My Days and Nights with Children at Risk A Caseworker's Story

This book will really touch the heart and you will realize that there is alot of crazy people in this world. Some of the things that parents can do to their innocent children is simply distasteful. You will be shocked at stories of children starving to death and a kid being thrown out of a 23 story building. Along with all of the stories of thing happen to the children you will see the emotional effect it has on the Child Service members. They do their best to try and make a reasonable decision on weather to take the child our of the home. In overall this book is very emotional on both points of view. It makes you think about what people you know, may being doing to their own kids.

Turning Stones was the most interesting book I've read in a long time. I was facinated to read about the desperate children who's lives depended on the social workers. This book put us into the perspective of the social workers and gave us insight into what was involved with the job. Marc Parent does an excellent job of avoiding blame at the perpetrator and makes the reader empathize with every story in the book. We are thrust onto the same level of these situations which gives us an understanding of the people in them. Marc Parent has a writing ability that is humorous and devastating at the same time.I recommend reading this book because it is easy reading and it is very interesting.

I thought that this novel was a great overview of some of the problems which are facing children at risk. Mark Parent uses great description of the cases that he faced during his stint as a social worker in New York City. Each case brings you deeper into these childrens lives, and makes you feel like something must be done to stop these problems. Parent does an excellent job of not placing any blame on the people involved in these cases, and just takes you into the childs world. The only problem that I found in reading this novel is that he tends to drag on in some chapters. Overall, I most definetly would recomend reading this book, if childrens welfare is a topic of interest to you.

I now have a new respect for Social Workers. Marc Parent has lived through some tough times. He does things on a regular basis, that I probably could never do. Turning Stones was difficult to put down once you got started. While reading this book you go through a wide range of emotions, or at least I did. You hear of things that make you want to laugh, cry, or just plain scream. Sometimes all at once. Parent does a good job of putting you in the story and making you feel as if you were really there. This was a very good book, and it reached me in, a way I never expected. It just might reach you too. Turning Stones is definitely a book that I think people should read.

Marc Parent does a great job of telling the story of his years as a social worker. Every detail is real and touches home. Parent not only informs us, but inspires us. Even in the darkest of moments the reader can breathe a sigh of relief and continue. Parent gives us hope in a world full of unknowns and tragidies by showing that no matter what a person should do their best to make this world a better place to live. Parent uses great detail to make the reader feel like he/she is actually in the room with him in his daily activities. You can feel his pain, fear, and relief throughout the story. If I had to pick one book that changed my views it would be this one.

I thought that Turning Stones was a very open story about Marc Parent's personal encounters with abused children though his job as a Children's Welfare caseworker. The words used to describe his visits were very revealing and put the reader in his shoes. The stories are very touching and made me think about what can happen to children when they are not properly taken care of. You wouldn't believe what some children go though in a day. The stories that are locked behind thick doors now revealeved by the person who saw, first-hand what it was like. Read it and see for yourself!

Marc Parent's uniquely descriptive writing style made this book very interesting. Parent created many vivid images that really grab your attention, to the point where you can't put the book down.
Parent writes about his experiences during his four year employment at Emergency Children's Services. His descriptions of these experiences are very powerful, and they make you realize how big the problem of child abuse is. Parent colorfully describes the difficulty of working these cases, which many times include removal of children from their parents. This book will help you gain understanding and respect for child welfare workers and all social workers.

Great read. Marc Parent does a great job writing of his days as a caseworker in NYC. The eight stories Parent tells are very intense and make your self think "what would I do in that situation?" Parent has a unique writing style, which at times makes this difficult to read. He never uses the classic good vs. evil style; instead everyone is human and has their own charachter flaws. At least one of these stories, if not all of them, will make you sick in one way or another. Weeks after completing "Turning Stones" you will remember at least one of Parent's tales of his nights on the streets with children in the worst parts of NYC. Buy it.

Turning Stones is a great book about the problems facing parents and children today through the eyes of a child welfare worker, but is a little long winded. Marc Parent is a very good writer and paints a vivide picture when telling a story. He is very down to earth and tells it how it is. He gives the reader a taste of the emotion he felt during each one of his cases. Marc Parent is by far one of the best writers i have encountered because of the way he made this topic interesting. The only downfall to this book would be how long it is. I feel that it gets repetitive and a couple of the stories could be left out. Other than that this is a great book. B.C.

Marc Parent delivers to his audience the "real-world" experiences of being a social worker in Manhattan, New York. His touching tale of saving the lives of many endangered children is both brave and troublesome. It is not everyday that we encounter a book as truely told about children who have to live in some of the worst conditions and have a harsh family. This book allows us to see that not everyone lives in luxury and takes a closer look at a different aspect of society. In both dialouge and detail, Parent brings us into the busy city of Manhattan to explore his daily life working for the Emergency Children's Services.

Marc Parents terrifying stories of these poor kids really grabbed my attention. I read this book in only two days because I could not set it down! The stories he told changed the way I felt about social workers. Before I really didn't know much about them. Now I see how important and needed they are in our society. His wonderful use of descriptive language really puts me in his place. I seem to understand how he's feeling, and how all of the characters are feeling through out the book. Maybe someday there will be enough wonderful saints like Marc Parent in the world. Hopefully, someday, children will no longer have to suffer.

"Turning Stones" is a wonderful eye opening book. Marc Parent's stories made me realize that child abuse occurs everyday. I never would have imagined some of the living conditions Parent describes. Thanks to brave people like Parent, children are saved from this abuse everyday. "Turning Stones" was extremely touching, and made me want to go out in the field to help save children. I now have much respect for anyone with the strength to help these children. This is a great book for everyone to read. I believe anyone that reads this book learns not only about child abuse but important lessons about life.

This book has completely enlightened me on the life of caseworkers everywhere. I have never met a caseworker and really didn't know what they did until I read this book. Parent's accounts of his cases are very vivid and in great detail. I could picture exactly what he was writing about, and at times I felt like I was there. This book has made me want to "turn a stone" and leave my mark, by helping someone. I recommend that you read this book and enlighten your heart to want to become a better person by helping others and yourself.

The book grabs you from the first moment and puts you into the life of social worker, Marc Parent and his cases. The books shows you the difference between reading about these cases and actually experiencing them firsthand. Parent puts heart into every case he's involved with. Parent doesn't lay blame anywhere but with himself. Parent fights with himself for days over the loss of one child, when hundreds more are dying all around him. This shows how emotionally involved Parent let himself become to each child he came in contact with. Parent helps us all understand that to touch a life for even one moment is important.

This book changed my perception of human services. Before reading the book I thought of human services as people who break up families for little or no reason at all. Marc Parent has shown that the DHS workers do not want to pull these children out. He shows that some situations are bad enough to require the removal of children. I would not have ever dreamed that these situations that these kids have to face is real. Be aware that at times this book is graphic when depicting the cases that Marc faces. Remember that these cases are real and for that reason I have gained much more respect for social workers.

The book "Turning Stones" is one of the most disturbing books I have read in a long time. The most disturbing part is that it is a true story. It is amazing to believe that people acutally live these lives that most of us only hear about. Marc Parent did an wonderful job of taking the reader into his mind and showing us the things he saw. Parent describs the slums of New York City and explains the conflicts of his job as a caseworker in great detail. This book opens up the minds of its readers to the horrors of the real world, and should be read by everyone.

Truning Stones is an emotional description of the life of a Social Work. Marc Parent told some of his most memorable stories with such detail that he brings the reader in with him. Each chapter starts with a title that means little or nothing to the reader but by the end of the chapter the title obtains a whole new meaning. Everytime I see these titles, I remember the stories. By the end of the book I figuered out what the title meant and is the most inspiring thing I have heard in a long time. Everytime I hear the words Turing Stones, I will be reinspired.

Turning Stones was a very informative book. The details used to describe each story really brought out the emotional side of this book. The stories helped to open my eyes to see how other people in the world were living and how the problems that they faced were much more serious than mine. It also helped me to discover just how much child abuse is really going on in our world and how we can help to stop it one child at a time. Marc's passion for his work demonstrates how much one person can really make a difference in the life of a child.

This book is wonderful to read, yet painful to imagine. Marc Parent describes a part of his life that not only changed him, but may also change you as the reader. The experiences will touch you and infuriate you. They will make you wonder about the world we live in and the people you see everyday on the street. The details he uses put you on the streets New York. You can basically see the people, hear their voices, and feel their emotions. You may even find yourself wiping a tear away from your cheek. Marc, I congratulate you.

I really liked this book and I would recommend it to everyone. I am a person who does not like to read and I have a short attention span, however, Marc Parent kept my attention very well in Turning Stones. It was easy to read and also extremely interesting. Marc's organization skills were superb and he described the details so you could picture in your mind exactly what he was talking about. The stories were all very real and the places he had to visit really make you think about how rough life really could be. tjc

Marc Parent shows us many cases with children at risk. For those who never see this, it gives you a good picture of what the kids are going through. He also gives us cases without happy endings and then also good endings. You get an idea of both sides. You also see how he deals with this in his daily life. I feel this book will stay with me forever. It is perfect for any audience. I really recommend it to readers. It is very emotional and can be distrubing at times. But everyone needs to read Turning Stones.

Marc Parent does a wonderful job of telling readers what life as a social worker in New York City was like for him. His examples of cases are brought to life in the mind of the reader with his use of details. His descriptions of people make them seem as real to you as to him. He uses stories from his childhood in Wisconsin that help you feel how he sees the situation. Even in the most grusome cases he is careful not to put blame on anyone for what has happened. It is a great book that brings you into the story.

Turning Stones is an eye-opening read, both disturbing and interesting. Marc Parent is an excellent storyteller,painting a picture using descriptive dialog. The book is an easy read with all of the stories flowing together. It is difficult to put down because the reader becomes a side kick with Marc on all of his cases in the field of Emergency Child Services. As you read, you become interested in the lives of the children he is trying to help. This book keeps you wondering what happened.

"Turning Stones," by Marc Parent, is an eye opener to those who do not realize the danger that some children face. "Turning Stones" shows readers that Social workers try their best to come up with a soliution for the situations given to them. Parents descriptive writing makes the reader feel as if they were with Parent on every case. Anyone who reads this book, will change the way they think about the work that Social Workers do.

What would push a mother to throw her children out a window stories above the ground? Marc Parent left me with a bitter sweet feeling. Turning Stones is real, horrifing, comical, and hopeful all at once. Marc Parent describes the days and nights he has spent as a caseworker in New York. He tells horrifing reality of some children's lives and the satifaction he receives from helping them. The love he has for children is overwhelming. Turning Stones is wonderfully written and comes staight from the heart. MJM

Marc Parent's book successfully tackles the issue of child abuse in our society. It provides a realistic view of defenseless children as the reader becomes haunted by the memories of their suffering. This book is an important memoir of Parent's four years as a social worker as he recounts the stories of the abused and the families he attempted to help. Parent, through his book, becomes a vocal advocate for the well being of young boys and girls.

The book "Turning Stones" by Marc Parent was a very realistic book that gives you insight to the harsh realities that some children face each day. The many true stories that this book contains are very effective in getting the point of the book across. The book is also very detailed and seems to leave nothing out. This book describes every situation the author has been in and every emotion felt by the author in these situations.

Turning Stones is a book for everyone. The issues Parent wrote about are part of our everyday lives. It would be hard to ignore what he says. Parent's accounts are so detailed that the reader feels as if they were in his shoes. Shocking yet realistic, this book opened my eyes. It made me realize that everything I hear is not always true. Social workers are usually given bad reputations. Parent changes that.

Parent's book about his experiences as a caseworker give us a first hand look at some of the extreme situations people find themselves in as well as how fragile a child is in these situations. Parent connects with children and gives us a clear door that we can use to see through their eyes as well as their parents' eyes. He speaks from the heart and helps us learn from his experiences in this great book.

Introduction to case management, it was good read and an eye opener. Good for people who are entering the social services field. It gives a pretty decent insight of the work (i've worked in the field before).

Turning Stones will open your eyes to the real world through the accounts of a social worker from wisconsin. Its vivid chapters will leave you screaming and wanting to come back for more. You will never look at a child the same way. Parent uses descriptive wording of true life stories to piece together his life as a child savior. A must for anyone who works with children.

I really enjoyed this book. I work for Child Protective Services (investigations) myself and rereading this book recently helped motivate me and remind me why I am in this field. Some cases live in your head forever, and I can relate to some of the feelings and experiences described by the author. Definitely recommended.

Mark Parent's book reads like a bad newspaper. It's a collection of the worst cases that a welfare worker has seen in 4 years of service. It was written for the ignorant who don't realize that there are screwed up people and that child abuse/neglect does happen. Mark Parent goes on to make the character of himself seem heroic for his efforts to save kids and excuse himself for allowing one to die. Rather than read this book just read all the articles in the paper dealing with child abuse. It will be much more interesting.

Introduction to case management, it was good read and an eye opener. Good for people who are entering the social services field. It gives a pretty decent insight of the work (i've worked in the field before).

Turning Stones will open your eyes to the real world through the accounts of a social worker from wisconsin. Its vivid chapters will leave you screaming and wanting to come back for more. You will never look at a child the same way. Parent uses descriptive wording of true life stories to piece together his life as a child savior. A must for anyone who works with children.

I really enjoyed this book. I work for Child Protective Services (investigations) myself and rereading this book recently helped motivate me and remind me why I am in this field. Some cases live in your head forever, and I can relate to some of the feelings and experiences described by the author. Definitely recommended.

Mark Parent's book reads like a bad newspaper. It's a collection of the worst cases that a welfare worker has seen in 4 years of service. It was written for the ignorant who don't realize that there are screwed up people and that child abuse/neglect does happen. Mark Parent goes on to make the character of himself seem heroic for his efforts to save kids and excuse himself for allowing one to die. Rather than read this book just read all the articles in the paper dealing with child abuse. It will be much more interesting.

This is an outstanding title for anyone who is interested in the child welfare system. I also would recommend it for anyone who works with children as there are details of situations that God only knows how many children go home to.

I am using this book with my undergraduate class at a major university. It's a wonderful and honest account of working wtih children at-risk. It reads like a novel but full of real-life experiences that helps the reader to understand the great responsibilities of social workers.

This is a really good book. The author,Parent, gave good details about his cases that it felt like you can be there with him. Also, it makes you wonder what happens to the kids after Parent and other social workers are through with them.