  https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLntInlb...
• 
  Rebecka Öberg

  2.5 i betyg. Intressant, bra och spännande! Men hade kunnat kortas ner betydligt. Orelevanta detaljer och beskrivningar av självklarheter drar ner bokens slutresultat, då man känner sig lite lurad som väntat så pass länge på upplösningen.
• 
  marta (sezon literacki)

  Książki Cathy Glass zawsze czyta się ze ściśniętym sercem i łzami w oczach. Historie, które opisuje są tak przejmujące, a co gorsza – prawdziwe, że nawet najtwardsi się wzruszą. Nie inaczej jest w przypadku „Nikomu nie powiem”, książki, w której główny bohater - Reece trafia do opieki społecznej razem z całym swoim rodzeństwem.
  
  Siedmiolatek zdecydowanie nie należał do spokojnych dzieci. W ciągu zaledwie kilku tygodni aż cztery razy zmieniał rodziny zastępcze, bo nikt nie potrafił sprostać jego wymaganiom. Wyjątkowo trudny w wychowaniu, sprawiający spore kłopoty wielokrotnie wyrzucany był z kolejnych szkół. Reece jest również opóźniony w rozwoju. Znacząco odstaje od swoich rówieśników, nie potrafi czytać ani pisać, a jedynie krzyczeć, gryźć, a nawet przeklinać. Mały „Rekinek” robi wszystko, aby utrudnić życie swoim opiekunom. Stopniowo wyłania się obraz dziecka dorastającego w patologicznej rodzinie, widzącego rzeczy, których nie powinien być świadkiem. Choć opieka społeczna nie kwapi się do wyjawiania szczegółów i większość to tylko domysły, to same przesłanki jakoby Reece miał być uczestnikiem wielu niestosownych sytuacji są wystarczająco przerażające. Istnieją także obawy, że chłopiec mógł być wykorzystywany seksualnie, gdyż jego dom rodzinny często odwiedzany był przez pedofila. Jednak to, czego Cathy z czasem się dowie jest znacznie gorsze, ale da pełny obraz sytuacji Reece’a.
  
  Jest to trzecia już książka Cathy Glass, z którą się spotykam i mogę śmiało powiedzieć, że jest równie poruszająca, co „Skrzywdzona” i „Okaleczona”. Reece’a poznajemy jako chłopca pełnego złości, niestabilnego emocjonalnie, a w dodatku z nadpobudliwością ruchową. Nie jest to jednak złe dziecko. We własnym domu nie miał dobrego przykładu i nie nauczył się, co jest dobre, a czego robić absolutnie nie wolno. Kiedy używa wulgaryzmów w kontekście seksualnym nie robi tego w złej wierze, a tylko naśladuje wzorce wyniesione z domu.
  W „Nikomu nie powiem” najbardziej przejmuje fakt, że Reece się stara jak może, aby odwdzięczyć się Cathy za troskę jaką go obdarzyła. Chce się uczyć, chce być grzeczny, lubi być chwalony. Jego problem polega na tym, że nie potrafi. Usilnie się stara, jednak zawsze zrobi coś, co w jego domu było na porządku dziennym, a normalnie jest społecznie nieakceptowane. Zdarzają się incydenty z dotykaniem intymnych części ciała u innych, czemu nierzadko towarzyszy wulgarny komentarz. Częste są napady złości i pobicia. A na każdą wzmiankę o domu rodzinnym Reece ma tylko jedną odpowiedź: „Nie wiem”. Łącząc wszystko ze sobą nie trudno się domyślić, że chłopiec był świadkiem, a może i uczestnikiem rzeczy, o których matka zabroniła mu mówić. Jak bardzo niemoralne i niestosowne są te czyny? Reece nie chce podać szczegółów, jednak opiekun społeczny stopniowo zdobywa coraz więcej informacji, a w rezultacie odkrywa szokującą prawdę.
  
  Seria „Pisane przez życie” zawiera smutne i przejmujące historie oparte na rzeczywistych wydarzeniach. Siłą rzeczy nie są to lekkie i przyjemne książki, a wręcz przeciwnie. Wywołują wiele emocji , niekiedy nawet płacz, ale warto je poznać choćby po to, żeby mieć świadomość tego, co dzieje się każdego dnia, może tuż obok nas. „Nikomu nie powiem” to opowieść przede wszystkim o tym, jak negatywne wzorce wyniesione z domu rzutują na resztę życia. Reece nigdy może nie dostać szansy na normalne życie, a nawet jeśli uda mu się dorównać rówieśnikom pod względem nauki, to już zawsze będzie przez innych wytykany palcami, oceniany przez pryzmat patologicznej rodziny, w której miał nieszczęście spędzić dzieciństwo. Ale książka ma także inne oblicze. Obok pokładów smutku niesie nadzieję na to, że dzieci podobne do Reece’a mają szansę na normalną rodzinę. Być może nigdy nie wrócą na prostą, ale ich życie będzie o niebo lepsze, jeśli tylko spotkają na swojej drodze odpowiednie osoby.
  
  Chciałabym napisać, że to świetna książka, ale nie zrobię tego. Nie dlatego, że czegoś jej brakuje w sferze literackiej. Takich książek po prostu w ogóle nie powinno być. Historie opisywane przez Cathy Glass i wiele innych autorów nie mają prawa zdarzać się w prawdziwym życiu. Ale niestety się zdarzają. I to nie tak rzadko, jak można przypuszczać. Dlatego raz na jakiś czas warto odejść od rozrywki i przeczytać coś trudnego, aby mieć świadomość.
• 
  Vera Neves (Sinfonia dos Livros)

  "A mãe não me deixa contar" é um livro carregado de emoções. Não me lembro do último livro que li e que me fez chorar, como aconteceu com este. Cathy Glass traz-nos com esse livro, uma nova concepção da maldade humana e de como por vezes, um pouco de amor, ainda que de estranhos, conseguem mudar uma vida. Sendo mãe de uma criança, quase hiperactiva, como eu sou, consigo colocar-me na posição dessa mãe de acolhimento. Foram muitas as crianças que lhe passaram pelas mãos e todas elas com problemas graves de inserção social e familiar. Este livro conta a história do pequeno Reece. Uma criança que chegou às mãos de Cathy com sete anos, cabeça rapada, mal comportado, hiperactivo, com desenvolvimento físico e intelectual de uma criança de três anos e meio. Uma criança que tivera, toda a sua vida, contacto com a violência verbal e física, abusos sexuais e devassidão familiar. Tem cinco meios irmãos, todos eles também espalhados por várias famílias de acolhimento. A mãe, uma mulher violenta e mal educada, consegue tudo o que quer através de ameaças e gritarias, bem como agressões físicas e verbais. Nunca revelou o nome dos pais de todos os seus filhos, embora todos eles sejam réplicas fiéis dela. Com toda a sua paciência e amor, Cathy consegue derrubar todas as barreiras que Reece levantava ao mínimo gesto de carinho e amor. Ensinou-lhe a amar, a ler e a escrever e arranjou-lhe no final, uma família que o amasse como ele é e não o culpasse por ser uma criança traumatizada e colocada à margem da sociedade.
  Este foi um livro que me surpreendeu imensamente. Pela sua intensidade. Pela emoção que transmite em cada página e dá-nos a conhecer uma realidade que muita gente desconhece. A luta diária de milhares de mães e pais de acolhimento que abdicam das suas vidas para tentar ajudar crianças que precisam ser resgatadas. Um livro que e meu ver, merece mais do que as cinco estrelas que dei.
• 
  Christine bonner

  First of all you will need a box of tissues when reading this book.
  
  This a story of a little boy called Reece who was taken into care along with his six sibling.when he came in to care his birth mum would call him Sharky and Reece loved to bite, all his toys had something to do with sharks,
  
  Reece had very bad learning difficulties and had been excluded for two schools plus there was sure he had been sexual abuse,
  
  His birth mother had told him not to tell like a lot of children when there come into care about what has happen at home, Cathy meet the mum on a few of the contacts and it was a eye opener as mum would hit Reece round the head, plus there was security guards at the contact and 2 social workers
  
  As the people that have cared for foster children contact is a very hard time for the child and the carers,
  
  The book tell of how Cathy with her children helped get Reece going to school and what happen later on,
• 
  Laura

  This amazing foster carers first book was a surprise success. There are so many childhood memoirs out there, but few that document the journey of those that are there to pick up the pieces when all is said and done.
  
  Unlike her previous book, this release was a slight disappointment. I cannot but marvel at Cathy's strength and determination to mentor fractured children and put them on the road to recovery, whatever their stories. However the writing in this book appeared slapdash and hastily published, which unfortunately took away some of the importance that inspired Glass to put pen to paper and tell her story.
  
  Not terrible, but certainly not her best work. The publishing house and its editors may have to take some responsibility for this. Hopefully her next book will be better thought through to give the story a more plausible aura.
• 
  Kerry

  This was an amazing story. It showed how consistancy and boundaries help any child no matter how troubled they are. I felt sorry for Reece and had a real hatred towards his mum reading this story. Even when the truth came out I still didnt feel sorry for Tracey as she is an adult and should have known better but yet she continued to let bad things happen and I kept thinking that I would never want to come across her! Also I think if her children are constantly being taken away she should have been forced to be sterilised! Also I felt sorry for reece when he went to school especially how the head handled him to begin with and never showed support, surely cathy could have gone to someone to report that as she is responsible for providing high quality care and the school werent providing that. It was a great read.
• 
  K.B. Walker

  Reading a Cathy Glass book reminds me a little of watching the Waltons on TV when I was a kid. She never makes any mistakes, never seems to lose her temper or behave less than professionally even in her own home. However, I love reading the stories of the children she perseveres with and the positive outcomes she is able to achieve for them. As a school teacher of young children in deprived areas, I recognise the damaged children and know something of the families they come from. It is enormously frustrating to watch a child suffer and not be able to do anything about it, to become attached to a vulnerable child and wonder what kind of life it will have. Mummy Told Me Not to Tell gave me hope that my efforts may have helped in some small way.
• 
  Lam

  I've never read this kind of book before and honestly, this is my first. So the story is about a boy who has a disturbing behavior and a broken family. So the writer became his foster parent with the help of her two kids. At first I did not like the boy because of his behavior but in the end, he started to open up himself and proved to us all that even a troubled kid can actually be fixed. The progress of him getting there was inspiring because of how the writer had helped him. As you read through the story, you'll find out about the boy's broken family. I just can't help the fact that it's all true story. I guess I don't mind getting another book written by Cathy Glass.