Just Another Little Lie

Violet is aged fourteen. She lives with her mother and four year old brother Freddie. Violet does not know her own father and Freddie’s father Steve left the family some months before the story opens for reasons which will become clear. His departure saddened the whole family.

Violet’s mother is a hairdresser and very gregarious. In order to deal with the departure of Steve her drinking grew more uncontrolled. As the story opens the mother’s alcohol addiction has become problematic. Violet dare not stay out of the house after school finishes, since she does not wish to leave her mother responsible for Freddie. The reader is now presented with two questions. Can Violet remain in control of her family’s affairs? And how long can she keep these secret from the world?

In very few pages Ainsworth manages to lead the reader to a genuine concern about the fate of this fictional family. The narrative includes scenes, harrowing and convincing, which mirror just what someone in Violet’s situation might feel. After an alcoholic crisis Violet’s mother swears to take herself in hand. Violet is mildly optimistic. But disappointment hits her. As she is preparing to take Freddie to school, he notices that he hasn’t got his water bottle. Violet goes back. None of Freddie’s bottles remain in the fridge so she takes one of her mother’s water bottles. When Freddie drinks just one mouthful from the bottle we learn that it doesn’t contain water. Anyone who has lived with a person with a drink problem will recognise this kind of situation and may be comforted by the thought that others face it too. Those to whom this issue is unknown should read the book anyway, to gain understanding of a human plight.