These are some book recommendations I found on a website for foster parents. I have added and will continue to add more. The books I recommend for teens are not necessarily books about foster care, but may deal with child abuse and personal stories that are likely to capture a teens attention. I used to be a children’s librarian in the city, so I’m familiar with teen reluctant readers. I’ll add more as I find them….
The Lost Children of Wilder - I highly recommend this, not only does it tell stories and examples of foster youth culture and how they relate to each other in an institutionalized setting, but it tells how the foster laws and practices have changed throughout the last half of the century. There is also information and examples of discrimination based on race and religion within the foster care system. The “heroin” of this non fiction story is Shirley Wilder, the book follows her life and her son’s life throughout the foster care system and narrates typical symptoms of foster care syndrome.
Higher Power of Lucky – This book is a willer of some award, it is a juvenile fiction book and is about a young girl living in a foster home with her ex step mother. She is dealing with her mother’s death and the changes taking place in her life.
Forged By Fire – Sharon Draper -Book about a teen that has been abused. It is a good book for teens that like human interest stories about other teens. And of course it is written by an awesome author of African American teen fiction.
Returnable Girl,
The Last Chance Texaco
Brent Hartinger,
Child Called It – I can not read this book, it’s too heart breaking for me…I read it once, but I can not ever read it again. You need tough skin for this one.
**These titles can be found on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com for additional information such as synopses, reader reviews, or pricing.
Children’s Books (ages 4- 
Titles Author
Just The Way You Are Max Lucado
You Are Special
You Are Mine
Because I Love You
If Only I Had A Green Nose
All You Ever Need
Best Of All
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born Jamie Lee Curtis
I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting off A Little Self-Esteem
I Miss My Foster Parents Stefon Herbert
My Foster Family Jennifer Levine
A Mother for Choco Keiko Kasza
The Star: A Story to Help Young Children Cynthia Miller Lovel
Understand Foster Care
Zachary’s New Home: A Story for Geraldine Molettiere Blomquist
Foster and Adopted Children
Finding the Right Spot: When Kids Janice Levy
Can’t Live With Their Parents
Children’s Books (ages 8-12)
Mandy Julie Andrews Edwards
Anne of Green Gables (series) Lucy Maud Montgomery
Everything on a Waffle Polly Horvath
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnet
Long Journey Home Richard Delaney
Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care Jennifer Wilgocki
Great Gilly Hopkins Katherine Paterson
Pre-teens and Teens
The Heart Knows Something Different: Al Desetta
Teenage Voices from the Foster Care System:
Youth Communication
Pictures of Hollis Woods Patricia Reilly Giff
Pinballs Betsy Byars
Where I’d Like to Be Frances O’Roark Dowell
Like Family: Growing Up in Other People’s Houses: Paula McLain
A Memoir
Foster Youth Share Their Ideas for Change, Vol. 3 Janet Knipe, Joyce Warren
Oliver Twist Charles Dickens
Foster Parents
Another Place at the Table: A Story of Shattered Kathryn Harrison Childhoods Redeemed by Love
Finding Fish: A Memoir Antwone Quinton Fisher
Who Will Cry For the Little Boy (poetry)
The Lost Boy Dave Pelzer
A Child Called It
A Man Named Dave
The Privilege of Youth
Remember Tomorrow Charmaine Mandell
Fostering Changes Richard Delaney
Small Feats: Unsung Accomplishments and
Everyday Heroics of Foster and Adoption Parents
Healing Power of the Family
The Sexualized Child in Foster Care Sally G. Hoyle
Women Who Hurt Themselves Dusty Miller
When Rabbit Howls Truddi Chase
Rebuilding Children’s Lives: A Blueprint for Christena B. Baker
Treatment Foster Parents
Welcome Home: A Guide for Adoptive, Foster, Christopher J. Alexander
and Treatment Foster Parents
Swings Hanging from Every Tree: Susan Stone
Daily Inspiration & Reflections
for Foster/Adoptive Parents
Walk a Mile in My Shoes: A Book About Judith A. B. Lee
Biological Parents for Foster Parents and
Social Workers
Preparing Adolescents for Life After Foster Care: Anthony N. Maluccio,
The Central Role of Foster Parents
New Foster Parents: The First Experience Patricia Woodward Cautley
The Second Family Ron Taffel
Cut Patricia McCormick
Twenty things adopted kids
wish the adopted parents knew Sherrie Eldridge
The Post-Adoption Blues: Overcoming th
Unforeseen challenges of adoption Karen J. Foli, John R. Thompson
Cross Cultural Adoption:
How to answer questions from
Family, friends and community Amy Coughlin, Caryn Abramowitz
For love of a child: stories of adoption Lisa Meadows Garfield
Creating Ceremonies:
Innovative ways to meet adoption challenges Cheryl A. Lieberman, Rhea K. Bufferd
