Released: 28/01/2020
ISBN: 9781838591953
eISBN: 9781838599287
Format: Paperback/eBook
This story was bleak with bits of light shining through. Pretty true to a social worker’s experiences. I wish the ending had been resolved, but that is often the way these tales go. Well done.
by Lana
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
Samantha is a mom to two little girls who she absolutely adores. Samantha lacks the coping skills she needs, so she depends on alcohol to assist her.... which leads to social worker April Gardiner getting involved into her life. They form an unlikely bond due to their pasts/childhood experiences.
by Kade
Broken Lives was such a heartbreaking read that I had to stop reading for a few days. It was full of emotion and convincinly shows the true life of a social worker, which can be a very dark place. There was no beating about the bush with this, it was straight to the core but it did have some lighter moments. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you intrigued. This was a very well written book.
by Jolene
This book cracks open the door to give an insight into the trials and tribulations faced by a social worker when dealing with a family under stress. By its very nature, a family in conflict seldom has a totally happy outcome as you might see from Hollywood or on TV. The best you can hope for, in most cases, is that maybe one of the parties has a good (or goodish) result. Compromise is generally the key.
This book highlights these dilemmas and how the case-worker strives for that (probably unattainable) perfect outcome. It is well written and the characters soon draw an empathetic response from the reader: it has little gems of humour and, in contrast, some moments of pathos.
It is testament to the writer’s skill that I was quickly pulled into family situation and found putting the book down difficult. Indeed, at the end, I was left wanting more, - always a good sign.
by Annie Clare
A very well crafted book which gives an emotional insight into the daily dilemmas faced by Social Workers - of which the author clearly has an in-depth understanding.
The characters come alive on the page as their wide range of feelings, hardships, strengths and shortcomings are illuminated.
The reader will become involved in their lives, will care about their futures and need to keep turning the pages to discover the outcomes; they will be left wanting to hear more of April Gardiner.
by Juliet Massie
Teresa is a full member of the Health and Social Care Council and holds the advanced diploma in social work. She worked on the front line in child protection for 11 years before becoming a manager. The need for confidentiality inadvertently raises many misconceptions around social workers and the families they work with and these novels provide a glimpse into the mysterious world of social work and the families whose lives are blighted by disadvantage and hardship. Broken Lives was written primarily as an entertaining read but has also been of interest to colleges and universities. Teresa is frequently asked to give presentations to social work students relating the cases discussed in her novels.
Teresa is an active campaigner for social justice and equality of opportunities. She uses every opportunity to advocate for fairness in society and speaks out against discrimination of any kind. She has seen for herself the hardship, deprivation and lifelong battles caused by disadvantage and poverty and this is starkly evident in her writing.
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