In her undeniably honest and inspiring memoir Three Little Words, we were captivated by Ashley Rhodes-Courter, an amazing young woman who—through nine years, forty-four caseworkers, and fourteen foster homes—"not only survived, she thrived" (Teen People).
Since then Rhodes-Courter has become an international advocate for adoption and child welfare. She has been interviewed by Diane Sawyer and spoken on Capitol Hill. She was called upon to run for Florida State Senate. She became a foster and adoptive parent, helping children just like herself. And she has begun to come to terms with her past.
THREE MORE WORDS explains how the foster kid who refused to slip through the cracks has begun to change the world.
Each year, an estimated 30,000 adolescents age out of the foster care system without being adopted. Only about 7,000 of these young adults go on the college or vocational training. The remaining 23,000 children are left to fend for themselves, many becoming involved with drugs, alcohol, unplanned pregnancy, prostitution, and ultimately jail. This is a real problem affecting our nation and Rhodes-Courter is an advocate for change. She has the unique perspective of both a foster kid and parent, and aims to put the "child" back in "child welfare."
THREE MORE WORDS also reveals the nuances of life after foster care, including college, marriage (which began with a beautiful wedding on a boat that was almost hijacked—literally—by some biological family members) and having kids, from fostering children and the heartbreak of watching them return to destructive environments, to the miraculous joy of blending biological and adopted offspring.
Whether she's overcoming self-image issues, responding to calls for her to run for Senate, or dealing with continuing drama from her biological family, Ashley Rhodes-Courter never fails to impress or inspire with her authentic voice and uplifting message.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Rhodes-Courter is an advocate for adoption. She has delivered speeches on Capitol Hill and given keynote addresses at conferences about adoption and foster care. She has been featured in The New York Times, USA TODAY, and Glamour, as well as on Good Morning America, Nightline, Today, CNN and more. Her first memoir, Three Little Words, began as an essay, which won a writing contest for high school students, and was published in The New York Times Magazine. A graduate of Eckerd College and a champion for the reformation of the foster care system, Ashley speaks internationally on foster care and adoption. Visit her at Rhodes-Courter.com.
