Quaking by Kathryn Erskine

I have just caught up with this novel and am glad I did, although it took me a while to get into it.

This is the story of a 14 year old girl who is feisty, intelligent and a Goth, but has the behaviour of a whipped dog. She has had a sorry past and is mistrustful of everybody she meets. After many unsuccessful attempts to place her in a family that she can thrive in, Matt, real name Matilda but don't say it to her face, is placed with Jessica and Sam and their young baby Rory. They are Quakers and are Peacenicks at the time of the American War with Iraq when opposing the war was seen as Un-American. As time passes and Matt relates at school to a strongly biased teacher, her past life begins to unravel with Jessica, Sam and Rory helping her at every turn.

A very satisfying story which will appeal mainly to high school girls but I'm a lad and I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Philomel Books (2007)