WINNER OF THE GORDON BURN PRIZE 2025Longlisted for the Womens Prize for Non Fiction 2025An astonishing story of survival GUARDIANExtraordinary and uplifting OBSERVERA triumphant tale of survival FINANCIAL TIMESAn extraordinary book LITERARY REVIEWTo read this book is to be reminded of the importance of kindness of beauty and of storytelling iPAPERA phenomenal memoir. I am in awe AMY LIPTROTBeautiful deep transfixing . . . it will burn a home in your heart LEMN SISSAYEssential reading lifechanging ... Beautiful earthshattering and unforgettable SAMANTHA MORTONMesmerising heartbreaking. Ill never forget it ANNIE MACShould be required reading CLAIRE FULLERThe 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.