Young children
A shy young carer’s life is transformed when she is sent away to the country – and through her bravery and quick thinking becomes the unlikely village heroine.
Caz is fed up. Life has been tough since Dad left. Why does she always have to do everything? What is wrong with Mum? Why is her brother always so angry?
When Mum is rushed into hospital she is packed off to stay in a cluttered cottage in the country with her grandfather, who she barely knows. What sort of man is he?
Despite her initial misgivings, Caz gets used to his old-fashioned ways and settles into the slower pace of village life, even having an exciting adventure along the way. The two form a close relationship; her trust and confidence builds as she learns about the natural world around her, while he learns a thing or two about the pressures of growing up in the modern world.
In this emotional and ultimately uplifting story of family relationships, we see how older and younger generations can learn from each other. In just a week, life can begin to look a whole lot better.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
This book has literally changed my life! I loved Caz and her journey through a short episode in her life; it really got my nose stuck in it! Louise is such a brilliant author! What a fantastic book to read, especially at my age -almost eleven.
This is a really well-written book, easy to get into and easy to finish. I would definitely recommend it for anyone under the age of 16. I really enjoyed reading it, especially the dramatic bit in the middle! :)
Gramps and the Shield Bugs by Louise Peregrina - 4.5/5 Gramps and the Shield Bugs is a beautiful story told from the point of view of a young caretaker. I love that the story opens up about vulnerabilities in families that so many shy from speaking out about. Lots of families struggle and it is refreshing to read a story that speaks to your soul about families that break apart, suffering, depression. What if can cause in a family and how each person responds to it can be triggering to read but is also beautifully written here. This is a great story, and I do believe many could benefit reading a story that involves a young caretaker and how that life can impact others. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
A really lovely book. The interaction between Caz & her Gramps is beautifully written. He subtly introduces new experiences & values to Caz in a gentle & calm manner. Aimed at the unsettling time when young readers are growing out of childhood & yet not considered grown up enough to be included in certain things. The anxieties of changing schools & wanting to be the same as their peers & hoping most of all to get their first mobile phones. A tale of a broken family relationships at crisis point finding themselves & coming together.
I love that this book is written from the point of view of a young carer. Throughout the story you can hear Caz's frustration around the fact that grownups are expecting her to do adult things like cook, clean and take care of her younger brother, but aren't willing to treat her like an adult when it comes to telling her what is going on. It's also hard to read how much she wants to keep things a secret and how hard she finds it to share what is going on for her and her family. It's clear that part of Caz wants to pretend that everything is ok and part of her doesn't know any different; the way she thinks that this is the way her life is and how it has to be. When she goes to stay with Gramps, she is so worried that she'll get bored and won't know what do to with herself without her care responsibilities. It's so nice to see her start to relax and become a child again. And to see the adults in her life begin to step up and help out so that things don't go back to the way they were. I think this book is so important for children who are young carers, so they know that there are people who will help them if they ask for it. It's also important for people who have never lived through the experience, to help them understand how challenging life can be as a young carer.
