At 14, Ginny Moon has dealt with more upheaval than most of us will experience across a lifetime. Not only has she worked hard to navigate the hurdles that autism has put in front of her but she has also dealt with an abusive home life. Despite this, her only focus is to return to her baby sister so that she can take care of her.

Ginny was removed from her negligent and drug-addicted mother and lived in a series of foster homes that couldn’t meet her needs. We encounter her when she is living with her adoptive parents. She has finally found a safe place with her Forever Mum and Dad.

But things begin to unravel when her Forever Mum has a baby and Ginny contacts her birth mother. Ginny doesn’t feel connected to her Forever Parents and begins to obsess about her birth mother and little sister, who she refers to as Baby Doll.

Kidnapping, arrests and the appearance of Ginny’s birth father are just a few of the dramatic events that unfold in the story’s second half. Despite all the drama that surrounds Ginny, this is simply the story of a young girl who is trying to find out who she is and where she belongs in the world.

Author Benjamin Ludwig was inspired to write this story after his own adoption of a child with autism. This is not his story, but he was able to draw on many of his own experiences to create the character of Ginny and the things that happen to her.

His intentions are to give a voice to children who are caught up in the foster care system and to open our eyes to how hard it is for children to survive – let alone thrive – in these temporary homes. He also wants to spread the word that adoption makes a huge difference to the lives of children and to the parents who adopt them; there is much to be gained on both sides of the relationship.

A quiet afternoon and a box of tissues are essential for this read.

Reviewed by Melissa Wilson