Hidden: Betrayed, Exploited and Forgotten. How One Boy Overcame the Odds.

Cathy Glass

Sep 2008 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

From the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of ‘Damaged’ comes the poignant and shocking memoir of Cathy’s recent relationship with Tayo, a young boy she fosters whose good behaviour and polite manners hide a terrible past.

Tayo arrives at Cathy’s with only the clothes he stands up in. He has been brought to her by the police, but he is calm, polite, and very well spoken, and not at all like the children she normally fosters. The social worker gives Cathy the forms which should contain Tayo’s history, but apart from his name and age, it is blank. Tayo has no past.

Tayo is an 'invisible' child, kidnapped from his loving father in Nigeria and brought illegally to the UK by his drink and drugs dependent prostitute mother, where he is put to work in a sweat shop in Central London. When he sustains an injury and is no longer earning, he is cast out.

When Cathy takes Tayo to school he points out a dozen different addresses where he has stayed in the last six months, often being left alone. Tayo lies, and manipulates situations to his own advantage and Cathy has to be continually on guard. Tayo’s social worker searches all computer databases but there is no record of Tayo – he has only attended school for 3 terms and has never seen a doctor. He and his mother have been evading the authorities by living ‘underground’.

With his mother recently released from prison, Tayo is desperate to live with his father in Nigeria, but no one can track him down or even prove that he exists.

Ratings and reviews

Brilliant book with a real insight into the highs and lows of being a foster parent. My husband and I are soon to start our own fostering journey and these books have really helped us get an idea of what everyday life might be like.

Cathy Glass is an amazing lady, wish there was more like her. I've read nearly all her books, and can relate to quite a few of them. I didn't have much of a childhood, and these books have helped me immensely with my life and my head. Thank you Cathy Lots of love Debbie West x

Oooohhh!... Such a little darling boy 💙 I'm so happy he got his happy ending... Touched my heart through out this book ♥️ Once again Big! Well-Done! To Cathy for making a big difference to this little boys life... All the best Tayo for a very happy and healthy future with your Dad & Gran... All the best little boy... You made it through the tunnel to the light and I couldn't be happier for you 🤗🙏 It's 5 stars from me 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🤗👍

About the author

Cathy has been a foster carer for over 30 years, during which time she has looked after more than 150 children, of all ages and backgrounds. She has three teenage children of her own; one of whom was adopted after a long-term foster placement. The name Cathy Glass is a pseudonym.