A BABY'S CRY (CATHY GLASS)

Story Description: 

HarperCollins (UK)|April 16, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-744263-8 

When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby.  But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realizes she has more to worry about than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy. 

She isn’t told why Harrison is in foster care and his social worker says only a few are aware of his very existence, and if his whereabouts became known his life, and that of his parents, could be in danger.  Cathy tries to put her worries aside as she looks after Harrison, a beautiful baby, who is alert and engaging.  Cathy and her children quickly bond with Harrison although they know that, inevitably, he will eventually be adopted. 

But when a woman Cathy doesn’t know starts appearing in the street outside her house acting suspiciously, Cathy fears for her own family’s safety and demands some answers from Harrison’s social worker.  The social worker tells Cathy a little but what she says is very disturbing.  How is this woman connected to Harrison and can she answer the questions that will affect Harrison’s whole life? 

My Review: 

A BABY’S CRY is one of Cathy’s best books yet.  She has managed to outdo herself yet again!  Harrison is shrouded in such secrecy that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough wanting to know more and more information about him and wondering if Cathy was ever going to receive the answers to the questions about him and his reasons for being in care were ever going to be replied to. 

Cathy’s own children became so attached to Harrison and called him ‘Harry’ for short and soon looked at him as their ‘little brother’.  They so loved coming home from school to play with him and help Cathy take care of Harrison. 

Suddenly a strange woman begins appearing across the street from Cathy’s home which frightens her own children but each time Cathy looks out the window at her or opens the door, the woman dashes off before Cathy even has the chance to call to her and ask her what she wants or who she is.  Then one night, this very same strange woman knocks on Cathy’s door late at night when her own children and Harrison are asleep in bed and Cathy is terrified!  Should she call the emergency number at the agency she works for?  Or should she call the police. 

Harrison is eventually placed but after almost a year, leaving Cathy’s home is extremely hard on her own children who ask why they can’t adopt Harrison because they still feel he is  their  ‘brother’ but Cathy tries her hardest to explain to them that it wouldn’t be in the best interest of little Harrison. 

This one was definitely a page-turner and I’ll be highly recommending it to my friends and anyone else who’ll listen!  Congratulations on a well-written page-turner, Cathy!!