Eight-years-old Kerry and her big sister Merry who is ten are off shopping alone in their town centre. The girls are looking forward to buying a present for their cousin’s birthday and some items for themselves. However, things don’t start off well as whilst waiting for the bus a dog gets loose and Kerry has to chase it and catch it for its owner. She also has a run it with one of the boys from her school who wants the dog for himself.

Kerry then has to chase one of her pound coins that rolls away when she is trying to pay her bus fare. The girls day is full of mishaps and shopping and a little bit of sogginess!

I’m really in two minds what I think about Kerry’s Busy Saturday. You see the book reminds me of the stories I used to read as a child in the 80s and even the cover looks like something from that era, but then inside whilst some of the scenarios felt old, there were lots of modern references to TV shows, pop groups, and food.

Kerry and her sister Merry were both lovely girls and had great characteristics. They were both headstrong and knew what they wanted to do when they were older and were practical too. They really did seem like they were older say fourteen and sixteen rather than eight and ten and this is where I think the issue with me not fully enjoying the book lay.

I couldn’t understand any parent letting their eight and ten years old off shopping in a busy city centre alone on a Saturday. Even back in my day, I wasn’t allowed into the city centre alone until I was thirteen. I also felt a little uncomfortable that the girls thought it was okay to befriend three older teenagers who were complete strangers.

There were a few other little things that niggled at me throughout too. If the girls had been older some of these things wouldn’t have rung alarm bells as much as they did. Kerry’s Busy Saturday is pleasant and was easy to read. If you can look past these things you will find an old fashioned story set in a modern world. Unfortunately, I feel that in today’s society books need to be more than just a fun story.

About the Author

I was born in Croydon, England but grew up in Barbados, endless sunshine and never far from the sea – I was spoilt. When I was seventeen we returned to England. The fast pace of London life was exciting, the shops were fantastic, the cold – not so good. I may not have liked the cold but I loved the changing seasons. In summer I love the long evenings but equally in winter I love the long nights, spring means ‘goodbye cold’ while the colours of autumn are inspiring.

I love reading, writing poetry, baking cakes, F1, shopping, chocolate, cats and watching far too much TV – not necessarily in that order. I am teetotal and a non-smoker – does that make me two shades of boring?

I have been married and divorced twice so as the song says ‘I have looked at love from both sides now’. Good or bad our experiences make us who we are.

I started writing poetry when I was studying for a BA degree with the Open University. I joined the Open University Poetry Society and it was the positive comments from fellow members that encouraged me to submit to poetry publications. I have had poems in ‘Decanto’, ‘Time Haiku’, ‘Poetic Licence’, ‘Candelabrum’, ‘Krax’ and ‘Poetry Now’ to name a few.

As a writer I draw on my personal experience but nature is my main inspiration. Having said that anything can grab my attention, for example, a moment between two characters in my favourite TV series ‘The 100’ sparked a poem. I have written my first children’s book which was released in November 2018.