Casey Watson
Author
Publisher
Harper Element
Description
Casey's Unit is, as ever, full of troubled, disaffected pupils, and new arrival Leo is something of a conundrum. Thirteen year old Leo isn't a bad lad - in fact, he's generally polite and helpful, but he's in danger of permanent exclusion for repeatedly absconding and unauthorised absences. Despite letters being sent home regularly, his mother never turns up for any appointments, and when the school calls home she always seems to have an excuse. Though...
Author
Publisher
Harper Element
Pub. Date
2018
Description
'A Boy Without Hope' is the heart-breaking story of a boy who didn't know the meaning of love. A history of abuse and neglect has left Miller destined for life's scrap heap. But in this turbulent story of conflict and struggle, Casey Watson is determined to help Miller overcome his demons, show him love and give him hope.
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2021
Description
The Watsons are no strangers to sibling placements but when Casey takes the call from her supervising social worker one frosty January morning, she can instantly tell from the tone of her colleague's voice that there's a complicated case ahead. And she's right. A four-day-old baby boy called Tommy - born in prison - plus his four-year-old half-brother, the lively Seth. A month later, the very moment she gets out of prison, the boys' mother - a 19-year-old...
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2022
Appears on list
Description
After taking a few weeks off work, Casey is presented with a new foster child: 14-year-old Elise, whose Mum left her at just five years old. At first, she's no trouble at all, that is until she falsely accuses another carer, Jan, of acting inappropriately towards her. It turns out this isn't the first lie Elise has told - her previous carer was constantly following up allegations Elise had made of people bullying her, trying to have sex with her,...
Author
Publisher
Harper Element
Pub. Date
2015
Description
'Am I ugly, Mummy?' are the first words that little Phillipa says to Mike and Casey as she stomps into their lives on a hot August afternoon. She has a Barbie doll in one hand and a pink vanity case in the other and the bemused Watsons can only stare in amazement at this tiny eight year old girl who is being guided into the room by her social worker. Phillipa, known as Flip has Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and life with her single mother has come to an...
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2024
Description
Six-year-old Amelie arrives during lockdown after her mother who suffers from bipolar disorder tries to burn down the family home. Amelie has some very unusual behaviour traits such as acting like a much younger child. In this touching memoir, Casey spends time getting to the root of Amelie's behaviour - uncovering the impact of her mother's mental health issues. This is a heartwrenching exploration of mental health and the difficult path carers tread...
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2013
Description
A recent census shows that there are at least 175,000 child carers in the UK, 13,000 of whom care for more than 50 hours a week. Many remain invisible to a system that would otherwise help them. Abigail is one of those children. This is her story.
10) Runaway girl
Author
Publisher
Harper Element
Pub. Date
2016
Description
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.
Author
Publisher
Harper Element
Pub. Date
2017
Description
It's the night before Christmas when Casey and Mike get the call. A twelve year old girl, stuck between a rock and a hard place. Her father is on a ventilator, fighting for his life, while her mother is currently on remand in prison. Despite claiming she attacked him in self-defence, she's been charged with his attempted murder. The girl is called Bella, and she's refusing to say anything. The trouble is that she is also the only witness.
12) Let me go
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2020
Description
'Let Me Go' is the powerful memoir from foster carer and Sunday Times bestselling author Casey Watson. Harley, 13, has been sectioned under the mental health act after attempting suicide. She was spotted climbing the railings on a footbridge that crossed a busy motorway and pulled to safety by a member of the public. After six weeks in hospital, social services are looking for a short-term placement so she can be kept safe while family therapy takes...
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2023
Description
A five-year-old boy, Ethan, is brought to Casey in the middle of the night after the sudden death of his young mother after a drug overdose. Estranged from her parents, Ethan's mum had been abused by her ex-partner, and began taking drugs to cope. Ethan is obviously lost and bewildered, and regularly wakes up screaming for his mum in the night. He begins to lash out at other kids at school and his behaviour becomes more volatile. When arrangements...
Author
Series
Casey's teaching memoirs volume 1
Publisher
Harper Element
Pub. Date
2014
Description
This is the first of several stories about 'difficult' children Casey helped during her time as a behaviour manager at her local comprehensive. Casey has been in the post for six months when 13-year-old Imogen joins her class. One of six children Casey is teaching, Imogen has selective mutism. She's a bright girl, but her speech problems have been making mainstream lessons difficult. Life at home is also hard for Imogen. Her mum walked out on her...
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2012
Description
Eight-year-old Spencer takes himself to social services and demands to be taken into care. It's a desperate act, a cry for help, but his parents' reaction - good riddance - speaks volumes. Immediately Casey's hackles are up for this poor child: it seems he either comes to live with the Watsons, or he'll be sent to a children's home.
16) A dark secret
Author
Publisher
HarperElement
Pub. Date
2019
Description
Just when Casey thinks her foster care duties are done, she's asked to look after Sam, a troubled nine-year-old with a violent streak who drove his previous guardians to release him of their care. It soon unfolds, however, that this is no simple case. Determined to get to the root of Sam's behaviour, Casey is committed to uncover his mysterious past only to find out something far darker than she ever imagined.
Author
Publisher
Harper Element
Pub. Date
2017
Description
It's late on Friday night when Casey's mobile starts to ring. She is expecting it to be her daughter Riley. But it isn't Riley. It's a woman from the Emergency Duty Team. So begins Casey and Mike's latest fostering challenge - a fifteen-year-old girl called Keeley who's run away from her long-term foster home 25 miles away.