A particularly timely and relevant tale from Casey Watson, who is a specialist foster carer and author. Casey agrees to foster 14 year old Adrianna from Poland, Adrianna has no one to care for her, no belongings, and no explanation of how she came to be in the country, can Casey get to the bottom of her emotionally thorny tale? Casey writes under a pseudonym, she has a simple, yet effective style of writing where she explains acronyms, highlights her own thoughts and feelings, yet tells the story of the children and people within her care. Adrianna’s pain and confusion vibrated off of the page and Casey’s love and attention are clearly felt. ‘Runaway Girl’ provokes thoughts and feelings about our system of social care and responsibility, and made me thankful that people like Casey Watson exist in our society. ~ Liz Robinson
The Runaway Girl A Beautiful Girl. Trafficked for Sex. Is There Nowhere to Hide? Synopsis
14 year old Adrianna arrives on Casey's doorstep with no possessions, no English, and no explanation. It will be a few weeks before Casey starts getting the shocking answers to her questions...Brought to Casey as a short term emergency placement, 14 year old Adrianna arrives with nothing but her gratitude. Having 'turned herself in' to a social services office some hundred miles away, she has no possessions, no English and, apparently, no history - not that she's willing to share, anyway. She is a beautiful young Polish girl, with the bearing of a ballerina, but is terrified, malnourished and unwell. And, having slept rough for some time (the little they do know about her) she spends much of her first days with Watsons asleep in bed. Growing concerned about Adrianna's wellbeing, and her persistent high temperature, Casey decides to call in the GP. But, to her surprise, Adrianna becomes almost hysterical about being examined and, given her refusal to talk - even via the interpretor they've brought in for her - Casey's fostering antennae begin twitching. Where has she come from? And why is she so terrified to be touched? What has happened to make her so ill and scared? It will be a few weeks before Casey starts getting answers to these questions. Shocking answers; ones that throw up a whole host of new questions and the beginnings of a journey to find justice for Adrianna, and, more importantly, a future, and a home...
Casey Watson is a specialist foster carer. She has been working in this field for six years after giving up her position as a behaviour manager for a local school. During this time she has welcomed 14 difficult to place children into her home. As a specialist foster carer she works with profoundly damaged children, seeing each child through a specific behavioural modification programme, at the end of which they will hopefully be in the position to be returned either back to their family or into mainstream foster care. Casey combines fostering with writing, usually late at night when the rest of the family is sleeping. During her spare time she is working towards a degree in Psychology and Criminology. Casey is married with two grown-up children and three grandchildren. The name Casey Watson is a pseudonym.
