Summary

Kate Cairns, a social worker by profession, has fostered 12 children in 25 years, all of whom remain part of her family group. Drawing upon her wealth of personal and professional experience, she offers a vivid glimpse into family life with children who have experienced loss, attachment difficulties, abuse and trauma. Weaving into the book the knowledge and ideas drawn from theory and research that helped her make sense of this experience, she makes suggestions on what can be observed in these children, and what can be done to promote recovery and develop resilience.