Finding Stevie: A teenager in crisis

Finding Stevie: A teenager in crisis
Cathy Glass

Finding Stevie is a dark and poignant true story that highlights the dangers lurking on online.When Stevie’s social worker tells Cathy, an experienced foster carer, that Stevie, 14, is gender fluid she isn’t sure what that term means and looks it up.Stevie, together with his younger brother and sister, have been brought up by their grandparents as their mother is in prison. But the grandparents can no longer cope with Stevie’s behaviour so they place him in care.Stevie is exploring his gender identity, and like many young people he spends time online. Cathy warns him about the dangers of talking to strangers online and advises him how to stay safe. When his younger siblings tell their grandmother that they have a secret they can’t tell, Cathy is worried. However, nothing could have prepared her for the truth when Stevie finally breaks down and confesses what he’s done.

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Copyright (#uaa5cc00b-94c6-523f-bd6e-d569dc1049db)

Certain details in this story, including names, places and dates, have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.

HarperElement

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First published by HarperElement 2019

FIRST EDITION

Text © Cathy Glass 2019

Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

Cover photograph © Mark Owen/Trevillion Images (posed by a model)

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Cathy Glass asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN: 9780008324292

Ebook Edition © February 2019 ISBN: 9780008324308

Version: 2019-01-09

Contents

Cover (#udc0de176-1937-5813-a0c6-d99ba9092765)

Title Page (#uac1c925e-6672-59f4-9934-5489f58934c3)

Copyright (#u3661d61a-b068-53a8-a74b-ce0b0422c426)

Acknowledgements (#u2aebe2e6-0c62-5d80-8031-7fce4ea49341)

Chapter One: Struggling to Cope (#uc22705a0-9870-53e7-bc01-cbc7bee85a3a)

Chapter Two: Difficult Meeting (#u97c53cfe-1f40-52ce-b9d7-2ec6bb7044aa)

Chapter Three: Trouble (#u1257effd-5b95-566d-80d0-c98b777d26d6)

Chapter Four: Straight Talking (#u6d2b20e9-264b-5df3-b02b-450d3c2d4325)

Chapter Five: Secrets (#u57bb7c52-a28f-5c7f-87e2-6a16c97946d3)

Chapter Six: Inappropriate (#ue21ded52-4cb2-5e85-91b5-c4ace2b7b31e)

Chapter Seven: Quiet and Withdrawn (#u046a06d3-0cd4-5d73-bd50-668990f120e4)

Chapter Eight: Error of Judgement (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine: First Review (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten: Controlling (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven: Missing (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve: Something Much Worse (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen: Confession (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen: Disclosure (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen: Excluded (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen: Another Police Search (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen: Disappointing News (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen: Dejected and Moody (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen: Messed Up (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty: A Dreadful Mistake (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-One: Waiting for News (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Two: Angry and Upset (#litres_trial_promo)