Title: Proud of Me
Written by: Sarah Hagger-Holt
Pub Date: 04 Feb 2021
Publisher: Usborne Publishing
Genre: Children's Fiction | LGBTQIA | Middle Grade
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3661044387


Becky and Josh liked to be considered twins. They are after all brother and sister, they were also only born days apart but their each of their mothers carried one of them. People are often confused by their family dynamic but nothing could be simpler in the minds of Becky and Josh. They have too mothers, both of whom used a donor to get pregnant, the same donor. So yes Becky and Josh are biologically brother and sister and were born only days apart. Not so complicated,is it.

So why does Josh feel like something is missing from their family?! Why does he feel the need to find his donor dad? Legally he has to wait until he is 18 to find out who his dad is. He doesn't want to wait, he also doesn't want his family to find out that he want's to know his dad. What lengths will Josh go to in order to find his donor dad?

Becky doesn't care about donor dad, she is happy with how life is, her brother and both mothers. Right now Becky has enough to deal with, she is having feelings for her new friend Carli that she has never felt for anyone before. That is scary enough without worrying about Carli's feelings too.

It seems both have things they are trying to keep secret.



It is obvious from the blurb that this book deals with LGBTQ+ themes, but it also deals with a lot more. In a lot of society's it is still frowned upon for gay couples to adopt, have surrogates or use donors. This book shows how those families can form and love each other just as much as any formed by heterosexual couples. My we remember that most society's do not bat an eye at straight couples who do any of the above to have a child.

The book also explores the effects of such a family. While it would be nice to say there are none, that is not how society acts. It is evident to see the treatment the children receive. In both cases Becky and Josh suffer from discrimination though possibly in different ways.

Proud of me also explores friendships, lies, attractions, latch key kids (children who often have to look after their own needs) the dangers of keeping secrets, and much more.


I loved the book for lots of reasons. Like Josh I didn't know my father (different situation) I understood the need to know what he liked and what he was like, just as Josh does. Though I do not like that Josh lied and traveled to meet a stranger I think Hagger-Holt did a good job of showing young readers why this is so dangerous. I hate when writers use this in a plot but never show the consequences. I felt Josh's desperation to know his dad and I understand why he took such risks.

Becky's story was just as interesting. I also felt personally invested in the out come for her. I never felt that I was bored. I wanted to know what the outcome would be with Carli. Though the mothers opinion surprised me I felt Hagger-Holt had done the right thing my having Becky's mother react the way she did. It is not just straight parents that have negative reactions to such news.

The only flaw I could find with the book is at the end. I feel like Becky would not have gone to dinner with Carli's family given that she knew how they felt. I don't think I would got for dinner where I felt unwanted. In fact I almost waited for Carli to tell Becky her family were sending her to a different school. That might not have happened but Carli did not say she was staying in the school. There seemed to be no clear outcome to the event they had planned to stop Carli's parents.

This was probably the easiest 5 star I have ever given a book! From start to finish the story of Becky and Josh, their mom's (who despite being an LGBTQ couple have always bought them up that there is nothing to be ashamed of ) Becky and Josh have always been close, and yet they both know that the other is keeping secrets. This book is a perfect coming of age story with queer themes and I just loved it from start to finish. It needs to be on every middle grade curriculum!

This book initially took me a while to get into as I kept putting it down. I’m not always hooked into books that rely on character voice and dialogue, as I find it difficult to visualise, but the more I persisted with it, the more I found myself wrapped up in Becky and Josh’s lives and problems.

Josh and Becky have two mums, and while Becky has never been interested in finding out about their donor dad, Josh desperately wants to know about him, feeling it’s the only way he can understand himself. Diving into online forums, he stumbles across Eli, a teenager who looks so much like Josh he believes they might be brothers. Meanwhile, Becky is planning her mum’s 50th birthday party, helping her friends set up an LGBTQ+ Pride group at school, and experiencing her first crush: unexpectedly, on the new girl, Carli.

This is a simply written but depthful story, full of well-fleshed out characters all navigating their own worries and troubles. All the characters and their complex relationships and fallouts are given so much time and attention, and while there was very little description in this book, it didn’t matter - I had my own images of all the characters and their environments because their personalities were all so distinct and their voices came across so strongly. Even the adults, who are often neglected or become stereotypes in books where the focus is on the children’s relationships, were so wonderfully real and present in the story. I loved how this story explored the generational divide between LGBTQ+ experiences, and the concerns of the mums over Becky’s safety in coming out so young. It was positive but didn’t shy away from real conversations and concerns that parents, even (or especially) gay parents, have.

Josh’s hunt for the donor dad added a background sense of urgency to the story, too, as he delves into online forums, lies about his age, and plans to meet a stranger online. It was well thought-out, highlighting the dangers of the online world realistically, and emphasising the importance of honesty and trust in online safety.

Overall, I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I expected to with the slow start. It’s moving and warm, honest and positive, but also shows very real family, friendship and relationship struggles, the complexities of LGBTQ+ safety, online safety, how religion is/can be part of LGBTQ+ people’s lives (one of the mums is practicing Jewish and this was another layer I loved about this story), and that religions can also accept and include LGBTQ+ people without bigotry/‘tollerance’. A must-have book for all KS2 & KS3 classrooms/libraries!

This book is such a sweet, quick read. The alternating perspectives worked really well, and I cared about both Becky and Josh with their individual struggles through the book. The perspectives and issues represented in the book are explored well, and the plot was compelling. I'm so glad that middle grade books like this exist now for the young people of today.

Proud of Me does exactly what it says on the tin. It hits you hard; it puts you in someone else’s shoes; it makes you think. It educates you without being overwhelming. Reading a book like this was like a breath of fresh air – we need more of this in the world. We need more own voices books. We need more LGBTQ+ representation. It definitely made me feel a lot of feelings (and yes, of course I cried). I think there’s something in this book that younger me would’ve absolutely loved (and adult me needed).

I didn't really know much about this book when i requested it on Netgalley - it looked cute. I picked it up in January on a whim and my my, what a beautiful story!

Becky and Josh are 'almost' twins, with two mothers. While this doesn't bother Becky much, Josh on the other hand wants to find out about his father - his donor. Meanwhile, Becky is conflicted about her feelings toward her new friend and what it means. As the story progresses, we see our characters grapple with new emotions, yearning and a journey of growth.

From the beginning, I loved the voices of the two characters - Becky and Josh. They're fun and similar but with distinct personalities that stand out. What I loved more was how beautiful their sibling relationship was, how they supported and loved each other.

I loved both their chapter POVs. Josh's determination to find his donor and supposed siblings was so heartwarming. Becky and Carli's friendship to something more was also so adorable. I loved how the author created these relationships with so much care. Even the mothers - oh gosh, hope fabulous and open they were.

The author did a great job with the plot and the themes. Family is a complex institution and with queer parents, it gets further complicated. What is the meaning of family? Do you always need one man and one woman to make a family? I found this underlying theme taking play. Growth during middle school is also something widely mentioned here. Kids may be naughty but they're also very active and ready to take on the world, as it was with the lgtbq support club they created. Their friendships were supportive and wholesome and that's what we love to see 👌 Feelings are very messy at times and we see that in the case of both the siblings.

Overall, this book was so adorable and touched upon important themes of family, friendship, love and sibling-hood, and I enjoyed it so much. A solid, unapologetically queer middle grade novel that is bound to bring a smile to your faces!

I’m a firm believer that MG (middle grade, usually aimed at kids aged 8-12) books don’t get the credit they deserve. YA books are often seen as the books that encourage young people to read, and then picture books are popular for young children — but how about the gap in the middle, where children’s books are too young but YA novels are slightly too mature? Middle grade is the answer!

There’s also a misconception that middle grade (and YA!) books are too young for adults to enjoy–but that’s not true. MG books often cover a whole myriad of themes that are incredible important, from race to gender and sexuality, and it does them in a way that is much more readable and accessible than a lot of adult fiction.

Proud of Me is one of these books. It covers a number of mature themes, including siblings being donor conceived, a character figuring out her sexuality, and more, and I loved every page.

The Story:

The story follows 12-year-old Becky and Josh who have two mums and are “almost twins” – they are conceived using the same donor, but eight days apart. Josh is at an age where he wants to start exploring his family roots and he wants to learn about his donor, but he wants to do it secretly so he doesn’t risk offending his parents.

Becky isn’t so interested, however; she’s happy with their unique family and is more hesitant to find out about their donor. Meanwhile, a new girl called Carli starts their school and Becky finds herself becoming more and more interested in her every day, until she realises that she might actually have a crush on her.

The story is told with each chapter alternating the perspective between Becky and Josh, so we find out about their individual thoughts and feelings. Becky can’t stop thinking Carli, while Josh becomes increasingly interested in the online forums he’s found where people discuss their stories about being donor-conceived.

Every theme and experience is touched upon so well, and it’s interesting to read about it from the perspective of people who are a lot younger. I’m so used to reading YA where the protagonist is most often 16+ so their thoughts are a lot different, whereas Becky and Josh are young enough to be slightly more naïve while both being mature and intelligent enough to work through their experiences and their feelings on their own.

The Characters:

I loved all the side characters in this, too: their mums are both great and it was lovely to read a story where the parents are so appreciative of each other and their children. They care so much for them, even when things do start to go slightly awry.

Then there’s Becky’s best friend Archie, who is trying to set up an LGBTQ+ club in their school and he’s just a delight. Carli, the new girl Becky likes, is so enthusiastic and encouraging, and instantly accepting of Becky’s parents despite her more traditional family.

There’s also my favourite thing in any story: a great friendship group. Friends are one of the most important things in a book for me, and I love the friendships in this book!

Overall:

Proud of Me tells such an important story of belonging, trying to discover more about yourself and your identity (whether that’s where you came from or your sexuality), and it’s one of those stories I urge everyone to read. If you want to learn a little bit about same-sex families with donor-conceived children, or you want to encourage your young ones to learn about it, then Proud of Me is a perfect place to start.

I loved Sarah Hagger-Holt’s debut MG novel, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE and was lucky enough to have the chance to interview her, read it here, so I was really pleased to be asked to be on the tour for PROUD OF ME.

A Pride group is being set up at school, run by older students but our protagonists get involved (if you like the group scenes, I’d recommend Alex Gino’s RICK as well, for an American version). Friendships play an important role in this story – both brilliant friendships and less satisfying ones – and the feelings Josh and Becky have about their friends are wonderfully described, everything feels very true. In the meantime, Josh and Becky both find themselves keeping very different secrets as he investigates their donor father and she realises she might have feelings for a new friend.

Becky’s best friend Archie is a great character. Openly gay, he (rather than their Mums) is why Becky and Josh both initially go along to the Pride group, and he has some very interesting things to say, for example:

“…Look, if someone else puts a label on you and uses that to define you or put you in a box or to treat you like dirt, then of course that’s bad. But when people say that they’re not into labels, it’s probably because they’ve bought the whole idea that being LGBTQ or whatever is bad, so they don’t want to be associated with it. But labels can be good if you reclaim them, then you can share who you are with other people and be stronger together.”

but he also got into my bad books with this one, which will have every librarian shaking their head in despair, hah:

“Wow, did you know he even has his books in height order? Is your brother for real? Perhaps he’s not really a teenager at all, but a librarian disguised in a teenager’s body?”

Josh’s secret investigations show him trying to find his place, and his uncertainty around friendships is brilliantly portrayed. It is a really positive book. Their Mums’ fears for them are genuine, remembering how different and difficult it was to “come out” 30 years ago, with the reactions of adults and children in the story really shining a light on how inclusive and safe (hopefully) schools today can be. The children are supporting one another and turning around the attitudes of surrounding adults with positivity!

I loved the idea of this story - the way it is written is beautifully accessible for younger readers and it covers so many different issues relevant to today's young people - it looks at microagressions, discovering sexuality, alternative families, homophobia and culture clashes.

At it's heart it's a story about friendship and family - and it's relatable to anyone who has ever worried about what their parents would think of them, or worried about falling in love with the wrong person.

I would love to use this in a KS3 classroom with my students - they'd get a lot out of it.

Sarah Hagger-Holt is an author that has been on my radar ever since I read her debut Nothing Ever Happens Here last year. I adored that book and I’ve been impatiently waiting for Sarah’s next book ever since. So, you can imagine my excitement when I found out about her second release Proud Of Me. I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this incredible sounding read, and I was certainly not disappointed.

Proud Of Me follows almost twins Becky and Josh, who have two mums but the same anonymous donor dad. Josh wants to find out more about his donor dad, and despite not legally being able to until he’s eighteen, he will do anything to find out more even if that means lying to those closest to him. Becky, meanwhile, makes friends with the new girl at school, Carli, and soon realises she can’t stop thinking about her. Could these feelings be a sign of feeling something more than friendship? Both Becky and Josh want to make their parents proud, but at the moment they are struggling to accept themselves for who they are.


Well, this was such a beautiful, poignant read that had me feeling all sorts of emotions. The book itself delves into many issues that are faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and some were ones that I’d never seen written in middle grade or young adult fiction before. One is that of a donor parent. I didn’t know much about the world of donor-conceived children before reading Proud Of Me, but after reading this my mind was opened to how hard it can be for the children. Becky and Josh have two mums and what I loved was that we were shown how tough it can be for both the children and parents and that stigma is still out there and not everyone is as accepting as they could be.

Plot-wise, we see the views of both Becky and Josh as they come to terms with who they are and this is very much character-driven as we delve into the issues they are both facing. Becky is coming to terms with her feelings for friend Carli, and wondering if these feelings are more than friendship, and what she should do about them. Josh on the other hand wants to start finding out who is donor dad is and how he can go about that despite being only thirteen. Both plots are interwoven as we follow the siblings on these journeys that despite being different, are the subject of wanting to discover who they are as well as make their parents proud. These issues are dealt with sensitively and will help younger readers who may be going through the same thing in their lives. Sarah has a way of bringing issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, coming out, family issues and oppression to the forefront in a way that’s both compassionate and engaging for the reader.

Becky and Josh despite being almost twins are very different from each other in several ways. Josh is more determined and outspoken and this is shown in the way that he wants to discover who his dad is. He, in a way, feels disjointed from his family, and being the only male in the house could have contributed to this lost feeling. His character, I feel was taken on the bigger journey and come to the end of the story he’s coming to accept and love himself and his family for who they are. Becky goes on a completely different journey to Josh and is struggling to figure out her sexuality and her feelings for her friend. Her journey is a journey of self-discovery and how she deals with that, and if she wants to tell those closest to her. Both Becky and Josh are characters that some young readers will see themselves in, and this, in turn, may help them realise that they aren’t alone in how they are feeling.

Proud Of Me was an incredible, heartfelt read that I couldn’t put down. This book perfectly ties together the themes of LGBTQ+, family, identity and finding your place in the world. Sarah Hagger-Holt has written another piece of stunning middle grade and I, for one, cannot wait to read what she writes next.

I've had my fair share of bad books this month, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much Proud of Me got me out of my reading slump! Becky and Josh, quasi-twins if you will, were so interesting and I absolutely loved their deep, familial bond! I think often when books focus on same-sex parents, you usually only get quips about that experience but in this one we really got to see what it means to be a "sperm-donor" child and it made me so happy to see that sort of representation in a story geared toward adolescents.
Hagger-Holt also has such a nicely flowing prose that the pages just flew by and I am excited to read more from her in the future!

I put off reading this book for ages because of the content, not knowing how I would feel about the themes it tackles, but I was pleasantly surprised and found it an enjoyable read. The dual narrative from Josh and Becky works well as they tell their own versions of the same story and grapple with different issues.

Deals with LGBTQ issues, coming out, same sex parents and sperm donation.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Who, What, When:
Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger Holt, Published February 4th 2021 by Usborne Publishing.

I read Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger Holt in one sitting.
Told from the alternating twin perspectives of donor conceived siblings Josh and Becky it is a wonderful example of family dynamics and the negotiation of all the trials and triumphs that come with family life, no matter how your family looks – Josh and Becky have two mums. Josh has a deep need to discover more about the anonymous donor that helped his mums conceive, which starts an investigation that leaves him pretty far from home. Becky faces her own journey of discovery, and while hers keeps her much closer to home, it is of no less significance. Growing up within a family is at the heart of this story, and it’s an invitation into a genuine display of how family life can be both a catalyst and a balm.

Why:
The dual narration really works. Both Josh and Becky have their own perspectives and using alternating chapters to have them each tell their own story while that story intersects the family one is done perfectly. The pace of the story is precise, with each change of voice perfectly taking over the story. There is no confusion between the narrators and you are unlikely to put it down until it’s finished once you’ve begun.

One of best things about books is their capacity to open our minds to something we have not and may never experience ourselves. Proud of Me does this seamlessly. The essence of both Josh and Becky’s quandaries are so far from the struggles I faced at their age and yet, reading theirs drew me in completely and left me desperate to find resolution for and with them. While the story is centred around family, the trajectory Josh and Becky each take in negotiating what life throws at them, provides various moments of ooohhhh, aaaaahhhhhhh, and what are you doing!

The depth of all the characters in this story made reading their stories both entertaining and incredibly emotional. Hagger Holt knows these characters and she has brought them delicately to life in a way that makes you care deeply and wish only the best for them. Josh and Becky and their mums are sure to settle in many other readers’ heads as they have mine.

Sending this out into the world, Hagger Holt has shared with readers a family she obviously knows incredibly well. She will, however, no longer be the sole keeper of them and their trials and triumphs. This story was a pleasure to read and while for me it was a beautiful window into other families and other lives, it will undoubtedly be like a warm hug for any readers who know better than me how Josh and Becky feel.

Thank you for the advance copy of this book. I'm delighted that the author brings yet another wonderful novel of acceptance and self worth and discovery to the story table. I very much enjoyed her last book and this one certainly didn't disappoint. It will be a wonderful starting conversation for many children which is so important. I will be recommending this book.

Having loved Nothing Ever Happens Here in the summer and found it so strange that such an important book wasn’t shouted about more, I was thrilled to be able to read Proud Of Me early. It is another vitally important book about growing up with same sex parents and the need to find your true self. It also deals with personal sexuality and one twin realises that she is gay. These topics are rarely tackled in children.s literature and this book is of such importance as is does this, head on but with sensitivity and empathy.

𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒 by Sarah Hagger-Holt is an emotional read from the get go. With subjects such as same-sex parenting to children conceived by fertility treatments, it's a story that will both educates you on a subject matter I've rarely seen in YA novels never mind Middle Grade of which age range, 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒 is aimed at.

The author tells the story of 'almost-twins' Becky and Josh in such a way that it's not overwhelming for the reader and explanations are done in such a matter of fact manner that to me it felt like there was a reminder that having same-sex parents should be as normal in a conversation as the traditional and single parent households. Time as they say, has most definitely moved on and it shouldn't be for want of another word, a taboo.

I can understand to a degree Josh's desire however to take the person he knows was a donor and turn him into 'Dad' because he feels a disconnect from his Mums. He knows and although he accepts his family setup is very different from his friends or rather, boys in school, and wishes to see if the unknown would help him understand himself. Simple things like his desire to be perfectly organised whilst everyone else is a bit messy..plus, he's the only male in the house and he feels 'lost' among the three women.

My heart was in my mouth when he at thirteen goes on his literal journey of attempted discovery without anyone knowing. The parent in me feeling the flutter of panic if I didn't know where my children were or in the case of Josh's Mums, not knowing he is missing in the first place. That chill in your core is hard to lose even if it is just a fictional character because Sarah Hagger-Holt has written her characters and their world so well that you feel immersed and involved in the story of Becky, Josh their friends and family.

Becky goes on her own journey of discovery that whilst (thankfully) not a literal journey across the country is none the less important. Whilst her brother finds himself compelled to learn where he came from, Becky's journey is one of who just a part of who she is now and maybe in the future will be. It's a journey of self-discovery and of first heartbreak (how I wished I could hug her and say it's honestly not as awful as it feels right now) and learning that is also okay to not be okay and to trust both yourself and those around you.

I absolutely loved 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒 and look forward to more from this author.

Thank you as always to Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for my advanced copy - go get yourself a copy as soon as possible.

Josh and Becky are “almost-twins”, who live with their same-sex parents, Mum and Ima, and were born of the same donor father. Proud of Me explores important themes from the LGBTQ+ community through the perspectives of each of them, both facing their own battles as they struggle to define themselves and their place in the world. While Josh is desperate to uncover the truth about their donor, Becky can’t stop thinking about her new friend Carli. Told through their alternating perspectives, Proud of Me explores acceptance and self-acceptance in the Queer community.

Following her Carnegie-nominated middle-grade title “Nothing Ever Happens Here”, Sarah once again explores a vast range of different issues which affect the LGBTQ+ community, from single-sex parents, to the bigotry of others, but the strand which perhaps hasn’t been explored so much in other YA and Middle Grade fiction is that of being born from a donor-conceived parent, and the angst and uncertainty that an individual can feel about who they are and where they come from. I thought Josh’s resentment at the lack of information available to him, and his frustration that his sibling doesn’t share his desire to know more were written so well, I really felt his struggle to connect with his identity, despite never having experience of anything even close. Similarly, Becky’s struggle to overcome her embarrassment following an uncomfortable first experience with her sexuality felt ever bit as messy as teenage relationships feel in real life. The way that the chapters alternated between their different perspectives allowed the reader to see situations from both sides.

I hugely admire Sarah’s honesty in exploring the issues she does in her novels, and her books always explore a range of different perspectives with kindness and understanding, drawing on her experience and work with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall. She never conforms to the “happily-ever-after” trope, she casts aside the rose-tinted spectacles which some believe should be used to write children’s fiction, and explores the nitty gritty within the issues, often presenting points that wouldn’t be immediately apparent to the average middle grade reader, such as the questions that Josh and Becky are often asked which can be hurtful. Her books have opened my eyes to the continuing issues surrounding the queer communities despite the progress made in recent times. Carli’s parents are representative of the bigotry which can still exist in even the most progressive communities. The verbalisation of thought processes from Becky, for example when she is angry at Archie and says “Everything I say is coming out wrong, but I don’t know how to make it right” and discusses defence mechanisms in animals, is akin to a whisper to the reader “You are not alone. Nobody gets this right.” Similarly, Archie’s advice to Becky around labels, and reclaiming them, could be just the message a young reader needed to hear.

Most important of all, old and young readers alike learn how to be an ally to those experiencing prejudice and intolerance. Every bit as ground-breaking and important as “Nothing Ever Happens Here” – and I do hope Sarah continues to write these vital books for a young audience.

Proud Of Me is a great contemporary teen read. It follows siblings Becky and Josh as they navigate their lives at school and home, where their mums are unaware of all the dilemmas their kids are facing. Should Becky and Josh share what they're going through, or should each keep their secrets?

This book is fantastic for LGBTQ+ representation and focuses on themes of identity, friendship, family and belonging. The characters are believable and well-written, their relationships feel real and the environments are instantly recognisable. Highly-recommended.

Becky and her almost-twin-brother Josh live with their two mothers together. Becky and Josh are almost twins, because they got the same - anonymous - donor and their birthdays are only eight days apart.
While Becky is totally okay with the anonymous part of their donor, Josh is struggling. He wants to know where he came from. What his „dad“ is like. And if there're other sibblings beside his sister. So he begins to investigate on his own.
Meanwhile his sister Becky is curious what she’s feeling every time she sees the new girl at her school. Could it be love?
Sarah Hager-Holt tells a story about family, acceptance, self-acceptance and honesty.
I would recommend the book for readers age 12 to 15.

Proud of Me is one of those wonderfully progressive middle grade books that introduces lots of important themes in a gentle way. There are so many aspects to this story, Becky and Josh both dealing with the complexities of everyday life and both facing their own individual dilemmas. Perhaps most interestingly, as its not something I've ever encountered in a middle grade book, was the exploration of how it might feel to have an unknown donor parent.

There is plenty of exploration of issues that face the LGBTQ+ community here, and it's truly a wonderful introduction to younger readers that love is love and society should be inclusive to all. Becky and Josh have two mums, and I liked that the book didn't put rose tinted glasses on their relationship, showing that there are still plenty of narrow minded opinions in society and that not everyone will be as accepting as they should be. Becky's own exploration of her own sexuality was also handled very well, although my heart did ache for her as first love can indeed be so cruel.

Josh's journey was what really stood out to me though. As someone who has gone through fertility treatment myself, it always irritates me how people will toss suggestions around of donation etc as if it's really straightforward and simple. I can definitely think of more than a few adults who could do with reading this book, as just a basic introduction to some of the complexities that can arise. Unfortunately our biology is something that we're seemingly drawn to need to know about, and I could totally understand Josh's desperation.

Friendship, religion, internet safety and the importance of communication, there is just so much more to this book than the journey the two siblings go on to discover themselves. I thought it was a lovely read, although I did want to wrap both of them into a big warm hug throughout. I'd will definitely be recommending this one.