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Joanne Horniman has worked as an editor, teacher, and artist. She is the author of several award-winning books for children and teenagers, including the A Charm of Powerful Trouble, Mahalia, and Secret Scribbled Notebooks.

Suffering from postpartum depression, Emily visits her grandmother to take a break from her life. As she tries to sort through her despair and self-hatred—seeing herself as a worthless teenage girl who abandoned her child—she is befriended by a stay-at-home dad and his son, Pete. Their friendships develop and Emily is able to nurture herself back from her depressive state. Poignant and hopeful, this narrative is told with an acute tenderness and reveals the reality of postpartum depression, the hardships of teenage pregnancy, and how to return to love after a tragic decision.

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Emily can hardly pull herself together enough to eat a meal and hold a brief conversation. Living with Charlotte, her mother's friend, Emily spends most of her time sleeping and feeling hollow. When Emily left home, she left behind Matt, her boyfriend, and Mahalia, their young daughter. Though Emily pretended everything was okay, she just couldn't do it anymore. She felt she couldn't love Mahalia enough, so she left. Emily keeps much of her thoughts and feelings to herself, but begins to open up just a bit when she befriends Martin, a stay-at-home father, and his young son, Pete. She hangs around their house, though she still spends most of her time falling asleep or dragging lifelessly about. After some months pass, Emily starts to feel the fog lift and is ready to go back to Matt and Mahalia. The little family she left behind has grown and changed and Emily must figure out how she fits into their lives. This companion to Mahalia, which tells of Matt and Mahalia's life after Emily leaves, is a beautiful, quiet exploration of what it means to be a parent. Emily, who clearly is suffering from postpartum depression, is heartbreakingly fragile. Her guilt and sorrow permeate her every minute. The plot doesn't contain much action, and Emily's lackadaisical nature is initially off-putting. However, character-driven readers will be immediately drawn in to the story by the supporting cast and will find Emily more accessible as her story unfolds. Horniman treats the complex issue of teen pregnancy and Emily's reactions and choices with respect. Reviewer: Amanda MacGregor