Dolphin and Star live with their mum Marigold, who is a little bit different to other mums. She is covered in amazing art, and dresses up in a different way to the other parents at the school gates. But as imaginative and fun Marigold is on her good days, she also has bad days when she makes unwise decisions that affect Dolphin and Star. As Marigold's mental health gets worse, Dolphin is left on her own to try and figure out how to help her mum and herself.

This is such a great read. I loved it as a child, and I think I honestly loved it more as an adult. There are so many different things in this book that just hit differently as an adult and you can truly appreciate the things Jacqueline Wilson did in this book that made it so special to so many kids. This is the first book I read where I had an inkling of what mental health deterioration really looked like, and how it could affect someone who meant well and loved a lot but was unable to make the right choices. From the little things to Dolphin's grubby clothes, and too-tight knickers to the way she is treated by classmates and her teachers, there's so many things you feel for Dolphin.

I had a new appreciation for Star in this book too and everything she had to do as an older sibling to look after Dolphin, and she was only so young herself. There were moments in this book I felt surprisingly emotional at the sisters' situation and I felt for Marigold herself too.

This is a great book for adults and children it seems and if anyone was looking to do a reread I would highly recommend it!