Toffee

Toffee follows Allison, a teenage runaway who finds shelter in the home of Marla, an elderly woman with dementia who mistakes her for an old friend. Written in free verse poetry, the story tracks their unlikely connection as they navigate their individual circumstances of loss and displacement. Living under Marla's roof, Allison must maintain the pretense of being someone else while wrestling with the events that led her to flee her own home. The developing bond between the two women creates space for both to confront their pasts and consider their futures. As both Allison and Marla deal with memory, identity, and trauma, the story raises questions about the nature of truth and connection. The verse format mirrors the fragmentary way both characters experience their reality, while exploring how people can find understanding across age and circumstance.

Readers connect deeply with the verse novel format and emotional weight of Allison's journey. Many note that the sparse poetry creates intimacy and makes heavy themes more digestible. The relationship between Allison and Marla resonates as authentic and carefully developed. Readers appreciate: - Quick but impactful read (most finish in 1-2 sittings) - Handling of trauma, abuse, and healing - Character growth and realistic dialogue - Effective use of white space and pacing Common criticisms: - Story moves slowly in middle sections - Some find verse format distances them from narrative - A few readers wanted more resolution Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (90+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "The sparseness of verse perfectly captures a teenager processing trauma - saying so much with so few words." (Goodreads reviewer)

Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones A verse novel about a teenage girl coping with her sister's mental illness and hospitalization.

Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan A story in verse about a girl reuniting with her estranged mother while navigating family relationships and abandonment.

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan A verse novel following a Polish immigrant girl in England who faces isolation and searches for belonging.

One by Sarah Crossan A verse narrative about conjoined twins confronting life changes and their relationship with each other.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson A memoir in verse about growing up between New York and South Carolina during the Civil Rights movement while discovering one's identity.

🍬 "Toffee" is written entirely in free verse poetry, making it a unique novel-in-verse that tells its story through carefully crafted poems rather than traditional prose. 📖 Sarah Crossan won the Carnegie Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature, for her previous verse novel "One" about conjoined twins. 🏠 The book explores themes of domestic abuse, dementia, and found family, drawing attention to often overlooked social issues affecting both teenagers and the elderly. 🎭 The protagonist's name, Allison, means "truthful one" in Irish—an ironic choice as she spends much of the novel living under a false identity. 🌟 The title "Toffee" comes from an elderly character mistaking the main character for her childhood friend of the same name, creating a metaphor for how people can become sweeter and more precious with time, like the candy itself.