When I started reading, I wasn't sure that a book about a school and over-zealous mums was for me.
But, the book is so much more than that. The book is about secrets, keeping up appearances, guilt and peer pressure - for both the kids and the parents. It touches on some really serious issues but is handled in such a sensitive way.
The characters - like real people - are all flawed in one way or another and this simply adds to the believability of the the story.
The one element which I found the most distressing was the way the town treated Arlo and Woody Whitehead, because of what their father had done in the past. I couldn't help thinking how awful it would be for these kids to be shunned by society in this way. But it was an important aspect of the story.
So, all in all a great book and one I would recommend. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.
But, the book is so much more than that. The book is about secrets, keeping up appearances, guilt and peer pressure - for both the kids and the parents. It touches on some really serious issues but is handled in such a sensitive way.
The characters - like real people - are all flawed in one way or another and this simply adds to the believability of the the story.
The one element which I found the most distressing was the way the town treated Arlo and Woody Whitehead, because of what their father had done in the past. I couldn't help thinking how awful it would be for these kids to be shunned by society in this way. But it was an important aspect of the story.
So, all in all a great book and one I would recommend. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.