Product Description
Lou Bertignac has an IQ of 160 and a good friend in class rebel Lucas. At home her father puts a brave face on things but cries in secret in the bathroom, while her mother rarely speaks and hardly ever leaves the house. To escape this desolate world, Lou goes often to Gare d'Austerlitz to see the big emotions in the smiles and tears of arrival and departure. But there she also sees the homeless, meets a girl called No, only a few years older than herself, and decides to make homelessness the topic of her class presentation. Bit by bit, Lou and No become friends until, the project over, No disappears. Heartbroken, Lou asks her parents the unaskable question and her parents say: Yes, No can come to live with them. So Lou goes down into the underworld of Paris' street people to bring her friend up to the light of a home and family life, she thinks.

This is such a sweet book, and one I'm really glad I read in the lead up to and throughout Christmas! Lou's character is so endearing. I might even buy myself a copy of this to keep. I have promised this to Retromonkey so I'll pass it onto her when I see her tomorrow, all being well :-)

Passing to Retromonkey. Enjoy :-)

Awww, thank you so much for this book off my wishlist Becky. It's very kind of you. I look forward to reading it. :o)

Wow, what a book to start the year with! It'a a lovely sweet little book, well bittersweet in fact. I didn't really know where the story was going, in fact I thought it would lead itself into difficulties. However, it kept itself simple. It takes me back to my younger days where the world seemed simpler and more black and white - ah, the naivety and innocence of youth! This is life seen through a child's eyes. At times she seems more perceptive than the adults. However,she realises at the end that one person cannot make that much difference in the world, no matter how much you try.

Thanks for this Becky. Will save this for a bookswap game methinks.

My entry in tomorrow's bookswap game.

Won in the bookswap game. Looks good.

Great little book. A child tries to save a homeless teenager but it's the homeless person that saves the child's family. Reminded me of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" though this tale falls, as another reader has already mentioned, more into the bittersweet category.

Reserved for the Uncon.

For the book buffet at the bookcrossing unconvention in the Britannia Hotel.

I picked this up at the Nottingham Uncon. Have nearly bought this more than once and somehow didn't so I was pleased to see it on the table. Going on Mount TBR.