Lydia's father drops a rather large bombshell on the family when he tells them that he has sold their family home and bought a boat...an old Thames Barge The Lady Beatrice on which he proposes the family will live along side his girlfriend and her children. It seems finances are a little tight. There are other things happening too - which aren't clear. Lydia though, will need to change schools - things are changing and not necessarily for the better.  This is a book that attracted my attention when a customer bought it - I live near the Grand Union Canal - and there are a few old barges moored near me. Larger than the usual Canal Boats - but none the less, not exactly large...and I sometimes wonder about the pressures of bringing up children in a home on the water. This is brilliant. A touching story of a family struggling to survive from the perspective of a determined and opinionated teenager...

When thirteen-year-old Lydia has to live on a sailing barge - along with her dad, new step-mum, three siblings, three step-siblings and two cats - she is pretty sure her life is over. Being a teenager is hard enough without having to deal with all of this! Touching and uplifting - as well as very funny in places - this is a charming story of family, friendship and growing up. Lydia is a brilliant, fierce narrator and I absolutely loved getting into her head, through the means of her diary. The 1970s setting is great as well, really appealing - and this is just a beautiful-looking book. It deals with some quite mature topics but always sensitively and with heart and humour. Relatable whilst also being unlike anything else!