Barrington Stoke ISBN 9781781126950 £5.99
Another powerful, engaging short novel from this brilliant, dyslexia-friendly publishing house. Anxiety is the central theme, but experienced by children and adults alike. Amy-May has a lot on her plate. She has witnessed her parents separating and has had to move from their seaside cottage where she was home-schooled by her Dad, to an urban flat and the terrifying prospect of attending a large secondary school, because her Mum has to work. There is no defiance in this so-called ‘school refuser’, just worry. Fortunately, she is sent to Grace, the school support counsellor’s art-house. Here she cooks, draws, gardens or engages in sand play therapy. Soon, she is sharing this space with Rima and her two small brothers: refugees from Syria, all with their own anxieties. Looking on are the equally anxious parents, and Amy’s Dad away in his remote cottage. Gradually, each girl learns from the other’s story and they support each other in a graduated reintegration to school, equipped with one of Grace’s ‘worry Angels’, given to them when she considers them ready ‘to fly’. Off-white pages, spaced text, clear font and just enough beautiful line illustrations to support the narrative all help to encourage readers in KS2, as does the variety which comes from narrative, dialogue, letters and dream sequences. This is a story which lingers in the mind long after. Particularly striking was Amy-May’s observation, from working with a translator, that it was helpful to leave spaces when you talk. It is a space to rest, read other people and take in their words, thus reducing anxiety. How often do we give children this space?
Sue Barrett, retired teacher and lecturer