THE CUCKOO HAS FLOWN
Set in 1799 in the Surrey town of Esher, The Cuckoos Daughter is the story of 16 year old Louisa La Coast. Raised on a farm with the foster parents and family who refuse to reveal the identity of her real parents, Louisa not only unravels the mystery of her past but also falls for the handsome Scottish soldier Godfrey MacDonald.
However the path of love rarely if ever runs smoothly and as her feelings for Godfrey deepen Louisa is forced to make decisions that will permanently change the course of her life.
Although Griselda Gifford’s novel is primarily aimed at children it’s an equally good read for adults and it isn’t hard to see why. Louisa is a likeable, credible heroine whose story raises important themes, some of which resonate today: Why do some adopted/fostered children feel they never truly “belong” in the families that take them in? Does social class influence our choice of life partners?
These are huge subjects which easily lend themselves to discussion, and any author who successfully conveys them in a children’s novel deserves to have their work included in the national education curriculum.
Reviewed by Juliette Foster
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