The Doughnut Club

Quinn loves her family; her two mums and her annoying little brother Olly, but sometimes she feels like the odd one out. She enjoys art and being quiet, while the rest of her family love surfing and lots of loud, boisterous activities. And she’s the only one in the family to have red hair. She’s been aware from an early age that both her and Olly were donor conceived, but on their way to their annual summer holiday destination, her mums reveal that they have recently registered with a specialist website and have discovered that the pair have at least sixteen donor siblings! Quinn is excited at the thought that at last she will find a relative that enjoys the same activities as her and so is keen to find out more and maybe even meet up with one of them, but her parents are less sure that Quinn and Olly are emotionally ready just yet.

So begins Quinn’s secret plan to investigate further and discover the identity of her donor siblings, although things take a worrying turn when she finds out her arch-nemesis Monika is also donor-conceived. Could Monika possibly be her actual half-sibling?

This debut middle-grade tale from author Rahman is a unique look at this often-undiscussed topic, despite the fact that the rate of donor-conceived children is increasing yearly. Whilst a potentially difficult subject matter, the language used throughout is straightforward and clear in a story with family always at the heart of it. The book is full of warmth and humour with many relatable moments as Quinn navigates her yearning for more information. Other minor characters, such as Fred, Quinn’s walking friend, offer insights from a variety of adult perspectives, highlighting the diversity of families and their varied dynamics in today’s society. Once Quinn realises that she needs to stop worrying and just be herself, she understands that it is not important or essential to all be the same as each other to still be a family.

A positive story that will open conversation both at home and in the classroom and help many families negotiate what may be a tricky topic.