The Woods at the End of Autumn Street

This is a fine and wonderful book, carefully crafted and with a deeply moving and shocking climax. From the beautiful opening, conjuring up the people of Liz's childhood (very nicely caught by the cover) we are into the world of childhood memory which in so many ways seems to be part of a real autobiography. The war, father leaving to fight, and moving to live with grandparents are the starters. But it is the freshness of childhood memory and confusion which marks this out - and the way in which the friendship with the black cook, Tatie, and her grandson, Charles, is developed. In the apparent small canvas of time and geography we feel with Liz the complexities and fears of childhood and adult life. In coping with relations and neighbours, the absence of her father and the friendship with a black boy, we seem to encounter a whole panorama of human emotions and motivations. It's a marvellous piece of writing, particularly the final section, and the kind of book that makes you think about teaching with it.