This was a novel that I read over and over as a child and I recently re-read it for nostalgia's sake and can now appreciate more than ever just what a lovely little book it is. I'm keeping it to read to my own future children, most definitely- its just such a shame it is now out of print. I hope this is rectified in the future; my suggestion would be to try and pick up a second-hand copy of this and to read it and treasure it!

`Alphabet Cousins' is the story of recently orphaned Kate Burton, eleven years old and sent to live with a family she doesn't even know existed at the boy's boarding school her uncle runs in rural Devon. Along with her aunt and uncle are five cousins- ranging in ages from teenagers to a baby. There's Augustus, Benedict, Charlotte.... and so on. Kate's alphabet cousins.

As Kate comes to terms with the death of her parents and tries to connect with a family she barely knows, there's lots of trials and tribulations along the way. This is a story of coming to terms with grief, families and acceptance.

I genuinely love this book and so many parts have always stuck out vividly to me- there's a beautiful chapter when the family go to Snowdonia for a holiday and it is just so heart-warming and nicely portrayed. Kate as a person isn't always very nice and her actions are sometimes questionable; she can be rude and insulting as well as introvert which makes her more believable given what she has been through, but all of the characters are well drawn and make this story what it is: a brilliant little read.

As far as I'm concerned, this book is timeless. Please give it a chance.

*This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk* ( )