Jayme's Recommended Reading
If the book is available at the Manhattan Public Library, the call number is noted.
CASA's Role
"I Speak For This Child" by Gay Courter (362.768) A Florida CASA describes her experiences as a volunteer advocate. This is a GREAT book, especially for anyone thinking about becoming a CASA.
"Orphans of the Living: Stories of America's Children in Foster Care" by Jennifer Toth (362.733) This book takes an in-depth look at the lives of five children in foster care. Some are success stories, but those successes have not come without a struggle. This book highlights the need for a consistent adult mentor in the lives of youth, particularly for those who cannot find such support from their own parents.
"Somebody Else's Children" by John Hubner and Jill Wolfson (364.36) This book follows the cases of six children involved in the California court system, either as children in need of care or as juvenile offenders. Their names were changed, but the circumstances of their lives were not. CASA was involved in some of the cases, and the role of the advocate was accurately and positively portrayed.
Child Abuse and Neglect
"A Child Called 'It'" and "The Lost Boy" by Dave Pelzer (362.76 and 361.76 respectively) Dave Pelzer survived one of the worst cases of child abuse ever documented in California history. In "A Child Called 'It'" he tells the story of how he survived. "The Lost Boy" details his experiences in foster care. If you have any doubt that CASAs are necessary, read these books!
Domestic Violence
"Black and Blue" by Anna Quindlen (fiction - also available as an audio book) Fran Benedetto has suffered abuse at the hands of her husband for many years. Her self-esteem is destroyed, yet she seeks help to escape for the sake of her son. An excellent look at the dynamics of an abusive relationship.
Child Development
"The Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us About the Mind" by Alison Gopnik, Andrew Meltzoff, and Patricia Kull (155.413) Three developmental psychologists explore normal brain development in the first years of life and discuss the implications of abuse and neglect on development.
"What's Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life" by Lise Eliot (612.82) The parent of three children and a psychologist, Lise Eliot presents the latest research in brain development during the first five years of life. She focuses on what parents can do to nurture their child's development and reach their full potential.
"Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls" by Mary Pipher (305.235) Dr. Pipher is a psychologist in Lincoln, Nebraska. She uses cases studies from her practice to describe the challenges faced by teenaged girls in our society. She covers eating disorders, depression and suicide, drugs and alcohol, sex and violence, and many other topics pertinent to young women today. If you are working with teenaged girls, this is the book for you!
Attachment and Separation
"Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss" by Claudia Jewett (155.937) All children removed from their families and placed in foster care deal with issues of separation and loss. This book gives suggestions for helping children through this painful experience.
"A Child's Journey Though Placement" by Vera Fahlberg (available at the CASA office) Dr. Fahlberg is recognized as an expert on children in foster care, and her book deals with grief and loss issues experienced by these children.
"High Risk: Children without a Conscience" by Ken Magid and Carole McKelvey (616.8582, also at the CASA office) What happens when children fail to form attachments? This book explores the most extreme cases of attachment disorder and the disastrous results of adults who have failed to attach and not developed a conscience.
Permanency Planning
"The Myth of Best Interest: Why Good Intentions Are Not Good Enough" by Jane Malpass and Jane Rankin Thompson (available at the CASA office or for purchase at http://mythofbestinterest.cjb.net) Jane Malpass is a social worker and Jane Thomspon is an attorney. Both are adoptive parents. Their book focuses on children's need for permanence and how to achieve it within the legal and social welfare systems. A MUST READ FOR ALL CASA VOLUNTEERS!
"Adopting the Older Child" by Claudia Jewett (362.734) As the adoptive parent of seven older children, Claudia Jewett presents an interesting perspective on the special needs of children who are adopted later in life (older child adoption is defined in this book as children adopted after the age of two).
Court and Social Welfare Systems
"Turning Stones: My Days and Nights With Children At Risk" by Marc Parent (362.768) As a social worker in New York City, Mr. Parent was on the front line, making the difficult decision to remove children from their parents. The stories of eight families are detailed in this inspiring book.
"Finding Fish: A Memoir" by Antowne Quenton Fisher (973.0496, also at the CASA office) Antowne was born to a seventeen-year-old mother in prison and entered the foster care system at birth, not to leave until he "aged out" at eighteen. For thirteen years, he lived with a foster family that physically and emotionally abused him. This is the story of how he survived and went on to become one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. An inspirational story! (Note: this book was being released as a movie staring Denzel Washington in January 2003).
"The Book of David: How Preserving Families Can Cost Children's Lives" by Richard J. Gelles - available at the Manhattan Public Library (362.767) The story of David Edwards, a sixteen-month old murdered by his mother. A probing look at the mindset that family preservation should always be the goal in abuse and neglect cases.
"The Lost Children of Wilder: The Epic Struggle to Change Foster Care" by Nina Bernstein (362.733) Shirley Wilder entered the New York foster care system at age twelve in 1972. In 1973, she was named as the plaintiff in a class- action lawsuit that challenged the system as unconstitutional. At fourteen, she gave birth to a son, Lamont, who grew up in foster care. This book tells the story of the lawsuit in the context of Shirley and Lamont's experiences.
Substance Abuse
"The Broken Cord" by Michael Dorris (362.1, also available in the CASA office) As a single parent, Dorris adopted his first child in the early 1970s. He knew little of three-year-old Adam's background - only that his mother died of alcohol poisoning. After years of struggling with Adam's learning disabilities, behavior problems, and seizures, Dorris learned his son was suffering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). A professor of Native American Studies at Dartmouth College, Dorris spent years researching FAS and the implications for both his son and the Native American community.
Mental Illness
"Sights Unseen" by Kaye Gibbons (fiction - also available as an audio book) This book provides insight into families dealing with mental illness. Hattie Barnes spent her childhood living with her mother's bipolar disorder, and she narrates the story of her mother's battle with this disease.
Poverty
"Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich (305.569) A journalist from the middle class, Barbara Ehrenreich went undercover to discover if one could survive on minimum wage. This is a fabulous look at poverty and the need for a living wage law in our country.
Divorce and Custody
"The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A Twenty-Five Year Landmark Study" by Judith Wallerstein, Julia Lewis, and Sandra Blakeslee (306.89) For twenty-five years, Judy Wallerstein followed the children of sixty families who had experienced divorce. This book provides excellent insight into the long-term effects of divorce on children and offers suggestions to improve the system.
"How it Feels When Parents Divorce" by Jill Krementz (J 306.89) The author, a photographer, captures the feelings of children of all ages who have experienced divorce, allowing them to express their feelings in their own words.
Juvenile Offenders
"No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court" by Edward Humes (364.36) This book details the lives and dreams of a group of juvenile offenders in Los Angeles County. The author taught a creative writing class in a maximum-security detention facility, and here he tells his students' stories. It is also an excellent look at one judge determined to make a difference for children despite the odds.
Other
"Raised in Captivity: Why Does America Fail Its Children?" by Lucia Hodgson (305.23) An exploration of children's rights.
"Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America" by Geoffrey Canada (305.23) Geoffrey Canada grew up on the violent streets of New York City and continues to work with troubled youth to help prevent violence.
"Homecoming" by Cynthia Voight (fiction) Dicey Tillerman was thirteen when her mother just walked away from the family, leaving Dicey in charge of her three younger siblings. With no home and very little money, Dicey's family makes their way across the state to seek help from their grandmother, whom they have never met. This is an excellent book about families and the sibling bond.