Mummys Little Soldier: A troubled child. An absent mum. A shocking secret.
By (Author) Casey Watson
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins
23rd May 2016
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
True stories of survival of abuse and injustice
Child abuse
Adoption and fostering
362.76092
Paperback
320
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 21mm
220g
Caseys Unit is, as ever, full of troubled, disaffected pupils, and new arrival Leo is something of a conundrum.
Thirteen year old Leo isnt a bad lad in fact, hes generally polite and helpful, but hes in danger of permanent exclusion for repeatedly absconding and unauthorised absences. Despite letters being sent home regularly, his mother never turns up for any appointments, and when the school calls home she always seems to have an excuse.
Though Casey has her hands full, she offers to intervene for a while, to try get Leo engaged in learning again and remaining in school. The heads sceptical though and warns her that this is Leos very last chance. But Caseys determined, because theres something about Leo that makes her want to fight his corner, and get to the bottom of whatever it is that compels this enigmatic boy to keep running away. With Leo so resolutely tight-lipped and secretive, Casey knows that if shes going to keep this child in education, shes going to have to get to the bottom of it herself
Casey Watson, who writes under a pseudonym, is a specialist foster carer. She and her husband, Mike, look after children who are particularly troubled or damaged by their past. While in their care, Casey and Mike guide the foster children through a specially designed behavioural programme, enabling them to be moved on, either back to their parents on into mainstream foster care. Before becoming a foster carer Casey was a behaviour manager for her local comprehensive school. It was through working with these difficult children removed from mainstream classes for various reasons that the idea for her future career was born. Casey is married with two children and three grandchildren.