It's so cheering to find a children's novel which is a good, honest, straightforward story. There are no morals or messages - just a strong story about a girl whose parents have let her down badly. Holly's dad isn't there to meet her off the train as promised - so she is taken under the wing of a children's writer travelling on the same train. It's hard to tell which of them is more awkward about the situation. The novel follows the next two weeks while Holly and her host family get used to each other. And as they do, the truth about Holly's life is gradually revealed. The ending is more hopeful than happy - Holly is a character I'll find myself thinking about for some time, I'm sure. I'll be giving this novel to all the 9 to 13s I know.