Teenagers Will and Zara meet at a fairground and fall in love, Zara is chaotic and outspoken, from a family of travellers, and a suspected shoplifter. But Will is convinced of their future together and is determined to overrule his mother's objections. Her objections are based on more than prejudice; Will has Down's Syndrome, although he doesn't appear so because his features were cosmetically corrected at birth. His secret isn't revealed to the reader until the end of the book, so Will is seen as a 'normal' character throughout with the same thoughts and feelings as any other teenager. As this complex web of family secrecy begins to unravel, Will and Zara's love develops into something strong enough to survive - no matter who might stand in judgement against them.

 

This book was recognised by the Whitbread Book Award.

There are 192 pages in this book. This book was published 2003 by Faber & Faber .

Jeanne Willis is a favourite children's author, and she also writes for television.