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Three Little Words: A Memoir Audiobook
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(4.00) - 3,369 listener ratings
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“Sunshine, you’re my baby and I’m your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she’s not your mama.” Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system.
Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative, humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice.
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"The memoir of a young woman and her journey through foster care. Open, honest, and frank. You'll find yourself wanting to wring the neck of some of the people involved with her case and cheer when she finally becomes a part of her "forever family" and begins to discover the woman she has the potential to become."
— Jennifer (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Quiet scenes cut deepest: the author’s description of her only after-school visit to a friend’s home lingers heartbreakingly in one’s mind…Moving and eye-opening.”
— School Library Journal -
“The author’s ability to form intelligent, open-minded conclusions about her traumatic childhood demonstrates her remarkable control and insight.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Nine years in the foster care system could ruin a kid. But [Ashley Rhodes-Courter] not only survived, she’s thrived.”
— Teen People -
Ashley Rhodes-Courter is triumphant in her quest to overcome insurmountable odds. I celebrate her courage to seek out the best in humanity in spite of its failings.”
— Victoria Rowell, New York Times bestselling author -
“Nine years in the foster care system could ruin a kid. But [Ashley] not only survived, she’s thrived.”
— Teen People -
“[Rhodes-Courter] gives voice to thousands of children who continue to be abused, abandoned, and ignored, and one hopes her book will make a positive difference in their lives.”
— Booklist -
“Ashley gives inspiration to troubled youths who feel as if their lives, actions, and ideas don’t matter.”
— Dosomething.org
Three Little Words Listener Reviews
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" This book was amazing. one of my favorites. It was a very easy read. True story about a girl's experience with foster care. If this stuff interests you or you work in the helping feild, you definately need to read this book. "
— Holly, 2/12/2014 -
" An amazing story of survival within the foster care system we have in the USA. It became a page-turner as I wanted to know how she managed. "
— Ann, 2/9/2014 -
" Very good, sad, touching, and true story!! "
— Julia, 2/3/2014 -
" I must be honest and say I went into this book with a preconceived view of it. I thought it was going to be a "I had a horrible youth in foster homes but now that I was adopted everything turned out alright." And it was that way. Yes her story was touching and sad, and one of her foster homes was just horrible. But she over came it after being adopted. A few things through her story seamed a little far fetched, but she included picture proof at the end. She had won a lot of awards, met with JK Rowling, invited to a few presidential dinners, ect. She became an "Erin Brokovich" towards the end talking about her court trials against her foster parents The Mosses and her state trail against the state foster system. It was an interesting look inside the life of someone who lived for 10 years in the foster system. "
— Tracy, 1/25/2014 -
" Difficult and heart wrenching but sheds light on the foster care system. "
— Kasia, 1/25/2014 -
" As a mother, I really connected to the book. It really depicts foster care today, both the positive and negative. "
— Amy, 1/7/2014 -
" Very emotion book "
— T, 1/7/2014 -
" Though not as shocking a tale of abuse as Dave Pelzer's is, the author makes her story of neglect, abuse, and frustration at the hands of many foster parents and social workers very entertaining. "
— Susan, 12/24/2013 -
" good book about being in foster care and eventually adopted by a loving family. "
— Irene, 12/15/2013 -
" A really interesting book, very useful for foster parents, giving insight into the system from a child's point of view. "
— Sandra, 12/15/2013 -
" WOW. I am very spoiled compared to this woman. "
— Mbuick88, 12/9/2013 -
" A fantastic, and sometimes horrifying, look inside the foster care system from a kid who was in it. It's a rare point of view, and it's in a voice that needs to be heard in this society. "
— Kara, 11/25/2013 -
" As a lover of memoirs, I have to say that this one is quite amazing. Although it is also rather depressing. But throughout the book you see how much Ashley Rhodes-Courter grows up from a struggling foster child to being a successful young woman. "
— Allison, 11/4/2013 -
" I almost put this book down after the first few chapters, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The dry writing irked me at first, but I found myself attached the story by the end (and I think the writing improved as it went along). I think this is one my 9th graders will really enjoy and relate to. "
— Laura, 7/8/2013 -
" A heartfelt memoir about growing up in the foster care system. Often heartbreaking but impressive story for a young author who faces so many obstacles. "
— Jen, 4/16/2013 -
" This book is amazing and truly motivated me to become a foster parent. It is a must read. "
— Erin, 3/25/2013 -
" This was an amazing book...makes me really want to look into doing foster care. "
— Michelle, 1/30/2013 -
" A very moving story written in clear, concise language. "
— Rena, 12/28/2012 -
" thi was a soul touching book!!!!! it was a sure page turner.....recommended to anyonw who likes a good sob story!!!! "
— Lauren, 5/14/2012 -
" Once again, I am shocked and disgusted at the amount of pain and hurt one human being can inflict on another. Add to that the insanity of the foster care system in this country and it's almost more than I can take. :-/ "
— Veronica, 3/27/2012 -
" Eye opening to this country's foster care system. "
— Mindy, 2/25/2012 -
" A whole new meaning to my job!! This books eye opening.. Moving.. Touching. Reality.. And just flat out awesome! "
— Danielle, 1/18/2012 -
" This was a super quick read - mainly b/c I was so taken aback by the foster care system. It was a heartbreaking story, but also had encouraging lessons throughout. "
— Susanna, 11/3/2011 -
" Awesome book. True story of a girl who grew up in foster care and the things she went though as well as what she learned from the situation. "
— Kim, 10/2/2011 -
" A story of neglect, tragedy, neglect, abuse, and AMAZING resilience! Ashley's voice is loud and clear! Get the tissues out! "
— Jamie, 6/17/2011 -
" Another book that gives you the good & bad of everyday institutions. Makes you sad & glad at same time "
— Mary, 6/11/2011 -
" OK. Good for my kids who salivate over Dave Pelzer's books. "
— Amy, 6/11/2011 -
" I recommended this to the kids because it's similar to A Child Called It (which they are all obsessed with), but doesn't focus so much on child abuse. Fantastic memoir. "
— Lindsay, 6/9/2011 -
" Very interesting memoir! It's very tragic what happens in her childhood. "
— Ashlee, 5/30/2011 -
" Wow. I highly recommend this touching book for teens and adults. "
— Michelle, 5/5/2011 -
" Ashley voice speaks so loudly and true of all kids who are part of the "system" and who feel as if NOONE cares for them. SPECTACULAR read ... but yes, you will cry! "
— Lori, 4/3/2011 -
" This was a wonderfully written book. It was so realistic, because it is real. It's about a young girl, who's mother is deemed unfit to care for her. So she's put into foster care. The book is about her foster care experience and her relationship with her brother. "
— Klymene, 3/17/2011 -
" Doesnt seem right for this to happen in America. Enjoyed this book. "
— Sophia, 3/14/2011
About Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Ashley Rhodes-Courter has been featured in Teen People, the New York Times, USA Today, and Glamour, as well as on Good Morning America. Her first memoir, Three Little Words, began as an essay, which won a writing contest for high school students, and was published in the New York Times Magazine. A graduate of Eckerd College and a champion for the reformation of the foster-care system, Ashley speaks internationally on foster care and adoption.