Living with her mother and grandmother, Cora longs for her absent father, and becomes convinced that he, too, wishes them to meet. Her search stirs up memories amongst family and friends, and eventually forces her to reconcile her dreams with reality.

The issues of one parent families are a popular source of storyline in contemporary children's fiction, reflecting the high incidence of such situations in modern society. June Oldham's Cora feels that both family and friends are withholding information from her about her father's disappearance, and sets about attempting to solve what she increasingly views as slightly supernatural mysteries. At times, because of her grandmother's concerns for her safety, Cora has to deceive her family, and this poses questions of honesty and integrity for readers which may help them to a conclusion if faced with similar decisions in their own lives. As an only child, Cora has no one to discuss her ideas with, and her imaginings become increasingly embedded in the imagery of smoke and fire, which seem to her to be the only tangible links to her father's possible return to the village as the mysterious man who helped put out the fire at a local farm. Eventually, although she never finally confirms that the man she befriends is her father, she has to acknowledge that he cannot return and resume his family responsibilities, and she must accept her situation and move on.

Oldham writes with great understanding of the situation, and expresses the heightened sense of reality which characterizes the adolescent perception of life. There are evocative descriptions of the Yorkshire Dales, and passages of intense emotional response, culminating in the final powerful image of Cora accepting her new life. A thought provoking novel for readers of 12+ providing excellent opportunities for stylistic study with many PSHE issues at its heart.

2008-01-01