Brilliantly written, quirky, funny and very poignant if you are a child who knows what it is like to live in a family whose parents have divorced and remarried. Also loved the way that the mother was able to write to her friend to let off steam and these letters gave her perspective of the family dynamics which were in opposition to those of her daughter. Cherry's mother has just re-married, much to Cherry's disgust. The worst thing about her step-father is his name: Roland Butter. Can you imagine? Cherry's best friend, Skinny Melon, is a sounding board for all Cherry's angsts - Roland's allergies for one - who wants a wimpy step-father, all sniffly and red-eyed? All this and curried compost school dinners to contend with. But when Roland starts sending Cherry coded messages, her curiosity is aroused. Will she ever learn to live with, and even like, Roland Butter? The author has included drawn coded postcards that make you think about messages being sent for the pen of Roland Butter. As the story proceeds, Cherry's opinion of her step father mellows - brilliant story well written. ( )