Description
Book Synopsis: “A triumph of narrative reporting and storytelling. . . . Beam gives [foster children] a much-needed voice and does what too many adults in the foster-care system can’t, or won’t: She advocates for them.” — New York Times Book Review
Who are the children of foster care? What, as a country, do we owe them? Cris Beam, a foster mother herself, spent five years immersed in the world of foster care, looking into these questions and tracing firsthand stories. The result is To the End of June, an unforgettable portrait that takes us deep inside the lives of foster children at the critical points in their search for a stable, loving family.
The book mirrors the life cycle of a foster child and so begins with the removal of babies and kids from birth families. There’s a teenage birth mother in Texas who signs away her parental rights on a napkin only to later reconsider, crushing the hopes of her baby’s adoptive parents. Beam then paints an unprecedented portrait of the intricacies of growing up in the system—the back-and-forth with agencies, the shuffling between pre-adoptive homes and group homes, the emotionally charged tug of prospective adoptive parents and the fundamental pull of birth parents. And then what happens as these system-reared kids become adults? Beam closely follows a group of teenagers in New York who are grappling with what aging out will mean for them and meets a woman who has parented eleven kids from the system, almost all over the age of eighteen, and all still in desperate need of a sense of home and belonging.
Focusing intensely on a few foster families who are deeply invested in the system’s success, To the End of June is essential for humanizing and challenging a broken system, while at the same time it is a tribute to resiliency and offers hope for real change.
Details
Discover the powerful and heart-wrenching stories of foster children in the acclaimed book, To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care. Written by Cris Beam, a foster mother herself, this thought-provoking narrative sheds light on the lives of foster children and the challenges they face in their search for stability and love. With its compelling storytelling and immersive reporting, this book gives these voiceless children the advocacy they deserve.
Beam's exploration of the foster care system takes readers on a journey through each stage of a foster child's life. From the heart-wrenching separation of babies from their birth families to the complexities of growing up in the system, every aspect is meticulously captured. You'll witness the emotional turmoil of birth parents reconsidering their decisions and the constant shuffling between homes that these children endure.
As the children grow into teenagers, Beam provides a captivating account of the obstacles they face and the pivotal decisions they must make about their future. The struggle to find a sense of belonging becomes even more pronounced as they approach adulthood. Through personal interviews, Beam beautifully captures the hopes, dreams, and fears of these young individuals, making their stories impossible to forget.
To the End of June doesn't stop at shedding light on the problems within the foster care system; it also highlights the steadfast dedication of foster families who are committed to creating a positive impact. By humanizing these families and sharing their experiences, Beam inspires readers to challenge the broken system and advocate for change. This book serves as both a tribute to resilience and a beacon of hope for a brighter future for foster children.
Take the first step in understanding and transforming the foster care system by diving into the pages of To the End of June. Join us on this eye-opening journey and explore the lives of these remarkable children. Get your copy now!
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