THE LIST: ‘Portraying childhood or the end of an era is a potential mire of sentimentality into which the unsupecting adult novelist can too easily sink. But Anna Smith does both and never becomes bogbound.’

THE SUNDAY EXPRESS: ‘An endearing coming-of-age novel elivered with a wry and adictive humour. It all adds up to a riveting tale that tanks along without missing a beat.’

GLASGOW EVENING TIMES: ‘Powerful stuff. A great read and hard to put down.’

SUNDAY MAIL: ‘Threaded with gentle humour. Inspirational and heartbreaking.’

MAIL ON SUNDAY: ‘Packed with trauma and drama.’

THE BIG ISSUE: ‘A charming and evocative tale about the glories of youth with a bitersweet tang of reality.

ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL: ‘Smith has the rare skill of creating a story that envelopes the reader – at times you will feel like you are the fifth kid in Kath’s little gang. Falls into the category of modern Scottish classic literature

THE BELFAST NEWSLETTER: ‘The book leaves you yearning to be ten years old once more when life was simple and fantasy could block out pain.’’

THE BOOKSELLER: ‘Charming, evocative, nostalgic, moving and highly recommended.’