Books like The saddest girl in the world by Cathy Glass

Soul shattering

Justin was five years old; his brothers two and three. Their mother a heroin addict, had left them alone again. Later that day after trying to burn down the family home, Justin was taken into care. Justin was taken into care at the age of five after deliberating burning down his family home. Six years on, after 20 failed placements, Justin arrives at Casey's home. Casey and her husband Mike are specialist foster carers. They practice a new style of foster care that focuses on modifying the behavior of profoundly damaged children. They are Justin's last hope, and it quickly becomes clear that they are facing a big challenge. Try as they might to make him welcome, he seems determined to strip his life of all the comforts they bring him, violently lashing out at schoolmates and family and throwing any affection they offer him back in their faces. After a childhood filled with hurt and rejection, Justin simply doesn't want to know. But as it soon emerges, this is only the tip of a chilling iceberg. A visit to Justin's mother on Boxing Day reveals that there are some very dark underlying problems that Justin has never spoken about. As the full picture becomes clearer, and the horrific truth of Justin's early life is revealed, Casey and her family finally start to understand the pain he has suffered...

Dawn’s life is a compelling biography of a girl who survived a traumatic childhood in foster care, ultimately finding hope and resilience.

Mandy returns to her childhood home after learning her beloved Grandpa is dying, and uncovers shocking family secrets that explain why the house was once abandoned.

Joss, a nine‑year‑old girl in Great Britain, returns home after the death of her father and faces abuse, substance use and legal troubles. She seeks help to heal from a violent past.