Family breakdown, fond memories, the moment you discover your mother is not the person you thought she was; are all themes developed in this collection. These short stories evoke a range of emotions but specifically prompt reflection on your own mother/daughter relationships. The stories exploring the tension existing between teenage girls and their mums during the struggle for greater independence held the most resonance for me but I suspect the beauty of the collection lies in the personal stories reawakened in each reader. Those who enjoy teenage girly-fiction, will find something more reflective here.

This collection is a useful addition to the bookshelf for those working with young people, as the stories embrace a variety of cultural backgrounds and settings, as well as reflecting a range of different writing styles. In particular, teachers working in upper key stage 2 and key stage 3 will value a collection that offers good examples of the short story genre that can either be studied in isolation or compared. Some sensitivity might be required in story selection, considering the nature of some of the content e.g. parental loss, however, don’t let this put you off! These stories are the staple of female readers.

2007-12-31