Sequin and Stitch Book Review

Lucy Dockrill is here with her Barrington Stoke debut.

Sequin and Stitch is tale brilliantly sewn together (did you spot the pun?).

Sequin's mum is a talented seamstress and their little flat is overflowing with beautiful silks, fabrics, buttons and beads. It's a sparkly sanctuary, like a princess's wardrobe.

While mum works at her sewing machine late into the night, Sequin takes care of her baby brother, Stitch and dreams of a place in the spotlight for her brilliant mum. But when tragedy strikes, their shimmering world disintegrates and Sequin is forced to confront the biggest loss of all...

This is a tale of family and loss.

The story itself is narrated by Sequin - who at nine years old - comes across as quite the entertainer.

It all begins at Primrose Mansion or in normal terms, the flat where this lovely family resides, all the way up on the twelfth floor.

Laura Dockhill sews together a truly imaginative tale of family and heart in stunning Barrington Stoke debut.

As far as Sequin is aware, her mum creates beautiful dresses for famous people far and wide and the next person to ask for one her original designs is none other than a princess! Her mum is her inspiration and she is in awe of the job that she does.

But after telling in her class just that, it becomes apparent that all isn't as it seems.

Why does her mum never leave the flat? Why is she nervous/scared to see other people? As the reader it become apparent that the mum actually suffers with anxiety and perhaps depression. She's quite isolated - not that it affects her children in any way. She really is a brilliant role model to her little ones.

Tragedy strikes when a fire breaks out in their building, the panic that all they've known could be lost. Can they stitch their lives back together?

Dramatic and emotional.

Now this is a tough book to review.

Not because I want to say anything negative, it's more because I don't want to give anything away. There is a magnificent twist that I guarantee you won't see coming and it adds an extra depth to the family and their dynamics.

Passionately shows the power of mending what is broken.

The character Sequin is a hopeful protagonist, one that could become an inspiration to others.

Sequin and Stitch is an honest portrayal of a family dealing with day to day life along with feelings of loss and sadness.

This story was actually partly inspired by the Grenfell tragedy and you can feel the heart that went into writing it.

It shows that what is broken can be fixed.