The Lost Boy

He looked lost and sad, I felt so sorry for him.
'What's going to happen to me?' he asked quietly. 'My dad doesn't like me. I'm never going home again.

Teenager Carl arrives on foster carer Maggie Hartley's doorstep following a terrible row with his father. Quiet, withdrawn and unhappy, Carl refuses to talk about his home life, and Maggie finds herself at a loss as to how to help this vulnerable, lost boy. It's clear that there's a very heavy burden resting on Carl's young shoulders, but with the boy refusing to confide in anyone, and with concerns about his mental health growing by the day, Maggie begins to feel desperate.

A chance discovery in Carl's room finally reveals the truth behind the boy's anguish, and despite all her years of experience as a foster carer, Carl's secret is unlike anything Maggie has ever had to deal with before. Can Maggie help this confused and unhappy boy share the truth behind his misery? And can Carl ever find a way to move beyond his pain to live a happy, normal life?

A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.

'An amazing inspiration' 5* Amazon reader review