Anna is twelve years old, loves dancing and reading and has a younger brother called Anto (Antony). Officially she’s only six minutes older than him but she’s claimed the big sister title and is sticking with it.

The twins are close as most twins are and live with their parents. Anna thinks her mum is gorgeous, (without makeup like other mums) and her dad is funny, and she loves to remember their family holidays when everyone was having a wonderful time. Life hasn’t been like those holidays lately. Mum and Dad seem to snap at each other instead of smiling, and their remarks are getting louder and more angry.

Soon both Anna and Anto are sitting at the top of the stairs together at night, listening to their parents fight. Anna tries to calm Anto as he gets upset. She can’t touch him unless he asks for a cuddle and she can’t stop him hitting himself either. This would only make his stress reactions worse. Antony’s autism is something Anna knows well and understands. She knows her twin better than their parents.

This is the most upsetting thought. If Mum and Dad split like so many other parents of their classmates, will they be split too? One living with Mum and one with Dad?

After she’s calmed Antony and diverted him to his Lego or bed, Anna uses her vivid imagination to push these thoughts aside. It’s her imagination that gives her a possible solution. Anna has been accepted on a trip to Italy with her dance group. If they make a family holiday out of it, things will be like they used to be. Won’t they?

Brian Conaghan has captured twelve year old Anna perfectly on the page. She’s growing up, looking forward to more independence, admiring a boy in her dance group, and longing for cool trainers and clothes like another girl has.

But there’s much more to Anna too. She loves her parents and their company. Sure she gets a little embarrassed by them sometimes, as all pre-teens. She adores her twin brother even though brothers are annoying, and he communicates with a coat hanger, noises and body motions. Anna knows what every movement means and she’s a staunch advocate for him.

She feels the pressure of looking out for both of them however, as her parents and family seem to be falling apart.

The author has handled the trauma of pre-separation of parents deftly – the parents dig and spar and bicker, seemingly oblivious that their children can hear them, and then deflect any questions if asked. The main character’s worries and fears are raw, with the added worry of looking out for her autistic non-verbal twin.

Beautiful as always. Another Conaghan gem.

Author – Brian Conaghan

Age – 11+

(2023, Separation, Worries, Worry, Arguments, Arguing, Family, Love, Betrayal, Growing up, Secret, Twins, Non-Verbal, Dancing, Dance Competition, Italy, Italian Holiday, Autism, Autistic, Divorce?, Siblings, Twins, Brother)