Product Description

Dani's mother has just got married - and Dani has acquired an awful new stepsister who doesn't want to have anything to do with her. To make things worse Dani has to move house and school - to the same school as Lalita, her stepsister. She confides in her beloved gran, who gives her a special gift to help distract her from all the turmoil. It's a copy of her diary that she kept as a child, detailing everything happened to her when her family moved from India to England in the 1960s. It's in Punjabi, so Dani knows she's going to have to work hard to read it but as soon as she starts she knows it'll be worth it. Reading about her gran's friendship with the mischevious Milly is hugely fun and soon it becomes clear there's even more to the story. Dani will have to delve deep to figure out what really happened all those years ago - and specifically what happened to Milly. Can the past help with her future too?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #178138 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 229 pages

From the Back Cover
Dani has always kept a diary - and now she uses it to pour out all her frustrations about her awful new stepsister, Lalita. She also moans to her gran, who gives Dani a present to distract her - a copy of the diary she kept as a child, when her family moved from India to England in the 1960's. Reading about her gran's friendship with the mischievous Milly is fascinating and fun - and soon it becomes clear there's even more to the story. Dani will have to delve deep to figure out what really happened to Milly. She might even have to turn to unlikely sources of help. But can discovering the past help with her future too?

A brilliantly funny and totally compelling tale of stepsisters and family secrets from the author of Bindi Babes and Bend It Like Beckham.

About the Author
Narinder was born and brought up in Wolverhampton, with two younger sisters. She went to Birmingham University and worked for about ten years as a primary school teacher. Always nurturing a talent for writing, she finally turned her attention to it full-time after winning several short story prizes. Her very first book was accepted by a publisher and she hasn't looked back since. She lives with her husband and their five cats in Cambridge.

Customer Reviews

Another Coppergate Classic
This is another heartwarming story set in the milieu of Coppergate School.

The story is in two parts - one half is set in the life of a Punjabi family newly arrived in the UK in 1964 and the second part is set in the modern day. It's fascinating to see the different lifestyles of the two generations and the difficulties that the first generation faced.

But this is anything but a serious book - it's funny, generous of spirit, and exciting in parts - and the last two chapters are magnificent. Every child should read this - and their mum's too!!

Luv it!!!
Narinder Dhami is one of my fave authors. I first read this book last year, but I reread it again this year and I enjoyed it even more. I think its more suitable for slightly older girls as its quite a deep book ( I think!) I love the two diaries and the way it all works out at the end. My gran read it too and said the bits about how Indians came to England in the nineteen sixties and what happened here was very realistic. So I guess it's kind of like a history lesson, but in a fun way!

Fascinating insight into British Asian experience
Interesting use of two very different diaries, one set in modern day and one in the 1960s when Dani's gran emigrates from India to the UK.
The two plots blend well together and produce a really surprising ending. Recommended for girls 8-13.