Little Big Love

June 15, 2018
A 10-year-old boy is on a mission to find his absentee father in this tender and humorous British family drama.What Zac Hutchinson wants most for his 11th birthday is for his long-lost dad to attend his party. Zac lives in a small fishing village in northern England with his mother, Juliet, who can barely make ends meet. At school, Zac is teased relentlessly about being overweight, and his mother only notices how unhappy he is after his teacher calls her about Zac's changing behavior. When Juliet begins to take a closer look at Zac, she finally realizes that, like her son, she is also rather miserable. Juliet institutes various lifestyle changes for Zac and herself, from healthier eating and more exercise to increased time together, and she begins to realize how desperately Zac wants to find his father, Liam. Unfortunately, there are many long-buried secrets surrounding Liam's departure that Juliet is reluctant to dig up. First and foremost, Juliet's parents blame Liam for Juliet's brother's death. Juliet has told Zac only that Liam "did a runner" after he discovered Juliet was pregnant. Juliet worries that if Zac ever finds out the truth about why Liam really left, it will destroy her relationship with her son as well as his relationship with her parents. As Zac attempts to locate his father, he enlists his best friend, Teagan, another lovable and loyal character, in his mission. As the narration alternates among Zac, Juliet, and Zac's maternal grandfather, Mick, Zac finally stumbles on a few useful clues about his father, and matters grow all the more complicated. Although Zac's childish voice is at times overdone, the rest of the story is so engaging that readers will surely plow on.An endearing tale of perseverance and forgiveness.

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 15, 2018

The narrative of this first novel shifts from the perspective of ten-year-old Zac, who likes to cook and collect facts, to that of his single mother, Juliet, and her father, Mick. Juliet and Zac live on Harlequin Estate in the northern English seaside town of Grimsby. Zac's father, Liam, left ten years ago under mysterious circumstances after the tragic death of Juliet's brother. Only Mick, a recovering alcoholic and retired fisherman, knows the truth, but he hides behind grief, guilt, and his opinionated wife. Juliet drowns her sorrow in alcohol and food, and she and Zac have become overweight, resulting in Zac being bullied at school. When the attacks escalate, Juliet is determined to get Zac healthy and happy. In turn, Zac, convinced it will please his mom, embarks on a secret mission with his best friend Teagan to find Liam. But when the truth is revealed, there's no going back, no matter the pain it brings. VERDICT Fans of Jane Green and Susan Wiggs will enjoy British journalist Regan's modern family drama that explores the age-old question of "what if" and the aftermath of one poor decision.--Laura Jones, Argos Community Schools, IN

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.