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Ootlin

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Ootlin

By: Dr Jenni Fagan
Narrated by: Isis Hainsworth
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The government told a story about me before I was born.

Jenni Fagan was property of the state before birth. She drew her first breath in care and by the age of seven, she had lived in fourteen different homes and had her name changed multiple times.

Twenty years after her first attempt to write this powerful memoir, Jenni is finally ready to share her account. Ootlin is a journey through the broken UK care system – it is one of displacement and exclusion, but also of the power of storytelling. It is about the very human act of making meaning from adversity.

'Beautiful, deep, transfixing . . . it will burn a home in your heart' LEMN SISSAY

'Essential reading, life-changing' SAMANTHA MORTON

'An astonishing piece of work' NIALL GRIFFITHS

©2023 Jenni Fagan (P)2023 Penguin Audio Art & Literature Authors Women Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"Beautiful, deep, dangerous, transfixing...it will burn a home in your heart, it has in mine... From start to finish I could not put it down." (Lemn Sissay)

"A phenomenal memoir. I am in awe. It takes exceptional strength to survive the events described in this book and courage, skill and magic to write a life story, especially when this type of story is often marginalised." (Amy Liptrot)

"Unbelievably brave. Beautiful, earth-shattering and unforgettable. A truly rare talent." (Samantha Morton)
All stars
Most relevant  
It's hard to conceive of how much courage, strength, determination and artistic and intellectual brilliance it must have taken to create such beauty by revisiting and exposing the grievous failures of a system and human beings. Dr Fagan's experiences in the care system and situations/relationships arising from these are vividly, powerfully rendered in prose, and Isis Hainsworth's narration is compelling.

Soaring, Shining Indictment

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Jenni Fagan is an awesome human being. Every social worker, police officer and teacher should read/listen to her story. Thank you Jenni for your courageous humanity. May you go from strength to strength.

A life changing listen

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A difficult subject handled with exquisite care. A must read for anyone in social care or health services

Extremely moving

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Oh Jenny, how I wish I could give you a big hug. What a life you had to endure. It breaks my heart. You wrote so beautifully about such hardship. So many times I wanted to reach in and save you. As a mother of two girls, who I would truly die for, at times I couldn’t bear it and dreaded the next chapter.
Thank you for sharing your story. I especially found the epilogue most touching and inspiring. Just, thank you.
Can’t wait to read more of your books. Take care. With love xx

What a brave memoir! Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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A childhood memoir of a life in Care. Will break your heart at times, but will have you cheering Jenni on when she shines. It will make you ashamed of the care system & ask if it’s any better now.
Narrated beautifully.

Heartbreaking & uplifting!

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This book will stay with me forever. I cannot put into words how much I feel for Jenni and all the other children failed by the system.
Why just why do these people choose to work in social care and have no compassion or humanity!
As a mother I wanted so much to scoop that little girl up and give her the love and life she so deserved.
I really wish Jenni everything and more for her future

Heartbreaking

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Exquisite writing on such a painful topic. An insightful, essential read for all those involved with the care system or have any connection with looked after and adopted children. Hopefully this story will be heard far and wide. Beautifully read as well.

Beautifully written

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....jenni's life story has found a permanent place in my heart. her final thoughts reminded me of 1968, when I was so. hopeful and influenced by Bobby Kennedy....and then he was gone and bit by bit, the state of mankind became clearer as years flew by.
Jenni hits the dilemma on the head....where are the priorities and who is making the decisions...who is leading us where.
The person she was at that young age should have been guided into the best possibilities available....but, look at the world as it is today....we have people in charge worldwide who have lost the plot....power, greed and the unwillingness to do the hard work it takes to bring future generations forward as the best we can be....
well, I'm glad I am aging now and not later...
may jenni reap all her amazing heart and soul deserve. ..and thanks for bravely sharing you...

...a journey never to be forgotten

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As a fan of the author my heart broke listening to her experiences as a child through the “care” system.
It is amazing she is still here to tell the tale, and it gives books like the panopticon even more depth and nuance.
I loved the book, but my heart was so sad for the wee girl telling her story (and the adult she became.)

Harrowing but strangely uplifting

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I am so overwhelmed in a good way by how brilliant this book is. A lesson for all of us to never judge or turn a blind eye to the issues in society that are wrong. Thank you for being brave enough to put your story down on paper.

Such an incredible book

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