Title: Failed by the System
Subtitle: An Adopted Special-Needs Family Caught Between Trauma, Bureaucracy, and Unbreakable Love
Author: Pixie McLeod
Publisher: Balboa Press AU
ISBN: 979-8765206782
Pages: 246
Genre: Nonfiction / Memoir
Reviewer: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
While many things in life differ from person to person and form many viewpoints, one universal truth is no matter what it looks like, everyone needs family. Whether that family is one forged through shared bloodlines being the family you grew up in, or instead that family is forged through shared bonds and common goals, a made-family. The chosen group of people as family provides the sense of home and heart that so many people seek out for themselves and it is a valuable thing to have for those who are not lucky enough to be born into it.
Family is the driving force behind author Pixie McLeod’s Failed by the System.The book follows the author’s life, from the early experiences with family as a child to later falling in love and discovering the passion for becoming a parent. Facing health struggles and shifting perspectives on how to define family, the author’s book explores the process of adoption and the foster care system within Scotland, as well as including the dynamics of taking care of children, dealing with trauma, and her own health struggles.
This is a powerful and compelling non-fiction read. The author develops life experiences and memories in a way which feels immersive, using powerful imagery and honest conversation to bring them to life on the pages. The depth of detail the author provides helps paint a picture unique to readers outside Scotland, offering a glimpse into evolving viewpoints on adoption and fostering, especially during its transformation in the 80s. The way the author touches on chronic illness for herself and her family is heartfelt and compelling, as many readers can identify with this often overlooked and rarely discussed topic they deal with in their own lives.
Readers who enjoy non-fiction books, especially memoirs and non-fiction books on adoption, disabilities, and family structures, and the differences which can be found depending on each and every country, will thoroughly enjoy this book. The author provides a well-rounded look at her life and experiences both in her home country and during travels abroad to countries including the UK and Australia. Seeing how the family copes and bonds through the emergence of these health scares and seeing the path to parenthood the author takes, and the bond that comes with providing a home for her two boys, is inspiring and emotionally driven, giving readers a thought-provoking and heartfelt experience that perfectly shines a spotlight on adoption and foster care in Scotland.
Failed by the System explores trauma, adoption, advocacy, and the relentless determination required to protect and support children with special needs. A powerful reminder that behind every case file is a family, and behind every statistic is a human story. I recommend Failed by the System to parents, caregivers, educators, social workers, and advocates seeking understanding of the challenges faced by special-needs families.
