Cathy Glass Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Cathy Glass books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

Cathy Glass is not just a bestselling author—she is also a deeply compassionate mother and foster carer who has changed the lives of over 150 children. Her writing touches hearts around the world because it comes from a place of love, pain, and hope. Behind every one of her books is a real story—raw, emotional, and often heartbreaking—told with honesty and care.

For more than 20 years, Cathy has opened her heart and home to children in need. Many of these children have come from backgrounds filled with trauma, neglect, and abuse. Yet, Cathy never gave up on them. Through her writing, she gives these children a voice—a chance to be heard by readers who might otherwise never understand what life in the foster system can really be like.

Long before she became an author, Cathy worked in a clerical job in the civil service. But her life changed when she decided to start a family. That decision led her to become a foster parent, and from that moment on, she found her true calling. In addition to raising two biological children of her own, Cathy also adopted a little girl—making her family even more special. Over time, her experience with children who had special emotional and behavioral needs gave her deep insight into how to help them heal. Cathy also returned to school, earning degrees in psychology and education, which further strengthened her understanding of child development and trauma recovery.

Cathy’s books are inspired by real children she has fostered. Of course, for privacy and safety reasons, she uses a pen name—and so do the children in her stories. Still, her stories are real. They are not fiction, and that is what makes them so powerful. Readers from all around the world—especially those who enjoy true life stories and inspiring memoirs—have found themselves moved to tears, yet full of hope, after reading Cathy’s work.

Her first book, Damaged, was published in 2007 and quickly climbed the bestseller charts. The story centers on Jodie, an eight-year-old girl who had already been placed in five foster homes before arriving at Cathy’s. The book shares the difficult but beautiful journey of trying to help a child who had suffered unimaginable abuse. Readers praised Cathy’s honesty, her patience, and the strength it must have taken to care for someone so broken. The raw emotions and the heartbreaking reality in Damaged made it an instant classic in the world of memoir writing.

Following that success, Cathy continued to write—Hidden, Cut, The Saddest Girl in the World, and Mummy Told Me Not to Tell are just a few of her many well-known titles. Each book introduces a new child with a new story. Some, like Tayo from Hidden, are quiet and polite on the surface, but carry deep scars on the inside. Others, like Lucy from Will You Love Me?, become permanent members of Cathy’s family. No matter the situation, Cathy approaches each child with compassion, understanding, and an open heart.

What makes her books so special is not just the stories themselves, but the way Cathy tells them. Her writing is simple, clear, and deeply personal. She doesn’t try to shock her readers with sensational details. Instead, she focuses on the child’s journey—the small steps, the progress, the setbacks, and the moments of connection that make everything worth it. You feel like you’re right there with her, witnessing the ups and downs of being a foster carer.

Cathy has also written novels and self-help books. Her fiction titles like The Girl in the Mirror and Run Mummy Run are also based on real-life issues and experiences. They offer a slightly different view but are just as moving and honest as her memoirs. Her guides—Happy Kids, Happy Adult, and Happy Mealtimes for Kids—are practical resources for parents and caregivers. Whether you’re a foster parent or not, these books can help anyone better understand how to raise children in a nurturing and supportive way.

Today, Cathy Glass remains one of the most trusted voices in child welfare memoirs. Her books continue to inspire readers to care more, listen more, and understand that every child, no matter how troubled, deserves love and a second chance. If you’re looking for books that will stay with you long after the last page, Cathy Glass’s stories are exactly what your heart needs.