Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Best Story Award 2016! My goodness! I am so glad I stumbled across this book in the library. When I was reading it I was in a place where I supposed to be quiet, so got some very funny looks when I snorted with laughter! I was also afraid that people might have seen me with a tear in my eye... it is a VERY emotional book that will make you laugh and make you cry in equal measure.
Becket Rumsey is an eleven year old boy still really struggling with the death of his Mum as she gave birth to his younger brother Billy seven years ago. Even worse is that Dad has bundled them into his van, and taken them to live away from their "2nd Mum", Dad's girlfriend. With Dad very distracted Becket, Billy and Billy's pet snail Brian are on the own, starting a new school, getting used to their new classmates. Becket is also tormented trying to think of a way to say goodbye properly to his Mum.
A lovely story, I challenge you not to read Becket's letter in the last chapter without "getting something in your eye."
This is the second story by Lara Williamson. Her first book, A Boy Called Hope, won many awards and has been on my wishlist for quite some time, which is the reason I got this book out of the library when I saw it.