The Glider by Linda Summerford
Coming August 2023
“At five years old, I’d learned how to read people’s faces. I watched carefully as everyone moved about like bees to a hive—who would it be today?”
When a sister they never knew appears, they are determined to find answers to what caused their separation. Their search leads them to discover the atrocities they endured at the hands of a broken foster care and adoption system. Will they find answers or realize that it’s still happening?
“In this day and age, child abuse is rampant. The news and social media fill our heads with these tragic events, and seldom do we hear about the ones with a positive ending. But, in The Glider, Linda Summerford—with transparency and a heart of love and forgiveness—shares her own story of redemption and healing. The Glider is a testimony to God’s mercy, protection, and goodness. It is a story that will stay with you forever. Grab a tissue when you read this book.” ~ Andrea Merrell
“Linda Summerford paints a painful and poignant story made even stronger by the fact that it is her story—real, raw, and redemptive. The Glider spotlights the dangers of a broken system and extends the hope that one person—or maybe two—can change a child's life forever.” ~ Lori Hatcher
Based on a true story of the author’s life.
Endorsements
“The Glider tells a story – Linda’s story – of the beauty that can come from brokenness. While not shying away from the life-long effects trauma, foster care, a flawed child welfare system, and even adoption can have on a child, she illustrates the life-changing potential of adoption to heal and allow a child to move beyond the brokenness. Ultimately, her story is a powerful reminder of each of our own stories of redemption – where God calls us from the sinful brokenness we were born into to a place of healing through his salvation and grace. Beautifully done. “
— Holly Pisarik
Attorney; Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy Counsel, South Carolina Medical Association
“Though our stories are different, mine and Linda’s have a few things in common. The best parts being we were both adopted by wonderful Christian parents, and we both have served on the Governor’s Taskforce to reform the Foster Care and Adoption services in South Carolina. The children trapped in a cycle of abuse today because of a broken system is just as heart-wrenching and unacceptable as it was when Linda and Wanda were adopted. My hope and prayer is that through Linda’s beautiful story of love and redemption, more children will be rescued from perpetual abuse and find their loving, forever families sooner rather than later.“
- Melanie Shull
Author, Publisher, and Editor