Holly Starcross by Berlie Doherty (Andersen Press, £5.99) (From The Northern Echo)

Holly Starcross by Berlie Doherty (Andersen Press, £5.99)

11:57am Saturday 22nd August 2009 in Children's By Jenny Needham, Features Editor

TEENAGER Holly has a severe case of confused identity. She spent her formative years on a farm, before her urban-chic mother finally walked out on Holly’s incurably rustic father to begin a new life with a new man and a career in the media.

Holly hasn’t seen her father since, but she feels lost in the city and alienated from her mother, stepfather and half-siblings.

So when her father suddenly turns up and offers to take her back to her original home, she leaps at the idea.

The adventure that follows is full of interesting surprises about the long-lost half of Holly’s family and harrowing choices. Even readers whose own family backgrounds are stable and conventional will identify with this mixed-up heroine.

Chattily but expertly written, full of humanity, with a satisfying ending. (Age 9 – 13)