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Knowing the Score

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Book Synopsis

For as long as Gemma can remember it’s been her and Mum against the world. They’re as close as can be, but deep down she longs to get to know the rest of her family – Gran and Mum’s brother Joe – the family Mum turned her back on around the time Gemma was born.

With the summer holidays approaching, Mum is invited on an adults-only holiday. Gemma spots a chance to uncover the story behind the family rift and convinces Mum to let her stay with Joe. He’s the perfect uncle – fun, friendly and generous, and even signs her up for tennis camp. But Gemma can’t shake the feeling that he and Gran are keeping secrets. As the truth emerges, can Gemma find a way to bring her family back together?

A heartfelt story of complex families, forgiveness and new beginnings, for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson, Susin Nielsen and Cath Howe.

Our Review Panel says...

This exciting, well-written book would be great for children in KS2 and lower KS3.

The story follows Gemma and her family, delving into a secret that Gemma does not know about. This modern story intertwines themes of friendship, family relationships, courage and tennis are gripping throughout. Getting to know Gemma throughout the book, the reader comes to understand the emotions that the character is feeling. There are relatable themes and characters in the book that add to the excitement. This book could be relatable to children who may not have close relationships with their wider family or have close bonds with one main caregiver.

Getting to find out the family secret and how Gemma deals with this shows the sensitivity and courage of her character. The book is full of funny moments that a wide variety of children will enjoy. It is a lovely read and one that could be used as a class novel or recommended to a wide range of readers. As the story centres around tennis and learning more about the sport, this would be a great book to encourage children who have an interest in sport or during Wimbledon. It was a great read and is highly recommended.