A Library of Lemons

Story

Following the death of Calypso's mother her grieving father becomes preoccupied with writing his book A History of the Lemon. While his responsibilities start to dwindle, Calypso buries herself in books and fiction and at school makes friends with new girl, Mae, who shares her love of books. Mae's friendship and lively home life make Calypso feel more normal than ever before. But when Calypso is brave enough to invite Mae over to her house, the girls unveil the truth of Calypso's father's time-consuming project.

Why we chose it

A poignant real life story about being a young carer and dealing with grief, about finding friends in books and finding a friend who loves books as much as you do.

Where it came from

Jo Cotterill has had many jobs ranging from musician and actor to fireworks technician. She is now a full-time writer situated in Oxfordshire. A Library of Lemons is a book which can help children understand depression in grown-ups.

Where it went next

Since the publication of A Library of Lemons, Jo Cotterill has been credited for her excellent ability in crafting a story embedded with sensitive issues. The book has won multiple awards including the Oxfordshire Book Award 2017, Stockport Children’s Book Award 2017 and Tower Hamlets Book Award 2017.

Associated stories

Jo Cotterill has written a number of books for children and young adults including A Storm of Strawberries, Jelly and the Electrigirl series, illustrated by Cathy Brett, which mixes comic strip with prose.