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#127390 - Mon Sep 02 2002 12:48 AM White Oleander
Polygon Offline
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Registered: Tue Jul 23 2002
Posts: 45
Loc: Belgium
Hi
I'm reading White Oleander at the moment. I'm really devouring it. I was wondering though. I don't want to be rude or anything, but is the American foster care system really such a joke or is the book only describing the aberrations?

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#127391 - Tue Sep 03 2002 04:56 PM Re: White Oleander
wrenaz Offline
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Registered: Tue Jul 09 2002
Posts: 48
Loc: Missing Mile, NC
Yeah, I'd say it's pretty screwy, just look at our judicial system. I don't expect them to be totally perfect. That's not realistic. It's just tragic the number of people who get lost in the system. As someone once said (someone really, really smart imo), "Good intentions paved the road to hell."

I read the book, btw. I thought it was brilliant and moving. Just saw the preview for the movie they're making. Michelle Pfieffer is playing Astrid's mother. Go figure. There must be some running deal in Hollywood that says she has to star in any movie made out of a bestseller from Oprah Winfrey's book club. lol
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#127392 - Thu Sep 19 2002 12:25 AM Re: White Oleander
Moo Offline
Forum Champion

Registered: Thu Mar 21 2002
Posts: 8275
Loc: at the computer
I just read the book, and I couldn't put it down. I was still reading at 7:00 am one morning!

The American foster system is very overburdened, sadly, by not enough social workers for the case load. I know there are some cases Astrid's (in the book), but overall, it isn't anywhere close to that.
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Paint your left knee green
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#127393 - Wed Sep 25 2002 08:22 AM Re: White Oleander
IndieQueen Offline
Forum Champion

Registered: Tue Apr 17 2001
Posts: 7306
Loc: Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania USA
I read this book over the summer. It was very moving and quite riveting. I don't have any experience with the US foster care system, but from what I've heard from friends who have, the book isn't that far off. I'm waiting not so patiently for the movie to come out.
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