Oh, but it's a lovely book. You ''feel'' for Isobel but you never feel sorry for her because she's not that sort of girl. She doesn't feel sorry for herself and she has no envy. She's warm-hearted and positive whatever the situation and she has the ability to bring people together. We could all do with being more like Isobel.
At the beginning of the book, we see Isobel and her parents. It's snowing but there are flashes of colour -a sweater, a blanket, the fire - the bright sparks in their lives. They have what they need but no more. You never get a sense that they're happyunhappy. But when they move the colour palette goes much darker: you can feel the cold coming off the page and Isobel's harder to see. She's almost a wraith. But gradually, as the positivity comes back we see flashes of colour - the red of a bicycle frame, the joyous abundance of the flowers until we see the glorious vibrancy of the community coming together and supporting each other.
There are lots of points to discuss with your young reader and the message that difficulties can be overcome, that material belongings are not that important is delivered with a very light touch. I loved it.