Set first in the Ukraine, it opens with a family escaping the war, and goes on to describe their life in Britain where they've sought refuge.

Kateryno and her family were living in Kharkiv in the Ukraine. On 24th February 2022 the Russian army invades and their apartment block is struck by a missile.

Forced to live in the basement for several weeks, eventually 15-year-old Kateryno, her mother and brother Marko decide to leave, along with seven million other Ukrainian refugees.

They are offered a home in Kingston through their host family, the Hawkins. But even as Kateryno comes to terms with being in another country and worrying about family members left behind, life here has its own set of problems.

New friendships and a romantic relationship are all affected by the events in the Ukraine, so a coming-of-age story has added weight, impact and poignancy. 

This was a powerful read. The opening pages where the family copes with the invasion are particularly challenging. There's plenty of light and shade in the story though, so this isn't a grim read, nor is it superficial or slight. It's a moving and thought-provoking page-turner.