Toffee

Sarah Crossan

Carnegie medal-winning Sarah Crossan has a knack for writing Young Adult free verse novels that simultaneously crush you completely and provide sharp stabs of light and clarity. Her latest, Toffee, is no different. Allison, a smarting burn on her face, has run away from home, and finds refuge in Marla’s house. But Marla thinks she’s called Toffee, and right now, being Toffee feels better than being Allison. Around this core friendship, Crossan builds in the raging disappointment parents can be, the potential uselessness of safety nets – like school – that are meant to catch you, and the nastiness of teenage girls. Alongside all this badness Allison is trying to drag herself out of though, there’s dancing, buttered toast, and a sliver or two of hope. Moving, powerful and distressing at times, it’s a novel of real strength. 9/10