This book has less than 100 pages but it still manages to pack a punch. I am currently ploughing my way through a 400 page middle grade novel, so it felt like a bit of a relief to read this whole book in less than half an hour.
Very late one night a toddler is left on the doorstep of a home in the suburbs. Inside live Poppy, her brother Harry and their mum and dad. This story works like a tiny glimpse into their lives. All of the action takes place over less than 24 hours.
Poppy listens in as her parents contact the police. When they arrive she hears her parents asking to keep the little girl just for one night. Back in her room Poppy grabs her notebook and she writes this list:
Things Mai will need:
- somewhere to sleep (a cot)
- a toothbrush
- soft toys
- board books (box under mum's bed)
- clothes (top shelf of the linen cupboard)
Poppy, our narrator, shows enormous empathy and compassion as the family grapple with the authorities. Eventually little Mai is allowed to stay for just one night.
Mei is settled on the lounge and after all her furious and distressing tears she finally falls asleep. Mum tells Poppy and Harry they can miss school. Everyone sleeps in. Mum is exhausted because she has been up and down to little Mei all through the night. In the morning it is clear the authorities will need to return and that Mei will be taken away. Photos of Mei have been sent to the media. Everyone is looking for her mother. But Poppy knows this little girl, right now, just needs friendly smiles and perhaps a toy or too.
Eventually Mei is taken away to the home of a foster family and later still Poppy's family hear Mei's mother has been found but there will always be those lingering unanswered questions:
"... sometimes families in trouble do desperate things ... Maybe they felt that Mei was safer with another family ... There could be financial difficulties, ... or a physical threat. Abuse perhaps. Or some sort of criminal activity that put the child in danger."
"For whatever reason, Mei's mum was having trouble coping. She might have had depression or some other health problem."
This book would be perfect to read to a class of students aged 9+. Here are a set of teaching notes. You can see more books by Deb Fitzpatrick here.
I loved the honest of this story and the occasional colloquial language: "far out brussel sprout"; "holy guacamole"; and "yes indeedy".
Huge thanks to my colleague from the Westmead Children's Hospital Book Bunker who shared this book with me today. I think it might be about to go out of print so you should act quickly to add this book to your library or classroom. It is a NSW Premier's Reading Challenge title on the 3-4 list.
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