Book Reviews

"Worry Angels" by Sita Brahmachari, reviewed by Carol Ellinas

This is a sensitively written unfussy and ultimately uplifting book about a young girl's 'anxiety' following her parents separation.  The main character Amy-May worries about everyone except herself. 

Amy-May has to move from a rural cottage to an inner city so that her mother can work (shes a nurse). Amy-May was keen on gardening so this hobby is curtailed and she has to adjust to many losses in her life. Her father is an artist who moves to a remote cottage which she eventually visits. 

All the main characters are kind and slightly alternative. She is too anxious to join mainstream school so attends a wonderful interim 'art house' where she meets a refugee family and makes friends with the daughter who has experienced war, loss and an even bigger move to the UK. Through her friendship she learns to talk through her issues and learns how sharing problems helps. The kind lady running the half way school makes her children beautiful 'worry angels' which she gives to the children when they are ready to move on.

Although not easy to read to begin with it turns into a very uplifting story about hope and the importance of friendship. 
I would say that this book is aimed more at young girls aged 10 - 13 and their parents.