1

I’m looking for a book I read a few years ago. It featured a family with a single mother and three or so children who run away due to financial issues I think. The eldest of the children takes them to a hollow tree in the park and they scab off leftovers from a cafe nearby. At the end of the book she receives a new sketch pad from her mother when they return home. I cannot remember the name and that’s about everything else I can remember.

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Hi and welcome to Literature SE. Please take a look at the tag wiki for identification-request and edit your question to add more details following the guidance there. E.g., how long ago is "a few years"? Where did you read the book? Do you remember anything about the cover? What language was the book in? That will make it easier for someone to identify the book. Thanks!
    – verbose
    Commented Mar 30, 2021 at 6:15
  • My first thought is Homecoming, by Cynthia Voigt, but it doesn't really match up with the details you have given. There are 4 children who are abandoned by their solo mother, and they do sleep rough but not in a hollow tree. Also they don't go home to their mother, but find a home with their grandmother.
    – NiceOrc
    Commented Mar 31, 2021 at 1:34

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

I think I’ve found this. ‘Lily Alone’ by Jacqueline Wilson.

Pulling quotes about the book from various sources:

JaquelineWilson.fandom.com

Lily, Bliss, Baxter and Pixie run away to the park and camp out in a hollow tree which Bliss found.

Also, both from Wikipedia:

They feed themselves by stealing leftover food from a nearby cafe.

And

The story ends, sadly, with Lily drawing a picture of the Green family and writing at the bottom: "We're all going to be together very, very soon."

Improve this answer
2
  • Tentative upvote, assuming the "receives a new sketch pad from her mother when they return home" detail is misremembered (I haven't read the book, but the description suggests her mother's situation at the end of the story is very different).
    – Rand al'Thor ♦
    Commented Apr 25, 2021 at 18:37
  • @Randal'Thor The story seems to end with the children split up in care, there is a sequel which I hope has a happier ending. I’m not really expecting our querent to reappear to confirm or otherwise.
    – Spagirl
    Commented Apr 25, 2021 at 20:27

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.