Milo's Story

LoveReading Says

In this eleventh instalment of Louise Allen’s popular Thrown Away Children series we begin Milo’s Story at his placement with new foster parents Michelle and Andy. Sold a pipe dream of significant additional income for the simply “putting an extra pair of jeans in the wash” and with noble yet naive intentions of rescuing a child, they enroll with a private agency to become foster carers. But the realities of the system turn this pipe dream into something rather more like a pipe bomb and Milo arrives with more complex behaviours than either of them were prepared for or equipped to deal with.

When Milo is welcomed into the Allen home we see what a wealth of experience and a significantly more realistic view of the foster care system can do. In her characteristically straight talking and honest narrative, Louise relays the difficulties faced during Milo’s placement: his potential diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), struggling to get Milo into school with the correct support, the conflicts of having multiple foster children. All the while the importance of getting and keeping Milo settled in a safe space is the focus.

As always Louise Allen’s writing shows the highs and lows of being a foster carer in stark detail, including the state of the system in the face of chronic underfunding and overworking of its carers and social workers. The struggles that Milo will face in his life won’t go away but Milo’s Story is a testament to the benefits of having a strong support system and people fighting for the best life possible for a child. I think that anyone enticed by the well-worded advertisements to look into foster care should pick up at least one of Allen’s books as part of their wider research. Although never shying away from the realities, Allen’s writing is always compelling and her strength of character and determination shine through. The Thrown Away Children series really is a must-read for anyone curious about the role of a foster carer and anyone wanting an honest no holds barred look at the foster care system from the inside.

Charlotte Walker

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