The Letter With the Golden Stamp

This story is told as a police confession by Audrey, a young girl who has got herself into a terrible situation which has taken her from Swansea in Wales all the way to London, in a very unusual way. Sergeant Anita and social worker Georgie are very kind. At first the words don’t come but then they spill out, and the story unfolds. We find out 9-year-old Audrey is a young carer with a seriously ill mum and two younger siblings, twins named Peck and Kat, that she looks after too. Audrey is worried that someone will realise her mam needs so much help and take her and the twins away into care, so she doesn’t tell anyone what’s going on at home,not even her best friends Kavi and Inara or her great friend Mo the postman who knocks every day and gives her postage stamps for her collection. When a mysterious neighbour moves in at number 13 Audrey becomes convinced they are spying on her to report her mum to the authorities. So she decides she must get the help of her dad who so far has not been at all involved or helpful. But how to get to London to find him when her letter gets returned in the post?  

The story is very compelling, and Audrey makes a brave, funny, kind protagonist. Despite the serious subject, it’s a fun, fast-paced easy read with a very hopeful ending.The book shines a light on the challenges faced by over a million young carers in the UK. There’s a helpful section at the back for young carers, parents of a young carer and teachers.