Lowly’s Book Blog

I really don’t know what to say about this book nominated for the Children’s Book of the Year for 2006. I found it a pleasant read, but nothing particularly special.

Lily may be only 16, but she is the sensible member of her family. By age 7 she was getting her older brother up for school, now Lonnie has left home with no job but sharing a flat. Her mother is a psychologist, but instead of earning a sensible income, she works with elderly people. Worst of all, she has been known to bring some clients home for a few days because their carers ‘need a break’. Her father disappeared when she was a baby, so he doesn’t count. And then her Nan talks to an imaginary friend, at her age! Finally, Pop was angry at the whole world. Didn’t he threaten to take an axe to Lonnie last year?

But Lily dreams of a normal family, a normal life, or even just one whole perfect day, She decides that her Pop’s 80th birthday will be the day and all her common sense and hard work will be directed towards pulling it off, just for Pop. And therein lies the story.

This is definitely chick lit. School friends and enemies abound. There is a lovely side story of Lily’s first love. Even the cover has liberal lashings of pink. And although it is better than many in this genre, somehow I have trouble seeing this as an outstanding example of writing for children.