Ootlin

Brought to you by Penguin.

WINNER OF THE GORDON BURN PRIZE 2025

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Non Fiction 2025

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 changed name 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.

'Beautiful, deep, dangerous, transfixing . . . it will burn a home in your heart, it has in mine. Read every word of every page. Turn them carefully. Jenni Fagan is made of fire and spirit. From start to finish I could not put it down. Close the door. Sit down now. Read Ootlin. Read' LEMN SISSAY

'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

'Essential reading, life changing, I couldn't stop reading once I started . . . Unbelievably brave. Beautiful , earth shattering and unforgettable. A truly rare talent' SAMANTHA MORTON

©2023 Jenni Fagan (P)2023 Penguin Audio