Poignant, powerful, just perfect

Cathy Cassidy

Succinct, with a gentle lyricism, the poems are telling about immigration, prejudice, self-delusion, families and first love, on the way to a life-changing conclusion

Sunday Times Book of the Week

This poetic novel is sheer perfection – for adults as well as for teenagers. Being in Kasienka's head, the reader gains a new understanding of how alienation feels. I loved it

Irish Examiner

A compellingly beautiful, utterly seductive debut novel … Do not miss it, and press it upon your friends and acquaintances

The Scotsman

You've entered the young Polish girl's voice with a heartfelt conviction. I felt like I was watching a movie of her life in present time and at the same time sharing in what's happening inside her head. What I especially like is that nothing is overstated, but there are so many pregnant issues there – prejudice, migration, language bias – but what's so disarming and charming is the way the girl reveals her inner self with a poetic and resonant simplicity

John Agard