I'm a huge fan of this author - particularly her award winning book for 9-12-year-olds, 'The Skylarks' War'. So I was eager to read this new title when I had an advance copy a few months ago. 

Although it was billed as something a little different, and for a younger age group (though not that much younger at 8+!), I was still taken by surprise. But what a beautiful book! It's been so hard waiting to tell you about it!

Rosa is tragically orphaned and looks destined to be sent to a home but distant relatives, an aunt and uncle, come to live with her. They are the Mondays and they run a business selling 'plastic grass'. They are horrible people, killing an apple tree and forbidding Rosa from befriending cats - the neighbour's cat Balthazar is very special...

Nothing seems to go right for Rosa. She was due to go on a school trip but the teachers all win the lottery the day before and resign!

Rosa is taken to Venice with her aunt and uncle but is told she can't take any luggage and has to sit separately from them on the plane and has to stay in a different hotel. 

It's a really extraordinary book which is nostalgic, magical and wry. Though Rosa has a grim old time, she is resolute and optimistic and a better future never feels too far away. Surely everything will come good for Rosa in the end.

I loved this book. It was so funny and fresh and inventive. Brilliant!