At My Door (Deb Fitzpatrick, Fremantle Press)

Late one cold Monday night, 10-year-old Poppy Campbell and her family get a visit from an unexpected guest. Someone has abandoned a little girl outside the Campbells’ door and sped off into the darkness, leaving Poppy’s mum and dad with a confused, crying toddler. Tiny Mei is barely two years old, and all she’s got with her is a green blanket. While Poppy’s parents call the police and try to make Mei comfortable, Poppy and her older brother Harry try to figure out what’s going on. Where has Mei come from? Who left her behind? And how long can she stay with the Campbells? This is a light, easy read from accomplished Australian writer Deb Fitzpatrick, who handles an unusual subject with humour and insight. As you’d expect considering its target audience of seven- to 10-year-olds, the book skirts around the darker side of why someone might leave a baby on a stranger’s doorstep, but opens up the possibility of some interesting conversations with younger readers about different and difficult family situations. Poppy is a lively and curious narrator who isn’t afraid to ask questions, and her efforts to make Mei feel at home while the authorities search for her parents are sweet and warm-hearted.

Carody Culver is a freelance writer and editor and bookseller at Brisbane’s Avid Reader

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews