Product Description

After the death of his beloved grandmother - his only family - Daniel feels lost and alone. People move into his house, rubbing salt into the wound. But then he meets Laura, whose loneliness matches his. Might she become his surrogate grandmother? And that family in his old home: the bright, beautiful Jade and her little brother, Finn. Could they too spell a new beginning? It seems too much to hope for. There is something strange about Jade and Finn's relationship. And someone is after the little boy - a figure from the past. He holds the key to a secret that threatens Finn's future - and that will turn Jade and Daniel's lives upside-down.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #225969 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 245 pages

About the Author
Valerie Mendes was born in Buckinghamshire. After taking a double honours degree in English and Philosophy at Reading University, she moved to Oxford, where she still lives. She is, proudly, the mother of the theatre and film director, Sam Mendes CBE. Valerie started writing stories when she was six.

Customer Reviews

Moving and beautiful
This book takes in a wide range of emotions and topics: grief, teenage mothers, congenital diseases, young love, the need for family. It is a mark of Valerie Mendes's writing that she can weave these themes together so carefully, making sure that we understand and sympathise with each character. She also makes sure that each one has a different voice. Her descriptions of the Oxford countryside are beautiful, and the ending is a triumph.

Readers who like this might also like "The Opposite of Chocolate" by Julie Bertagna.

You just can't put it down!!
I have just finished reading it and I think it's a great read. I started it the smorning, and I just couldn't put it down! Another brilliant book from the best-seller of "Girl in the Attic" (which is a fab read too!). A must read for teenagers.

Must read!
This book is one of my favourites of all time.
It was very unpredictable and amazing how Valerie Mendes could use all different and important themes together in one story.
The characters seem very real because each chapter is told by a different person's point of view.

I recommend this to all teenage girls.