Ootlin

WINNER OF THE GORDON BURN PRIZE

Longlisted for the Womens Prize for Non Fiction

Shortlisted for Scotlands National Book Awards Non-Fiction Book of the Year

An astonishing story of survivalGuardian
Extraordinary and upliftingObserver
A triumphant tale of survivalFinancial Times
An extraordinary bookLiterary Review
To read this book is to be reminded of the importance of kindness, of beauty and of storytellingiPaper
A phenomenal memoir. I am in aweAmy Liptrot
Beautiful, deep, transfixing . . . it will burn a home in your heartLemn Sissay
Essential reading, life-changing ... Beautiful, earth-shattering and unforgettableSamantha Morton
Mesmerising, heart-breaking. Ill never forget itAnnie Mac
Should be required readingClaire Fuller

The government told a story about me before I was born.

Jenni Fagan was property of the state before birth. She drew her first breath in care and by the age of seven, she had lived in fourteen different homes and had her name changed multiple times.

Twenty years after her first attempt to write this powerful memoir, Jenni is finally ready to share her account.
Ootlin is a journey through the broken UK care system – it is one of displacement and exclusion, but also of the power of storytelling. It is about the very human act of making meaning from adversity.