Toffee

By Sarah Crossan Bloomsbury YA, 416pp £ 12.99

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 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, only 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 this, there’s dancing, buttered toast, and a sliver or two of hope. Moving, powerful and distressing at times, this is a novel of real strength. ■