Abandoned and Abused Girl's Quest for Family

In her latest book, the Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author of Damaged tells the story of Dawn, a sweet and seemingly well-balanced girl whose outward appearance conceals a traumatic childhood of suffering at the hands of the very people who should have cared for her. Dawn was the first girl Cathy Glass ever fostered, and her outward appearance belied a traumatic childhood so awful that she could not even remember it.

During the first night with Cathy, Dawn was found looming above the baby's cot, her eyes staring and blank. Cathy learned that this sleepwalking was often a manifestation in disturbed children, and it became a regular and frightening occurrence. One night, Cathy was horrified to find Dawn lighting a match while mumbling "it's not my fault" in her sleep.

Cathy also discovered that Dawn was playing truant from school and struggling to make friends. More worryingly, Cathy found Dawn's room empty one night, with her pillow covered in blood, indicating that she had been self-harming to release the pain of her past. When Dawn attempted suicide, Cathy realized that she needed more help than Cathy could provide.

Eventually, Dawn's mother confided in Cathy that Dawn had been sent away to live with relatives in Ireland between the ages of 5 and 9, and Cathy soon realized that the horrors Dawn was exposed to during this time had left her a very disturbed little girl. The sweet and seemingly well-balanced girl's outward appearance had been a mask for the traumatic experiences she had endured, and Cathy knew that helping Dawn would require a delicate and comprehensive approach.

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