The Bad Mother's Handbook meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Sixteen-year-old Jo makes lists to manage her world, but somehow she still feels out of control. But she has found one way to cope: watching what she eats—or rather, what she doesn't eat. And she's losing weight...but not quickly enough. Lizzie, Jo's mum, doesn't make lists. She's too busy being a single mum, hating her ex-husband's new wife and trying to keep an eye on Jo—who seems to have stopped communicating with her altogether. When Jo is diagnosed with anorexia, Lizzie is desperate with worry and their lives spin out of control. Jo needs help and she needs it now. Beneath Jo and Lizzie's fears and frustrations is a funny, warm and insightful story about a mother and her daughter who go on a journey to find themselves—and each other.
Author
Clare Shaw began by writing Parenting Books, including Help Your Child Be Confident and Talking and Your Child - published by Hodder. Her first novel, The Mother and Daughter Diaries was published by Mira and then Clare became a playwright. She has had plays performed at venues such as The Pleasance, The Cockpit and New Wimbledon Theatre. Her new book - SAGEISM - is published in June 2015 by Indigo Dreams. It's a funny and poignant book packed with information, research and humour to help middle aged and older women cope with all that life throws at them. It's feminism for the over forties and it's uplifting, funny and informative. Clare lives in Essex with John and has two daughters - Emma and Jessica
