OOTLIN

WINNER OF THE GORDON BURN PRIZE 2025 Longlisted for the Women s Prize for Non Fiction 2025 Extraordinary and uplifting OBSERVER A triumphant tale of survival FINANCIAL TIMES An extraordinary book LITERARY REVIEW To read this book is to be reminded of the importance of kindness of beauty and of storytelling iPAPER A phenomenal memoir I am in awe AMY LIPTROT Beautiful deep transfixing it will burn a home in your heart LEMN SISSAY Essential reading life changing Beautiful earth shattering and unforgettable SAMANTHA MORTON Mesmerising heart breaking I ll never forget it ANNIE MAC Should be required reading CLAIRE 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