Editorial Review - 5 stars. “Must Read, emotionally charged memoir”

Fostering is an emotionally-charged memoir written by Carmen Maria Navarro. Readers follow Carmen Maria and her family as she recounts her struggles, obstacles, and newfound love as a foster parent. We get a candid and unfiltered look into how the foster system works and what children in the system experience. There are a variety of sensitive topics discussed in this memoir, but they are all handled with respect.

The author elegantly conveys her experiences as a foster parent. I felt like this memoir really shows the breadth and depth of motherhood and the variety of shades that it comes in. Carmen Maria goes through many of them and shares all of those emotional experiences with readers in a way that feels raw but authentic. I have never been where the author is, but I was able to feel her emotional weight and understand her fear, anxiety, and hopes because of her sharp writing and the balance between feelings and facts throughout the book.

I was captivated by the author’s experiences. Not only by what she went through, but also by the experiences of her biological children, and her foster children as well. This is an illuminating memoir that shows how passion, empathy and love can be a driving force for good in dark times. This impassioned memoir provides an in depth look into Carmen Maria’s thoughts as well as her children’s thoughts, but I would have enjoyed hearing a bit more about her husband because I learned later in the author’s acknowledgement that her husband did so much for the family, like taking the children to doctor’s appointments, to school, making lunches and dinner.

I was shocked at some of the experiences the children revealed to Carmen Maria. It can be triggering to some readers, but I felt it was always handled with honesty and care so that we get to understand the impact these thing have on people and I admire the author for not shying away from the truth. It’s harsh but true and the author does a fantastic job of presenting those two facts in a way that readers can comprehend even if they’ve never experienced it themselves.

Fostering is a potent and awe-inspiring memoir that reveals the truth of what foster kids, and foster families, experience. I highly recommend this stirring memoir to those who are interested in childcare, child psychology and the foster care system as it differs from adoption.

Literary Titans, Aug’22

Editorial Review - Maincrest Media - Score of 21.5 out of 25, Maincrest Media Book Award in the Memoir category

Fostering: A Memoir of Courage and Hope offers a first-hand account of author, Carmen Maria Navarro’s experience fostering a child and raising children of her own, both biological and as a step-mom, and her determination to stand up for her beliefs and fight for what’s right. The vivid manner in which Navarro describes her experiences and struggles is to be commended. She writes in a candid and relatable fashion, keeping readers engaged, crying, and cursing as she finds her bearings. She takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of discovery, keeping them fully engaged with her raw and emotional storytelling. Moreover, her infectious honesty, even when facing the harsh realities of life, imparts invaluable wisdom on readers on how even the most difficult challenges can be conquered with love and persistence. Navarro serves as a beacon of hope for those who may feel overwhelmed as a current and to-be foster family. A must read!

Maincrest Media Aug’22

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