by Nina Bawden
First published 1992
Cora's parents leave town on business, so she moves in temporarily with the family next door. She expects the arrangement to go smoothly, but Angelica makes her life miserable. The girl lies constantly and finds ways to hurt Cora at every turn. Angelica seems to take pleasure in being cruel, and Cora feels trapped in the house with her tormentor. She cannot escape the daily harassment and manipulation. Just when things seem hopeless, help arrives from an unexpected source. Angelica's grandmother lives in the same house, and she sees what her granddaughter is doing. The elderly woman steps in to protect Cora and offer her the kindness she desperately needs. This story explores how children can be both cruel and kind, and how sometimes protection comes from those we least expect to notice our troubles.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
133 pages · Hardcover · Clarion Books
Content warnings: abuse