Too Close to Home
By (Author) Aoife Walsh
Andersen Press Ltd
Andersen Press Ltd
4th June 2025
3rd April 2025
United Kingdom
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Bullying, violence, abuse and pe
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Disability, impairments and spec
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Divorce, separation, family brea
Childrens / Teenage fiction: School stories
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Relationship stories
823.92
Nominated for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016 (UK)
Paperback
368
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 22mm
293g
Meet Minny- her life is a complicated whirlwind of unbearable PE lessons, annoying friends and impossible-to-live-with siblings. Minny is desperate for some space in a house spilling over with family and hangers-on. She has to contend with her autistic sister Aisling's school bullies, whilst trying to keep her self-absorbed BFF Penny happy, and look normal in front of new boy Franklin. And on top of this, now Dad has announced that he's returning to London - with his new girlfriend.
Secrets, lies and home truths will out, frying pans will be burnt, and arguments will flare up in a story full of humour, honesty and minor household emergencies.
"One for the "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink" crowd. Like eating a big authorial cake and finding it full of Streatfeild and McKay and Smith. It's rich, vivid and rather timeless. Contemporary yet classic. Classic yet contemporary." * Did You Ever Stop To Think Blog (LH 'Daisy' Johnson) *
"Dialogue-driven family drama written in an engaging, authentic voice. Tons of insight and good humour." * The Scotsman, Jasmine Fassl *
"Wonderfully authentic family drama, funny and complicated as real life relationships are. It has a classic feel to it. Make it top of your to-read list this summer." * Scottish Book Trust *
"Warm, believable portrait of family life. Witty and moving read." * Children's Books Ireland *
"An intelligent gathering of complex issues involving real characters. Written with great sensitivity, I highly recommend for fans of David Levithan or Mark Haddon." * Waterstones Oxford *
"Warm, convincing portrait of a family facing all sorts of difficulties. A contemporary version of Little Women. Walsh does an excellent job." * Lovereading *
"Aoife Walsh describes the intricacies of a modern family which is facing a wide variety of challenges in beautiful detail." * Booktrust *
"A good family story, which encompasses complex issues (including autism, fostering, divorce and drugs) with a deft touch, and very real, funny dialogue." * The School Librarian *
"Walshs fictional family loom so large in the mind that its hard to believe they dont really exist. Youll want to remain in their house for far longer than the book. A thoroughly enjoyable read" * Minerva Reads blog *
Aoife Walsh lives in Oxford with her husband and three children. She quite likes cooking, and quizzes when she knows the answers, and reading, and excellent American television. And cakes and fine wines.