Book Review: Parcels in the Post takes a visceral, heartfelt look at the foster care system

When Fiona Neary was growing up in 1980s Mayo, she often wondered where her dozens of foster brothers and sisters came from. She tried to quiz the social workers who dropped off their latest arrival, but got little response.

“They say things like ‘a young one is in trouble’, or ‘these things happen’” she recalls, “and move on as quick as they can to tell us how great our Mum is”.