Home

Powerfully brings home the fears of living life on the edge…a narrative rich in intimacy and immediacy…Berriman is a former primary school teacher, and her acute awareness of the child’s world, as well as the spot-on grinding details of poverty make this book wholly, painfully authentic…challenging but always compelling; for the entirety of the second half, I was desperate to rescue Jesika and her family. Comparisons to Room by Emma Donoghue are inevitable; however, while Room is a novel about one sick individual robbing a family of hope and dignity, Home tells the far more terrifying story of inequality in our society..

– Kerry Hudson * Guardian *Packs a huge emotional punch…heartbreaking … Jesika is entirely engaging, sweet, emphatic and cross as she tries to interpret the grisliness of the grown-up world. * Daily Mail *I read this in one sitting and am still crying. Tina and Jesika are heroes. A brave, important, heart-breaking book – Emma Flint, author of Little DeathsAmanda Berriman’s Home kept me up late for all the right reasons. It’s a tender portrait of a family in crisis that nevertheless grips like a thriller, a chronicle of extraordinary events that never slides into sensationalism. I loved Jesika - the girl through whose eyes the story is told - and her mother, who in remarkable times also faces the unremarkable challenges of motherhood we can all identify with. – Shelley Harris, author of VIGILANTE and JUBILEE

‘Home’ is an extraordinary achievement. Jesika is utterly unique yet it also feels like there is a chorus of children’s voices behind her, telling their story too. It’s an important story to hear. A must-read from an exceptional new writer. Totally compelling. I read this behind my fingers and couldn’t put it down until I knew if Jesika was safe or not. An important reminder about what the world looks like from a child’s perspective.I’m not sure I breathed while reading this. Jesika jumps off the page and into your heart. She will stay with me forever.

– Tor Udall, author of A THOUSAND PAPER BIRDSJesika is so real and unforgettable … An extraordinary book. – Emma CurtisThere’s nothing more heart-stopping than a child in danger. Mandy Berriman skilfully takes you by the hand into some bleak territory, all too common for many of today’s children. A need-to-read novel. – Kit de WaalHOME is an incredibly brave novel that never shies away from the harsh realities of poverty. * The Herald *Written in the style of Emma Donoghue’s Room this is a sensitive and thought-provoking novel. It’s told through the innocent eyes of four-year-old Jesika, who lives below the poverty line in a small flat, with her mother Tina. But when Jesika befriends Paige, she is told a troubling secret that could destroy this already struggling family forever. * The i Paper *It’s a challenge not to become completely engrossed * Cornish Times *