ISBN 0807208248 - Before I picked up this book, I'd read a review, someplace, that referred to the book as "British comedy". Since it's a childrens' book, that made me curious. I've never read - or listened to - a childrens' British comedy. And I still haven't. This is nothing even remotely like a British comedy, unless you're going to count Julia Sawahla's accent.
Saffy's parents are both artists. Her father maintains a studio in town, while her mother paints at home. Her father is prententious and, apparently, untalented, while her mother is subtle and skilled. This only comes to light slowly, as does everything else in the story. Saffy's siblings are... colorful. Literally. Indigo, Cadmium and Rose have all been named for colors on the color chart; knowing this is why Saffy - Saffron - is so bothered to discover that her name is not on the chart at all. Eventually, her parents tell her that she is actually the daughter of her mother's sister, who died in Italy when Saffy was a baby. Saffy feels as if she's lost her family and sometimes, to guard against their rejection, she rejects them first. A minor collision brings Sarah, a wheelchair-bound neighbor, into Saffy's life just when she needs a friend. When the childrens' grandfather dies, Saffy's father ridicules his will. He hadn't owned anything and couldn't leave the children anything! Still Saffy is certain that his note about "Saffy's angel" is real, and her angel is out there. All she has to do is find her.
Sawahla's reading, and her accent (I know, that's so American to say), is probably what made this book for me. The greatest negative in the story are the parents, quite possibly the worst - and most oblivious - parents in the history of the world. The kids, however, all make up for it. This is a nice story about what really makes a family, for ages 8 and up.
- AnnaLovesBooks
Saffy's parents are both artists. Her father maintains a studio in town, while her mother paints at home. Her father is prententious and, apparently, untalented, while her mother is subtle and skilled. This only comes to light slowly, as does everything else in the story. Saffy's siblings are... colorful. Literally. Indigo, Cadmium and Rose have all been named for colors on the color chart; knowing this is why Saffy - Saffron - is so bothered to discover that her name is not on the chart at all. Eventually, her parents tell her that she is actually the daughter of her mother's sister, who died in Italy when Saffy was a baby. Saffy feels as if she's lost her family and sometimes, to guard against their rejection, she rejects them first. A minor collision brings Sarah, a wheelchair-bound neighbor, into Saffy's life just when she needs a friend. When the childrens' grandfather dies, Saffy's father ridicules his will. He hadn't owned anything and couldn't leave the children anything! Still Saffy is certain that his note about "Saffy's angel" is real, and her angel is out there. All she has to do is find her.
Sawahla's reading, and her accent (I know, that's so American to say), is probably what made this book for me. The greatest negative in the story are the parents, quite possibly the worst - and most oblivious - parents in the history of the world. The kids, however, all make up for it. This is a nice story about what really makes a family, for ages 8 and up.
- AnnaLovesBooks
