SALE ON NOW! PROMOTIONS

Close Notification

Your cart does not contain any items

$24.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English
Penguin (Cornerstone)
21 August 2025
'I phenomenal memoir. I am in awe' AMY LIPTROT

WINNER OF THE GORDON BURN PRIZE 2025

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Non Fiction 2025

'Extraordinary and uplifting' OBSERVER 'A triumphant tale of survival' FINANCIAL TIMES 'An extraordinary book' LITERARY REVIEW 'To read this book is to be reminded of the importance of kindness, of beauty and of storytelling' iPAPER 'A phenomenal memoir. I am in awe' AMY LIPTROT 'Beautiful, deep, transfixing . . . it will burn a home in your heart' LEMN SISSAY 'Essential reading, life-changing ... Beautiful, earth-shattering and unforgettable' SAMANTHA MORTON 'Mesmerising, heart-breaking. I'll never forget it' ANNIE MAC 'Should be required reading' CLAIRE FULLER

The 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.
By:  
Imprint:   Penguin (Cornerstone)
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 129mm,  Spine: 35mm
Weight:   500g
ISBN:   9781804942130
ISBN 10:   1804942138
Pages:   336
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  ELT Advanced ,  Primary
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Jenni Fagan was born in Scotland. Jenni was selected as one of Granta's Best Young British Novelists after the publication of her debut novel, The Panopticon, which was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the James Tait Black Prize. The Sunlight Pilgrims, her second novel, was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Encore Award and the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year Award and saw her win Scottish Author of the Year at the Herald Culture Awards. Luckenbooth was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 2021. Jenni Fagan is a Doctor of Philosophy, she lives in Edinburgh with her son.

Reviews for Ootlin

A phenomenal memoir. I am in awe. It takes exceptional strength to survive the events described in this book and courage, skill and magic to write a life story, especially when this type of story is often marginalised -- Amy Liptrot A clear-eyed, unsentimental account of the author's childhood being shuffled between foster homes. Her resilience is remarkable. It's a book that really made me want to reach through the pages and help -- Douglas Stuart An astonishing piece of work. I tore through it, and it through me. I will never, ever forget it -- Niall Griffiths Ootlin is a 21st century classic from one of our most exceptional writers -- Adelle Stripe Heartbreaking, magnificent, and incredibly important . . . [Jenni Fagan] is one of the best -- Ever Dundas


See Also