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  • The Saddest Girl in the World

  • By: Cathy Glass
  • Narrated by: Denica Fairman
  • Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (225 ratings)
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The Saddest Girl in the World cover art

The Saddest Girl in the World

By: Cathy Glass
Narrated by: Denica Fairman
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Summary

The Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author of Damaged tells the true story of Donna, who came into foster care aged 10, having been abused, victimised, and rejected by her family. Donna has been in foster care with her two young brothers for three weeks when she is abruptly moved to Cathy's. When Donna arrives she is silent, withdrawn, and walks with her shoulders hunched forward and her head down. Donna is clearly a very haunted child and refuses to interact with Cathy's children, Adrian and Paula. After patience and encouragement from Cathy, Donna slowly starts to talk and tells Cathy that she blames herself for her and her brothers being placed in care. The social services were aware that Donna and her brothers had been neglected by their alcoholic mother, but no one realised the extent of the abuse they were forced to suffer. The truth of the physical torment she was put through slowly emerges, and as Donna grows to trust Cathy she tells her how her mother used to make her wash herself with wire wool so that she could get rid of her skin colour as her mother was so ashamed that Donna was mixed race.

The psychological wounds caused by the bullying she received also start to resurface when Donna starts reenacting the ways she was treated at home by hitting and bullying Paula, so much so that Cathy can't let Donna out of her sight.

As the pressure begins to mount on Cathy to help this child, things start to get worse and Donna begins behaving in erratic ways, trashing her bedroom and being regularly abusive towards Cathy's children. Cathy begins to wonder if she can find a way to help this child or if Donna's scars run too deep.

©2014 Cathy Glass (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

Reviews for Damaged:
"Cannot fail to move those who read it. ( Adoption-net)
"Heartbreaking" ( Mirror)
"A truly harrowing read that made me cry" ( Sun)
"A true tale of hope ( OK!)
"Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass's book should change all that" ( First magazine)
"A hugely touching and emotional true tale ( Star magazine)

What listeners say about The Saddest Girl in the World

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Such a sad story

This book made me angry and sad. How could anyone treat a family member like that, never mind a daughter! Prepare yourselves to feel mad at the world when listening to this!

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    5 out of 5 stars

very sad

I really enjoyed this book. another good book from Cathy Glass. another book well narrated as well. I do really enjoy this narrator. I love reading Cathy Glass books I find them very interesting and inspiring. I would recommend this book to people who like this type of book

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the care that the foster carer gave Donna she went beyond, so much love was given

nothing ... a perfect story such a happy ending 😢 can't wait to read the next one

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another heart plunging the warming story from Cathy with wonderful narration

Another harrowing story but with Cathy at the helm a heart warming outcome. And the narrator is brilliant. I love listening to her.


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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Once again another great story

The only criticism I've got with this books is that they are not in sequence. I came across Cathy's books a few years ago & I really enjoy every one, then a few days I came across her first book 'Cut'.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Good

like all the cathy glass books. on my 5th one now.will keep on reading until I've read them all.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Powerful

Such a great narrator, one of the best I’ve listened to all of Cathy Glasses books & this one is a real tearjerker

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very emotional

very detailed story. once again Cathy's detailed writing on what herself her children and Donna went through is very good. denica's reading is excellent and really makes you feel as if you're there watching everything.

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hate to say it, but a boring read

it was ok, very sad how Donna was treated of course, but I felt the story had a lot of infills to try and bulk the story out, so at times, especially the last quarter I felt it quite hard to listen to as I was a bored, I only stuck to it as I paid with 1 credit, if it was free I wouldn't have finished the book without a doubt

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emotional

very emotional story that was performed amazingly by the reader highly recommend. had my in tears

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