My Life on Fire

Ren’s house has burned down and she’s lost everything. Her parents keep saying they’re lucky to still have each other, Ren and her little brother Petie. But Ren doesn’t feel very lucky. They have to live with Gran on the other side of town, crammed into a tiny room and not allowed to run or shout in the house. Ren misses her bedroom and her own precious things. So when her class are asked to create a ‘Life in a Box’ project, to sum up who they are, she decides that perhaps other people don’t deserve to have nice things either…

Meanwhile, Caspar asks lots of questions all the time and wants to make sure he’s doing the right thing. He can’t believe there might be a thief in the class. But what will he do when he finds out who it is?

Told in alternating voices, this moving story is about worry and sadness and understanding how sometimes people don’t mean to do bad things. Caspar is a shining example of compassion and honesty – and of a good friend. This would be a thought-provoking book to read in class as it provides many good moments for discussion around empathy, in particular.