Deborah Frontiera's book, Fighting CPS, is a case study in why crimes against children should be investigated by law enforcement as opposed to CPS--a well-intentioned social service agency lacking law enforcement training, priorities and experience. My hope is that this book will assist in our work for reforms to this system that fails children and families on both ends of the spectrum. --Randy Burton, Attorney, founder of the non-profit group Justice for Children

The State of Michigan just settled a law suit that has brought about many changes in the way DHS does business. It sounds like the great State of Texas needs the same child advocacy group to sue them. --Linda Sanchez, Caseworker Supervisor, Good Will Farms

The back cover notes of Fighting CPS, by Deborah K. Frontiera state that the book chronicles thirteen months of agony and frustration suffered by the innocent Bonilla and Frontiera families as a result of Children's Protective Services removal of young James Bonilla from his parents. But the significance of the story this book tells reverberates far beyond the Child Protective Services Division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on which the book focuses. This book is relevant for all fifty states with similar agencies charged with responsibility for investigating reports of abuse and neglect of children. Few Americans take exception to the mission of child protective services and their primary goal of protecting children. But a mounting body of evidence, like that presented in Fighting CPS, has made it clear that an alarming number of state agencies and family court systems are broken. This reality has resulted in a growing grassroots movement demanding change and reform in numerous states. Based on Frontiera's book, it's hard to imagine a state in greater disrepair than Texas! On the other hand, once the reader uncoils from their own initial reaction of disbelief, made possible by the detailed documentation drawn from the author's own copious journal notes, no imagination is required to comprehend the ordeal of young James Bonilla, his parents Rufina and Julio and grandparents Deborah and Jasper Frontiera. I wonder, however, if those individuals form Texas CPS who were involved with this case understand, or even care, about the ramifications of their ineptitude. Many reform advocates believe that the investigative component of the process would best be executed by trained law enforcement agencies. And, to make a difficult process even more daunting, the Bonilla case was handed off to thirteen different case workers over thirteen months. Nearly all of them failed to even fine time to read the case file. In Fighting CPS, Deborah Frontiera shares her story in an honest, open and endearing manner. I felt her agony and frustrations and sometimes intense anger throughout the book. I was eager to keep reading so that I could celebrate the victory that I wished for this family to achieve. While Frontiera follows-up on her own story with ten other case studies in answer to the question of whether or not her case wast typical, it is her own story that undoubtedly will compel others to engage with this issue or become involved with a movement. At least that was the case for me. Before penning my final draft of this review, I began researching the current condition of CPS in my own county and state. I hope the author will tell James and his parents that the sharing of his story has already had an impacted someone who read the book. --Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or someone who cares about children, Fighting CPS will open your eyes to the dysfunction within a system intended to help and protect children. It provides a frustrating and heart-breaking example of what happens when the system works against families, due to the senseless --Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Two skull fractures discovered during an emergency room visit led Child Protective Services (CPS) to place a toddler with his grandparents. Now, that toddler's grandmother shares her story of juggling the coexisting roles of a child's caretaker and his parent's supporter, as they fought for their son's return against CPS's presumption of their guilt. Former teacher and children's book author Frontiera includes summaries of similar situations and suggestions for change. As a memoir, the book gives voice to grandparents with whom CPS placement is preferable to fostering, and she successfully describes their many frustrations. As a call to action, the book fails, as it lacks appropriate citations, information resources, or even analysis, e.g., of moving CPS cases to the criminal arena or altering burdens of proof. VERDICT: families battling CPS may find comfort in the voice of a kindred spirit. Those seeking information about the complexities surrounding balancing parental rights with protecting children and those seeking systemic change are better served by Joseph Goldstein's The Best Interests of the Child: The Least Detrimental Alternative and Dean Tong's Elusive Innocence: Survival Guide to the Falsely Accused. --Reba Kennedy, San Antonio, for Library Journal, March 1, 2012, page 110

The back cover notes of Fighting CPS, by Deborah K. Frontiera state that the book chronicles thirteen months of agony and frustration suffered by the innocent Bonilla and Frontiera families as a result of Children's Protective Services removal of young James Bonilla from his parents. But the significance of the story this book tells reverberates far beyond the Child Protective Services Division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on which the book focuses. This book is relevant for all fifty states with similar agencies charged with responsibility for investigating reports of abuse and neglect of children. Few Americans take exception to the mission of child protective services and their primary goal of protecting children. But a mounting body of evidence, like that presented in Fighting CPS, has made it clear that an alarming number of state agencies and family court systems are broken. This reality has resulted in a growing grassroots movement demanding change and reform in numerous states. Based on Frontiera's book, it's hard to imagine a state in greater disrepair than Texas! On the other hand, once the reader uncoils from their own initial reaction of disbelief, made possible by the detailed documentation drawn from the author's own copious journal notes, no imagination is required to comprehend the ordeal of young James Bonilla, his parents Rufina and Julio and grandparents Deborah and Jasper Frontiera. I wonder, however, if those individuals form Texas CPS who were involved with this case understand, or even care, about the ramifications of their ineptitude. Many reform advocates believe that the investigative component of the process would best be executed by trained law enforcement agencies. And, to make a difficult process even more daunting, the Bonilla case was handed off to thirteen different case workers over thirteen months. Nearly all of them failed to even fine time to read the case file. In Fighting CPS, Deborah Frontiera shares her story in an honest, open and endearing manner. I felt her agony and frustrations and sometimes intense anger throughout the book. I was eager to keep reading so that I could celebrate the victory that I wished for this family to achieve. While Frontiera follows-up on her own story with ten other case studies in answer to the question of whether or not her case wast typical, it is her own story that undoubtedly will compel others to engage with this issue or become involved with a movement. At least that was the case for me. Before penning my final draft of this review, I began researching the current condition of CPS in my own county and state. I hope the author will tell James and his parents that the sharing of his story has already had an impacted someone who read the book. --Joseph Yurt for Reader Views

Deborah K. Frontiera and her husband have raised four daughters. She taught in Houston Public Schools for twenty-three years before retiring in 2008 to focus on her writing career. During her teaching years, she was a frequent speaker and workshop presenter at professional conferences. She is the author of many books currently in print and online ranging from picture books for primary age children to SF Fantasy for young adults and historical fiction. Three of her books have won awards. She teaches part time for Houston's Writers In The Schools program.