by Casey Watson
First published 2024
Six-year-old Amelie comes to Casey Watson's home during lockdown after her bipolar mother attempts to set fire to their house. The little girl displays puzzling behaviors that seem far younger than her age. Casey works patiently to understand what drives Amelie's unusual responses and childlike regression. As she digs deeper, Casey uncovers how her mother's bipolar disorder has shaped Amelie's development and emotional state. The foster placement becomes a delicate balance between helping the child heal while navigating the complex realities of mental illness within families. Casey faces difficult decisions about what serves Amelie's best interests versus keeping the family unit intact. This memoir captures the emotional weight that foster carers shoulder when children arrive traumatized by circumstances beyond anyone's control.
Genres: abuse, mental-illness, biography-memoir, 21st-century, foster-children, adoption, family-drama, foster-parents
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
320 pages · Paperback · HarperElement
Content warnings: mental-illness