Caleb, an autistic teen is mistakenly arrested.Bad turns to worse when he is then apprehended from his family by DFS.His mother could never have predicted the chain of events in a million years.In trying to protect him, DFS has actually put Caleb in harm’s way.Once again, Gabriel and Renata have teamed up to right injustice and to get Caleb to safety. But Andrew Searle is on the case, and it’s … But Andrew Searle is on the case, and it’s his job to see that they don’t succeed and that Caleb remains in foster care.
Ripped from the headlines, you won’t want to miss this intriguing plot!
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I was provided an ARC by the author at my request and this is my honest opinion. This is the first of the Medical Kidnap books that I have read even though it is number 4 in the series. And I’ll be honest, I have a couple of the others books on my TBR list, but I’ll have to take them one at a time; my blood pressure won’t handle them all together. Ms. Workman must have first-hand experience with the Department of Family and Child Services because she creates characters that ring so very true. As a retired pediatric nurse, I have seen Social Workers who had their clients best interests at heart, and others who just wanted to get done with the day. Then you have law enforcement officers who have become so jaded they immediately assume the worse about everyone they come in contact with, and in their defense, they almost have to in order to survive their shift. But then when they come in contact with someone with disabilities a bad situation becomes even worse. Ms. Workman shines a bright light on this current situation and creates characters that you love to hate and love to cheer for; characters who will leave their mark on your heart long after you turn the last page of the book. I can’t think of any higher praise. I highly recommend you try this book.
Toxo is Book 4 in the Medical Kidnap Files Series by P.D. Workman. It’s a series I have not read before, but I was unaware that any books had been written before this one, so I feel it’s easy to read this one without needing to read the others first. That being said, I always enjoy reading the whole series when I find a book or an author who writes a series I enjoy. The same is true for this book. I found it very compelling right from the start. The beginning of the book put me in the shoes of Caleb, a autistic teen who is also deaf. He faces the double struggle of not being able to communicate his needs well as an autistic child along with the challenge of having a hearing deficit while going to a mainstream school. At the beginning of this story, Caleb is given instructions regarding leaving school and getting on his bus. But his sound processor has died and he cannot make sense of the directions. His unclear answer is taken to be a nod that he understands and he is left to his own devices- a young autistic on the streets attempting to make his way home alone. Things quickly go from bad to worse when a policeman sees him acting erratically and pegs him as a drug addict. He is accosted and arrested when he fails to cooperate. His hearing aid goes unnoticed by the police, so he is manhandled as an unruly druggie under the influence. It’s only when another officer recognizes his actions and takes an interest that he gets uncuffed and DFS is called in to help. Unfortunately, between the police and DFS, it’s decided that Caleb shouldn’t be allowed back home without a thorough investigation of his parents and he is taken into custody. Elsewhere, a young couple hears about the case and goes to work trying to help the parents of Caleb defend themselves and get their son back or else prepare to kidnap their son and move them to another state- out of the clutches of the DFS. What started out as a simple misunderstanding turns into a nightmare that is only too real in how easily it could happen. I was angered, dismayed, and frightened that such an injustice could happen with so little to go on, but it actually happens more than you know. This is a great example of the gritty storytelling that P.D. Workman is so good at.
As usual P. D. Workman has managed to write a book that makes you question what you believe or know. Her books may be labeled Young Adult but everyone should read them.
I always have to prepare myself to read them. I know that the book will bring on an emotional response. This book is the foster care system. I know something about it. The medical kidnapping is totally new for me. However, that does not mean I do not not believe it is real. Just the opposite. i know it is!!! Just did not know the name.
The autism aspect in the book is real. Where I live there was a young person who did not make it to school, family was not notified and was eventually found dead.
SO THIS BOOK IS VERY REAL!!!!!!
This is my first Medical kidnap files book. The book scan be read by itself easily. Moves along very fast and can be read in a day .
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.