Dear Del

Participating in a children's holiday scheme, Fran and her family find themselves welcoming Del, a young Glaswegian teenager, to their island home for a week. Initially, Fran hopes that Del's arrival will bring some respite from the loneliness which, as a recent island resident, she still experiences. When, however, the visitor begins to indulge in forms of anti-social behaviour which Fran's family cannot easily condone, the sense of loneliness is merely exacerbated. But, as the week passes, some details of Del's upbringing are clarified, which causes Fran to question some of her assumptions and, eventually, to feel a real sadness when Del departs. A low-key, quietly told story, Prince's novel nevertheless raises complex questions about social background, education and young womanhood.