About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the frustrations of shared spaces, hand-me-downs, or the feeling that life is slightly unfair compared to their peers. It is an ideal choice for a middle-grader who feels the weight of family expectations but finds joy in creative mischief. Set in post-war Australia, these interlinked stories follow the four Melling sisters, Vivienne, Cathy, Heather, and Gracey, as they navigate a world of limited means and big imaginations. The stories highlight the resilience required to find dignity in poverty and the complex bonds of sisterhood. While the historical setting offers a nostalgic backdrop, the emotional core is timeless: the yearning for independence, the sting of social comparison, and the fierce loyalty that underpins sibling rivalry. It is a warm, humorous, and deeply relatable look at growing up in a house where everything, from secrets to shoes, is shared.
