A Seal Upon My Heart

Darcie, living with her aunt and uncle for the two months of her mother's honeymoon, learns much about the nature of relationships. The book's title is a pun, referring to her infatuation with Roman, the seal-man at the zoo next to her uncle's restaurant. He charms her when she's depressed at the discovery of the truth about her real father. However Roman, like her own history, is flawed and his desperation leads to his death and Darcie's realisation that love can be complex and wounding. A book-box buy, perhaps, for third-year girls.