Book review-Hidden by Cathy glass

I have just finished this book a few minutes ago. And I absolutely loved it. I think I’ve read 7 of Cathys books now, and I have to say this one has been a very uplifting and positive story.

The book is about Tayo, a foster child who comes into Cathys care when he is 10 years old. The details surrounding his early life are sketchy when he initially comes into care.

He has been living with his mother, Minty, who is a drinker, and drug user. They are in the country illegally and it soon comes to light that they’ve been in the country unregistered and undetected for over five years.

Tayo has had a very difficult early life. He was even forced to work for a year in a sweat shop to earn some income for himself and his mother to live. When asked, Tayo wants to live with his father in Nigeria, which is where he lived for the first five years of his life, with his father and grandmother. However he cant remember their sirname, or address, so it is very difficult for the social services to trace him.

Throughout the story there are many ups and downs, lows and highs. As the bond between Tayo and Cathy and her family grows, he begins to open up more and talk about his past.

His social worker Sandra is an absolute credit to social work and how things should be done. She is very efficient and good at her job and always makes sure Tayo has what he needs while in care.

During the book he sees his mom twice a week at contact, and he also phones her twice a week. However Minty is unpredictable and doesn’t show a lot of the time. Yet she tries to eventually win him back in court.

The book has a brilliant ending. Tayos father has been looking for him since he disappeared, and doesn’t give up looking. Eventually he finds out where he is and makes contact and things all fall into place and eventually, even though Minty tries to contest Tayo going to live in Nigeria with his dad and grandmother, she doesn’t get custody of Tayo, he does end up going back to live with his father and grandmother in Nigeria.

This book is a testament to how a child who comes into foster care can have a good life, and foster care doesn’t always mean that a child is doomed. There are happy endings, this is certainly one of them.

The book touches on many issues, including alcohol and drug use, sweat shops and child labour, food deprivation, physical and psychological abuse, amongst others.

It is quite intense in parts but overall it is a brilliant read, highly addictive once you start it, or at least I found it to be so.