Looked after : a childhood in care

**AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW** 'This is a book that everyone must read.

No matter how you grew up it's for you: it'll make you rethink your own childhood and your relationships with everyone you know.

It's funny, moving and of course it's often sad. But mainly it's a beautiful and fascinating and enlightening portrait of the care system, a world that is barely understood by many of us.

It is also a proper page turner: the twists and turns and set-backs of his childhood are as gripping as they are shocking.

I genuinely couldn't put it down. This story is more urgent and relevant now than ever.' - Xand van Tulleken 'Ashley John-Baptiste joins a high class of writing by upstanding respectful and honourable citizens and professionals, professors and actors, lawyers, doctors, artists and authors, all who happen to have had a life in care.

We have every right to tell our story as much as anyone else.

Welcome, Ashley.' - Lemn Sissay'An inspiring story of triumph over adversity.' - Fatima Whitbread'Ashley has done the country a great service in shining a light on the inhumane - and at times brutal - way that society supports this most vulnerable group of children.

Every politician should read this book and commit to fixing the system.' - Sharon WhiteAshley John-Baptiste grew up in the British care system, living with five different families, without ever being truly part of a family. It wasn't easy, or straightforward, and Ashley's ever-changing living situation affected every single part of his life - from his education to his sense of identity to his friendships and his hobbies. And yet, throughout everything his childhood in care threw at him, Ashley remained resilient and found a way to take advantage of the opportunities that came his way.

Now Ashley feels able to tell us - vividly and movingly - how, when it felt like the world was turning its back on him, he refused to be an outsider in his own home and set about establishing a new and positive life for himself. Looked After is a memoir written from the heart that pulls no punches but demonstrates that given encouragement and love - and, sometimes, a second chance - a care-experienced boy can become a successful broadcaster, a loving husband and a proud father.