Tug of War: Two Mums, One Girl, One Choice
on Goodreads (60)
What’s inside...
In 2012, The Emergency begins as terrorist bombs shatter cities around the UK and wreak havoc on normal life. Molly's parents decide to send her and her brother, John, away from Glasgow to safety in the countryside. Molly is sent to Paradise Farm where she is cared for by Pernilla, who has always wanted a child, and gives Molly everything she desires. Pernilla's youthful enthusiasm is in stark contrast to Molly's own frumpy, daggy mum. Molly is so caught up in her new life that she fails to take action when her friend, Fergal, tells her that John has been sent to live with an abusive farmer. It is not until her mother comes to visit that Molly realises how important her family is, and how close she is to losing them.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
12-15
Length
304 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Esme felt having to choose between her two mums?
What would you have done if you were in Esme’s shoes?
Why do you think both mums wanted Esme to live with them?
How did Esme show resilience in the story?
What can we learn about the importance of understanding and compromise from this story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing a personal anecdote about a tough choice you had to make, to create a relatable starting point for your child.
Ask your child how they feel about each character, and encourage them to explore the characters' motivations and feelings.
Discuss the concept of empathy and understanding different perspectives, using Esme’s situation as a reference point.
Encourage your child to think of alternative endings to the story and discuss how those might change the characters' feelings and outcomes.
Use the book's themes to reinforce the importance of communication and resolving conflict in a constructive way.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Family Dynamics
Explanation: This book explores unconventional family structures and highlights the challenges faced by a girl with two mothers involved in a custody battle.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate the diversity in family setups and understand that love and care can come from various forms of parental figures.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Compassion
Explanation: As the protagonist faces emotional dilemmas, the narrative allows readers to understand and feel compassion for her struggles.
Real-World Application: Children can apply empathy to relatives or peers who may be experiencing family issues, learning to offer support and understanding.
Example Lesson: Conflict Resolution
Explanation: The book presents methods of resolving disputes and the importance of communication between all parties involved.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children constructive ways to handle conflicts in their own lives, whether with friends or family members.
Example Lesson: Resilience in Adversity
Explanation: The main character shows resilience despite the tough circumstances, providing a role model of strength and perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to remain strong and hopeful even during challenging times, understanding that adversity can be overcome with resilience.
Example Lesson: Making Difficult Choices
Explanation: The narrative presents situations where difficult decisions have to be made, demonstrating the complexity of choices and their consequences.
Real-World Application: This teaches children that decisions can be hard but are often necessary, helping them to think critically about right and wrong and the impact of their choices on others.