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Non Fiction American Baby: A Mother, A Child, and the Secret History of Adoption Gabrielle Glaser 2021 In 2021, American journalist Gabrielle Glaser published American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption. Glaser used the case study of a teenage girl and her baby to tell the story of the mid-century practice of sending off ‘unwed’ girls and women to have their babies in secret and then ‘relinquish’ them to an adopting couple. For the next 50 years, the mother in the story, Margaret, regrets the loss of her son; the adoptive parents are bewildered by their son; and the son, David, hears he was chosen by his adoptive parents but wonders why his birth mother rejected him. There was something about post-war America, argues, Glaser, that encouraged the creation of ‘perfect’ nuclear families. Yet the adoption agencies collecting fees didn’t consider the feelings of adoptees, let alone that crucial medical information was not being passed along. External Website

Poets Cast: In the darkness of night is where we find light Rowan Aderyn 2023 Rowan Aderyn's early childhood was marked by trauma, and spent time in foster care. Rowan earned numerous qualifications including a Master's degree in Project Management and success within one of the UK's largest firms. Cast is an anthology of poems and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The collection of poems explore themes of abuse, identity, healing, resilience, and hope. Link to website: https://rowanaderyn.com/ External Website

Performing Arts Donny Hathaway Donny Hathaway ​ Donny Edward Hathaway (1945 – 1979) was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and arranger. Hewas born in Chicago but he lived in the Carr Square, St Louis, Missouri housing project, with his grandmother, Martha Crumwell. His mother, Drusella Huntley, had sent the three year old boy to live with Martha when she separated from Donny’s father, Hosea Brown—a traumatised serviceman—and couldn’t support Donny on her own. Donny started at St Louis’ Vashon High School when he was 14. Recognised for his prodigious musical talent, he began taking music theory classes at Washington University. On graduation from high school, Donny attended Howard University where he met his wife, Eulaulah. After 3 years, he stopped going to university because he had so many offers to perform. By 1973, when he was 28, Donny had recorded five albums and won a Grammy. Donny Hathaway was only 35 when he died; he fell to his death from the 15th floor of the Essex Hotel in Manhattan. External Website

Authors T Orphans of the Living: Stories of America's Child in Foster Care ➝ Back to Top

Children's Fiction The Cat Who Saved Books Sosuke Natsukawa (Author), Louise Heal Kawai (Translator) 2021 Sosuke Natsukawa’s The Cat Who Saved Books (translated by Louise Heal Kawai), is the story of Rintaro Natsuki, who was in kinship care with his grandfather. Rintaro is processing the recent death of his grandfather, the man he grew up with. The teenager has inherited the shop the old man ran, Natsuki Books, a haven filled with second-hand tomes from all around the world, but it’s a home he’s soon to leave as the plan is for him to head off to live with his aunt. Enter a talking tabby cat called Tiger who asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people who have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone . . . External Website

News - broadcast, print, internet, magazine articles Kids Were Marched Everywhere. This was a Concentration Camp' RolingStone 2023 Care Experienced Writer, Brandi Moran, published this important article in Rolling Stone on April 23 this year. In the article, she writes about the US government’s institution of a “program of state-sponsored abductions and forced assimilation of Native American children” from 1819 until 1969. Hundreds of thousands of Native American children - some as young as 3 - were stolen from the families. Some were taken thousands of kilometres from their homes and many never made it back. A Congressional Truth Commission bill was introduced in Congress in September 2021 and the hope is it will be passed soon. The purpose of the Commission will be to “thoroughly investigate the losses that occurred through this violent genocide.” External Website

News - broadcast, print, internet, magazine articles Orphans Making It in the World Noel Murray 2021 Whether they’re shipwrecked adventurers or heirs protecting their fortune, the young heroes of these children’s stories use their wits and bravery to survive on their own. External Website

Non Fiction Listen up! Adult care leavers speak out: The views of 310 care leavers aged 17-78 Zachari Duncalf 2010 Listen Up! Adult Care Leavers Speak Out is a ground-breaking report. Based on a survey of 310 care leavers aged from 17 to 78 that took place in the autumn of 2009, it brings together for the first time a range of data that begins to reveal the experiences of care leavers throughout the life-course. In doing so, it meets one of the central aims of the Care Leavers' Association (CLA) - to give a voice to the experience of those who may have spent months or years in care as children, whether public, voluntary or private. Being 'heard' is the first step to being understood - and understanding is the first step to ensuring that the lessons of past experience are not forgotten. In this regard, some of the messages in Listen Up! may not be what the reader expects. External Website

Films/Videos Wash My Soul in the River's Flow ​ 2021 Wash My Soul in the River's Flow (2021) is a moving, inspiring and important documentary about the legendary Aboriginal Australian singer-songwriters Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach. Both Hunter and Roach are members of the Stolen Generation. They met as young homeless people and Ruby encouraged Archie in his singing and songwriting, later joining him on stage and becoming the first Aboriginal Australian woman to record with a major label. Wash My Soul in the River's Flow tell the story of Ruby and Archie via their songs and conversations for their 2004 Kura Tungar concert with the Australian Art Orchestra. External Website

Films/Videos You be the Judge ​ 2021 In this video, Australian survivor of child sexual abuse, Marita Murphy, tells of being raped as a 7-year-old while in an informal foster care situation. Although adults - including her mother - were told of what happened, there was no redress for Marita. Resultant behaviour problems led to Marita leaving school at the age of 12. She went on to have a successful career in the house racing industry. Marita reported the rape to police in 2013. After the police dropped the criminal case (insufficient evidence) Marita brought a civil case against the alleged rapist; the judge decided the events happened too long ago. External Website

Performing Arts Mo Jamil Mo Jamil ​ Mo Jamil Adeniran (born 25 September 1995) is an English singer. He was born in Nigeria but grew up in Warrington, Cheshire. He was adopted as a three-year-old, but because his adoptive mother was abusive, he was removed from her at the age of eight and went into foster care. Mo Jamil rose to fame after winning the sixth series of The Voice UK, where he won a recording contract with Polydor Records. His debut album, titled Evolve, charted at number 36 on the UK Album Charts. External Website

Performing Arts James Hetfield James Hetfield ​ James Alan Hetfield (b. 1963) is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the heavy metal band Metallica. One his mother died, sixteen year old James went to live with an older brother. Hetfield is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles. In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at no. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time. External Website

Performing Arts Debbie Harry Debbie Harry ​ Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble;1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Born in Miami, Florida, Harry was adopted as an infant and raised in Hawthorne, New Jersey. After attending college, she worked various jobs, including as a secretary (including at the BBC in New York), dancer, and Playboy Bunny, before breaking through in the music industry. Harry co-formed Blondie in 1974 in New York City. The band released their eponymous debut album in 1976, and released a further three albums between then and 1979, including Parallel Lines, which spawned six singles, including "Heart of Glass". Their fifth record, Autoamerican (1980), afforded Harry and the band further attention, spawning such hits as a cover of "The Tide Is High", and "Rapture", the latter of which is considered the first rap song to chart at number one in the United States.In 1981, Harry released her debut solo album, KooKoo, and, during a hiatus of Blondie, embarked on an acting career, appearing in lead roles in the neo-noir Union City (1980) and in David Cronenberg's body horror film Videodrome (1983). External Website

Films/Videos Inside Story: Mini ​ 1975 First broadcast in 1975, this provocative documentary about an 11-year-old serial arsonist shocked millions across the UK. Michael 'Mini' Cooper had already torched a church and set his family home ablaze, knowing his father to be inside. The film follows the angelic looking Mini in a young offenders home in County Durham, as social workers and psychiatrists quiz and probe the charismatic and intelligent tearaway to determine his future. This documentary is part of Louis Theroux: Docs That Made Me, a collection of Louis favourite documentaries. Roddam’s 1975 Inside Story about Michael ‘Mini’ Cooper is a powerful exploration of self-destructive behaviour made all the more compelling due to its engaging young subject. On a technical level, Louis enjoyed the long takes and composition of the shots, which lend an intimate feel to the story, and which were typical of the less hurried style of the time. Franc Roddam has kept in touch with Mini, and made follow-up documentaries about his struggles as an adult. This resonated with Louis as a filmmaker who wonders what becomes of the subjects of his films, and how much of a real-life friendship can result from an onscreen relationship. After Mini, Franc Roddam went on to further fame as the director of Quadrophenia (1979), and also created MasterChef and Auf Wiedersehen Pet, among many other credits. External Website

Films/Videos The Chaperone (2018) ​ 2018 The Chaperone is based on the novel of the same name about the woman who chaperoned ant Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922 and the summer that would change them both. Only a few years before becoming a famous silent-film star and an icon of her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita, Kansas, to study with the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone, who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle, a complicated but traditional woman was once an orphan who was part of the Orphan Train, which placed children with midwestern families (who also happened to be strangers!). Cora was lucky, her foster family treated her well but some of the kids became the victims of terrible cruelty, and more hunger, and more neglect—it all depended on who adopted them off of the train. Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous black bob with blunt bangs, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever. External Website

News - broadcast, print, internet, magazine articles Who is Ronnie Archer Morgan? Homes & Antiques 2022 In this article, author Janet Gleeson explores Ronnie Archer Morgan's journey from working as a young adult at various jobs to discovering an interest in antiques while working on location as a hairdresser on film and advertising sets and exploring the local antique shopes. He found his hairdressing clients and members of the production team were interested in his purchases and he began dealing in antiques. External Website

Films/Videos The BFG (film) ​ 2016 The BFG is a movie starring Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, and Penelope Wilton. An orphan little girl befriends a benevolent giant who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the... External Website

News - broadcast, print, internet, magazine articles My mum has bipolar. My dad was a recovering alcoholic.' - Leeds City Council chief exec Tom Riordan on why we need to open up about mental illness Yorkshire Evening Post 2016 Tom Riordan is an English civil servant. He has been Chief Executive of Leeds City Council since August 2010,[1]and spent three months working part-time for the UK government from May 2020 leading the Contain strand within COVID-19 NHS Test and Trace programme, setting out the framework for managing local COVID-19 outbreaks. Tom’s mother was diagnosed as bipolar as a teenager and while she enjoyed periods of good health she sometimes struggled with raising two young children. Coupled with this his father was fighting alcoholism and depression. Tom was just two weeks old when he and his older brother were placed with foster carers for the first time. As a toddler he and his older brother spent time in care another three times. He only find this out when told as an adult. External Website

News - broadcast, print, internet, magazine articles Every one of us has a different story': a historic portrait of care system success The Guardian 2022 The brilliant and inspiring Lemn Sissay recently organised for 59 accomplished people who had been in care as children to meet for at the Foundling Museum in London for an historic photo. This includes the story of the event and a quotation from each of the 59 people who attended. External Website

Performing Arts John Lennon (musician) John Lennon ​ John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon was born at Liverpool Maternity Hospital to Julia (née Stanley) (1914–1958) and Alfred Lennon (1912–1976). He was in kinship care with his aunt for most of his childhood. His father was often away from home. When he eventually came home, he offered to look after the family, but Julia, by then pregnant with another man's child, rejected the idea. After her sister Mimi complained to Liverpool's Social Services twice, Julia gave her custody of Lennon. In July 1946, Lennon's father visited her and took his son to Blackpool, secretly intending to emigrate to New Zealand with him. Julia followed them – with her partner at the time, Bobby Dykins – and after a heated argument, his father forced the five-year-old to choose between them. In one account of this incident, Lennon twice chose his father, but as his mother walked away, he began to cry and followed her. Lennon had no further contact with Alf for close to 20 years. Throughout the rest of his childhood and adolescence, Lennon lived at Mendips, 251 Menlove Avenue, Woolton, with Mimi and her husband George Toogood Smith, who had no children of their own. His aunt purchased volumes of short stories for him, and his uncle, a dairyman at his family's farm, bought him a mouth organ and engaged him in solving crossword puzzles. Julia visited Mendips on a regular basis, and John often visited her at 1 Blomfield Road, Liverpool, where she played him Elvis Presley records, taught him the banjo, and showed him how to play "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino. On 15 July 1958, she was knocked down and killed by a car driven by an off-duty policeman, close to her sister's house at 251 Menlove Avenue. Lennon was traumatised by her death and wrote several songs about her, including "Julia" and "Mother". His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history. In 1969, he started the Plastic Ono Band with his second wife, Yoko Ono. After the Beatles disbanded in 1970, Lennon continued a career as a solo artist and as Ono's collaborator. Starting with 1967's "All You Need Is Love", his songs were adopted as anthems by the anti-war movement and the larger counterculture. In 1969, he held the two week-long anti-war demonstration Bed-Ins for Peace. After moving to New York City in 1971, his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a three-year attempt by the Nixon administration to deport him. In 1975, Lennon disengaged from the music business to raise his infant son Sean and, in 1980, returned with the Ono collaboration Double Fantasy. He was shot and killed in the archway of his Manhattan apartment building by a Beatles fan, Mark David Chapman, three weeks after the album's release. External Website