Toffee
Sarah Crossan
This Young Adult novel written by Irish Children’s Laureate Sarah Crossan is outstanding.
It’s a poignant story of the relationship between runaway Allison and an elderly woman, Marla, who lives alone and with dementia. Marla mistakes Allison for someone from her past called Toffee and allows her to stay. Over time, Allison begins to examine her previous family relationships as she builds a new identity with Marla. As in her other award-winning books, this story is written in verse which allows the reader to build up and paint their own picture of the damage each woman has suffered, as well as the friendship that develops between them. The effect is profound.
Toffee is a story which is highly recommended to anyone struggling with the questions around the true meaning of friendship and family.
Published by Bloomsbury
