Toffee

Marla is a witty elderly woman with dementia, who keeps a stack of paperbacks in the fridge, and enjoys dancing to John Lennon in her kitchen. Allison, a bright 16-year-old, hops on a bus to Bude in search of a new life, free from an abusive father and unsupportive friends. When Allison is caught fleeing from Marla’s shed, she is mistaken for an old childhood friend called Toffee and is invited in for something sweet. Allison takes on the role of Toffee for a while, and enjoys dancing, building sandcastles, and Marla’s great sense of humour. What begins as Allison taking advantage of a confused woman with a safe spare room blossoms into a caring, reciprocal friendship both characters desperately need.

The touching verse novel explores complex family relationships, and themes of identity and loneliness. Both Allison and Marla struggle with finding and accepting themselves as they are, but as their bond grows it becomes obvious that understanding, patience, and dancing are the key to a healthy, supportive relationship. Few people take her idle talk seriously, but Marla’s honest words enable Allison to realise her self-worth and in return Marla is rewarded with a genuine friend, and the patience a woman struggling with dementia deserves. Winner of the Honour Award for Fiction in the KPMG Ireland Children’s Books Awards 2020, Toffee is lyrical and compelling, with Crossan’s style beautifully balancing trauma and frustration, with heart-warming moments and glimpses of humour.

Danielle Hudson