Candyfloss

I read this book last year, and it's one of my favorites!!! It had the perfect reading level for a girl like me. I really reccomend this book to girls who like books about friendships. Floss is a girl whose parents are divorced and her mom has another husband. They are moving to Australia. They want Floss to go with her, but Floss doesn't know if she should go with her mom and stepfather who she hates and her little half-brother who she hates, or stay where she is with her poor father who owns a burger business. As I say, I really reccomend this book.

I have heard how good this book is. I am a retired teacher and my daughter teaches third grade so I bought it for her classroom and it is very popular.

I read this aloud to my 8yo daughter last year and we both enjoyed it. Floss's feelings of angst about choosing between her divorced parents is something that many readers might be able to relate to. She also learns important lessons about friendship but has some painful experiences along the way (such as the mortifying shopping trip and being called names and teased about her dad). There are some great adult characters in the book too - Flora's bumbling but ultimately likeable father, Rhiannon's revolting mother, the lovely Rose with her pink caravan and nail polish, Susan's nerdy academic dad etc etc. The other advantage of this book is that it is nice and fat so great value for money. Best of all it is a great read from start to finish. Jacqueline WIlson is a fabulous writer for this age because she puts so much detail into her characters and stories yet still writes in a way that is accessible and engaging for kids. She is also not afraid to tackle difficult issues but doesn't do this in a dreary or didactic way. I heard she has just been made a Dame in UK for her services to children's literature. Very well deserved!