Recently, I read Against All Odds by Tristian Smith. I connected with Tristian on LinkedIn as I was conducting a survey for my grad degree capstone. He graciously answered questions and served as a resource. He is a brilliant, determined, young man making great strides to help fosters. I stand in awe of his abilities.
His book left me in tears at points and cheering at others.
This book is easy to read in that it is not a very long book. However, that is the end of it being easy. It is a very difficult, transparent, real look at what it means to be in the foster care system. The deep hurt, the confusion, results of abuse and separation, and the triumph of a resilient, determined, inspirational young man unfold page by page.
Not only does it have the story of the author and his ultimate success, but it includes a chapter directed towards foster youth, foster parents, and those who work with them.The conclusion chapter is called Hope Beyond Adversity. As advertised, it brings hope and healing to the reader. Understanding the challenges that live beneath the surface of those with lived experience in foster care is half the battle. Often fosters don’t know how to express what they feel, are not sure who to trust if they do know what they are feeling, and push away their emotions just to survive day-to-day expectations. It behooves their community to push beyond the shell if they want to really help. Smith provides an excellent resource for precisely this purpose.
I highly recommend this author. He is the kind of person that I hope to meet one day just so I can shake his hand and say thank you.
If you work with kids, especially those with lived experience in foster care, this book must be experienced by you. You can find it here on Amazon: Against All Odds by Tristian Smith
