A powerful story of abuse neglect...and hope from this well-loved writer When a mysterious fire kills her adoptive parents Madeleines worst fear comes true
- she & her beloved brother Oliver are separated. Worse still Maddie is blamed for starting the fire & labelled a difficult child she is sent to a childrens home. Far from idyllic & buried deep in the countryside the home well conceals the misery of its young occupants. Subjected to a harsh regime of abuse & degradation Maddie makes a brave attempt to escape. But her brief weeks of freedom are thwarted when she is caught & taken back to River House. Maddie clings to her determination to one day be reunited with Oli & it is this which gives her the strength to endure what lies ahead. For she knows she can rely only on herself
- there is no one else to keep her safe...