MYN Digital Stories Book Review: Mandy Urwiler

Review of One Kid at a Time by Jake Dekker

The book One Kid at a Time is a true story about a boy and his new dad as they navigate the systems 

of foster care and adoption together while dealing with the child having severe behavioral issues.

Jake Dekker takes you on a roller coaster ride of love, anger, sadness, frustration, and loss. When Jake first meets Danny at 10 years old, he is a broken child of the system. With Jake's help, Danny becomes a normal 13 year old boy with normal adolescent issues.

It is amazing how Jake mends the wounds of Danny's life with just some love. This mindset gets shown over and over again throughout the book and is true for most foster youth. Its content weighs heavy on the heart but is so well written I had problems putting this book down. Anyone who has been in foster care would do well to read this book, as well as anyone who has any part in the foster care system. Whether a social worker, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), attorney, judge, foster parent, or simply someone who has interest in knowing what it's like for youth going through foster care, you can read, learn, and be inspired from this book.