2024
teen, lower secondary, upper primary key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, ages 9-11, ages 10 -13, McNicoll Elle,
Keedie and her twin Nina become fourteen years old during the course of the story and are facing challenges that being that age brings. They have grown apart. Keedie is a little different from most girls her age. And then there is their younger sister Adeline (Addie).
Both Keedie and Adeline are autistic. So is Keedie’s friend Bonnie.
There are bullies at the Keedie’s school and she finds a way of dealing with them that is far more effective than anything the school faculty offers. Keedie actually makes some money by offering her services to fellow students who are being bullied. She aims to do this in a none-violent way.
Sadly the money is not enough to put down a deposit to send Addie to a very special private school.
She realises anyhow that even though the way she worked with the bullies was very effective, she shouldn’t have taken money for the service.
Keddie is also completely honest about the village’s ancestor, Duncan Juniper. She uncovers the truth about him in the public speaking competition. He was in involved in slavery, he had a negative attitude towards the poor and he called for the execution of any Scots who rebelled. He was, in fact, yet another bully.
There is tension throughout between her and Nina. Nina’s new circle of friends don’t approve of Keedie. Yet a strong bond remains between the siblings and both of them adore Addie.
Despite her social awkwardness, Keedie has some good friends, her family and a couple of the more enlightened teachers are on her side.
There are notes about the author, the book cover illustrator and the publishing company at the end of the book.
The book is 207 pages long and uses a blocked text and an adult serif with difficult ‘a’s and ‘g’s. Some of Keedie’s own language is quite sophisticated. The text is double spaced.
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