End of Holyrood Lane provides a sensitive glimpse into one aspect of domestic violence and how it can affect young lives.
The recommended age for this book is ages 5-8 and I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it to my three year old son, but he is a sensitive and emotional soul very attached to feelings of others and his own, and in our house we have encouraged talking about our feelings a lot. Even if these feelings are not happy ones we are hoping by talking early on it will deal better with situations for him.
Domestic Violence is definitely a topic he is too young to understand but this book gives a great platform to talk to children in their terms and the frustrations, anxiety and also sometimes anger they can feel in many environments.
Mr Three is very much in a ‘why’ stage, so reading time even if only one or two books can take a long time! And I was prepared this time for his questions and he didn't disappoint. He asked “Why is Flick sad Mommy?”. “Why does she hide?”. And throughout the story asks where the grownups are. At one point I even had tears in my eyes, the questions are so innocent, so precious, I just wanted to hold him forever.
So thank you Dimity for writing such a book that brings these questions up and encourages our little ones to share their feelings, and us grownups to talk about them!
Reviewer: Chrissy Metge
HarperCollins, RRP $24.99