Overview

An honest and hopeful Young Adult thriller, set in South London, about the power of friendship as Poppy tries to tell someone her secret that her stepfather is sexually abusing her. But how does she tell about this horror in her life? The story is set in the context of a school production of 'The Tempest' and the themes of 'The Tempest' of rape, bullying, gangs and whether to take revenge or not run through the story. Poppy's family is dysfunctional, and the story of emotional struggle is told with sensitivity and insight showing the damage child sexual abuse and school bullying by girls can do to mental health. Can Poppy find the strength to tell? Does new boy Harry fancy her? Will she and Harry get together?

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9781916552029

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Reviews

Poppy tells her own story, and it reveals the strength we can unexpectedly find within ourselves to refuse to let suffering overwhelm us. It proves that, even if yesterday was painful, tomorrow can bring us hope and happiness. Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder of Childline I loved this novel and was heartbroken for Poppy. Once I started reading it, I genuinely did not want to stop. It's the sort of book that just carries you along with it and you feel like you are in the story and want to help/fight for Poppy. It's such an important story and one that will stay with me for a long, long time. Katherine O'Herlihy, School Librarian I would have loved to have read this book when I was younger, I would have realised that I wasn't alone. Nic, a survivor of child sexual abuse 'Sue's novel is engaging and gripping whilst also being informative about trauma. The more we are talking about abuse the more hope there is of change.' Jenny, a survivor of abuse Sue does a brilliant job of showing us the world through Poppy's eyes. She takes a difficult subject and handles it with sensitivity, but never holds back on the far-reaching consequences of abuse. Vicki Flippance This is a sensitive and convincing portrait of a young girl navigating many challenges - including abuse from her stepfather. Although it is heavy subject matter, the story is told with empathy and insight. Poppy is an engaging young narrator, and the characters in her world come alive on the page. Dorothy Dyer I liked this book because although it is sad in places, it's really exciting. I like to think I could help any of my friends who were abused, like Kavya helped Poppy. Jessica age 13 ""Despite the horrendous challenges she is facing, Poppy is just like any other teenager. She cares deeply about her best friend and wonders whether the new boy fancies her. Sue really brings Poppy's world to life and has us all rooting for her by the end of the very first page."" Victoria Goode.

Author Information

Sue lives in South London with her husband and Westie. She used to be a primary school teacher but then went into research to explore how children could learn maths more effectively. She has lectured in maths education in the UK and internationally. She has published a range of books, from academic books for teachers to short stories for children. Sue has run 10 marathons and 3 ultras, and she likes running along the Thames Path looking for kingfishers and egrets. She also likes curling up on the sofa to read, especially children's literature. Since she was a child Sue has been a birdwatcher and she especially likes doing that in Scotland. She also likes growing and searching out wildflowers, and eating chocolate. She has two children and eight grandchildren.

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