Kids into books: The Long Walk Home

Author: Pauline Cartwright

Illustrator: Paul Rogers

Publisher Puffin Books, $6.95

Age Group: 6-12 years


Brad had always found that is he concentrated really hard on something, whatever it was that was hurting him inside would go away. But it didn't seem to work any more. It hadn't worked very well ever since Dad had gone.

The trouble was, Brad decided, there was more than one thing hurting. There were many. It was just like trying to push inflatable toys underwater in a pool.

Just when he managed to push one problem under a more pleasant thought, another problem would pop up.

Now, his mother, her eyes happy and shining, was going out with Gary Hebbleton, to celebrate selling their house.

He didn't know which problem was worse - the fact that his mother was going out with someone as if he was her boyfriend, or their house being sold.