Fostered
Fostered
Tori grew up in the foster care system, a bi-racial child in a confusing and volatile world. Growing up with a mentally ill mother and living in twelve different foster homes, nothing was in her favor. And yet, even with a miniscule chance of graduating college and a great risk of being homeless, jobless, and on drugs, Tori overcame every negative stereotype and assumption that attacked her identity.
However, Tori will tell you she did not overcome. Christ did. In the face of the darkness, the difficulty, and the damage, Jesus made a way for Tori to find profound hope, deep faith, renewed purpose, and a loving family, too. After so many years of being on one side of foster care as a child, Tori is now on the other side as a foster mom, adoptive mom, and biological mom. On top of that, she was crowned not only as a Track and Field All-American, but as queen of Mrs. Universe 2022, a platform she now uses to pursue her passion for foster care reform, adoption advocacy, and help for vulnerable populations.
If you want to hear the true tale of an unlikely overcomer, this book is for you. If you want to learn more about the foster care system from a former foster youth's perspective, this book is for you. If you want to better dwell in the reality of your own spiritual adoption by our Heavenly Father and better understand the orphan and the widow that He loves dearly, this book is for you. Ultimately, if you want to remember who God is, and what He can do through the most unlikely of people, Fostered is for you.
This true story is so gripping I read it in two sittings! As a foster mum, I've followed Tori for a while on social media, but this gave me the big picture of her entire life. What makes it such a great book is not just the phenomenal turn-around in Tori's life's trajectory, but how clearly she points to God as the One to whom all the glory is owed. This is not just a book for those involved in foster care (although it is soooo helpful to hear the perspective of a former foster child) but for anyone who has ever looked at others and wondered why they seem to make such "stupid" choices in life. Although harrowing at times (it does come with a trigger warning in the introduction) it is ultimately incredibly encouraging for all who are labouring in God's kingdom in any way to hear how God is at work, even in the messiest of lives.