"A powerful, poignant, un-put-down-able novel about a 14-year-old’s struggle to deal with her mother’s out of hand hoarding habit."
Endearingly authentic, Ro Snow is a character who stirs tenderness, empathy and much urging to survive and thrive. As a result of mum Bonnie’s extreme hoarding habit (every room of their house is a mountain of paper and pointless Amazon purchases), Ro has isolated herself, fearing that if anyone saw the squalor she and Bonnie live in, Social Services would intervene. Ro’s self-centered, insensitive dad has a new family and is no use whatsoever, which means she and Bonnie have reversed roles, with Ro keeping an eye on their bank balance while Bonnie shops and watches TV by day and earns a living as a singer by night.
As this role reversal takes its toll on Ro, a fairy godmother materialises in the form of irrepressibly energetic Tanvi, who’s recently returned to school after being treated for cancer. There’s a truly uplifting, tear-jerking moment when Ro experiences the pure joy of people really believing in her, but Bonnie’s road to recovery won’t be a smooth ride.
Highly readable, realistic and wholesomely heartfelt, this confirms Lisa Williamson as a YA author of remarkable empathy.
Read about the story behind Paper Avalanche in our author Q&A.
| Primary Genre | Young Adult Fiction |
Bonnie. Never Mum or Mummy or Mother. Just Bonnie... When it comes to flying under the radar, Ro Snow is an expert. No friends. No boys. No parties. And strictly NO VISITORS. It may be lonely, but at least this way the truth remains where it should - hidden. Then Tanvi Shah, the girl who almost died, comes tumbling back into her life, and Ro finds herself losing control of her carefully constructed lies. But if Ro's walls come crumbling down, who's going to take care of Bonnie...
‘I write the kind of stories I’d want to read – stories about people making mistakes and trying to find out where they fit in: stories that capture the uncertainty and excitement and sheer terror of doing stuff for the very first time: stories that make you feel seen’ Lisa Williamson
Paper Avalanche features in the following genres: Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paper Avalanche is available in Paperback, Hardback
Paper Avalanche was written by Lisa Williamson and published by David Fickling Books
