Miss Understood (James Roy, Woolshed Press)

Ten-year-old Lizzie doesn’t mean to cause trouble, and always has the best intentions. So why is she being homeschooled by her mother after being expelled from school for setting her principal on fire? Now Lizzie has to demonstrate that she is responsible if she wants to return to school and see her friends. But between her father’s strange behaviour and the suspicious activity in the house next door, Lizzie is going to have to work harder than ever to avoid distractions. James Roy explores some very adult issues, such as financial problems, depression and homelessness, through the authentic voice of curious, kind-hearted Lizzie. While there are times when she behaves like a typical 10-year-old, Lizzie’s desire to fix a situation without asking for recognition makes her a surprising and singular character. Despite the relatively simple premise of this story, the in-depth exploration of family dynamics is mature and fresh in a genre dominated by conveniently absent parents. This is a great book for children aged 9-12, particularly for fans of authors such as Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson.

Meg Whelan works at the Hill of Content Bookshop in Melbourne

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Category: Reviews