Behind the Attic Wall

It's been ages since I read this, but I remember being spellbound. The loneliness of Maggie really hit home with my younger self. I didn't get tossed round boarding schools or was sent to live with cold aunts, but I think every young teen goes through a bit of a lonely chunk growing up, no matter how many people are in their lives.

I loved the idea of Maggie having dolls that moved and spoke only for her. It was heartbreaking at times, imagining this little skin and bones girl crawling up into the attic to see her only true friends.

Beautifully written. The scene where she's riding to the house for the first time and gets sick; using her uncle's kerchief to wipe her mouth and not knowing what to do with it afterwards; I could imagine I was HER. The awkwardness of, do I hand it back? Do I hold it and let my hand stink of puke? Do I toss it out the window?

I recommend it for any young person (or anyone) that feels they're lost in a world that doesn't care to understand them.