I was charmed by this tender story of family and friendship on Cape Cod in the early 1970s. Eleven-year-old Chirp is beautifully realised as a sensitive child who, in an era of record players, bell bottoms and macramé, likes nothing better than to explore the salt marshes with her binoculars, looking for birds. Her world is shattered when her beloved mother falls ill and, less articulate than her teenage sister, her resilience is tested by her well-meaning psychologist father and an ineffectual schoolteacher. Things are not made easier by tough-guy new neighbour, Joey. Nuanced portraits of family relationships and in particular Chirp’s tenuous friendship with Joey make this book a joy to read, despite some upsetting themes. It is something of a hymn to quieter, more intuitive individuals and the power of non-verbal communication, and shows that real friends can be found where you least expect. The delightful Chirp seems a little young compared with today’s eleven-year-olds but this is a minor quibble: she and Joey will stay with me for a long time. A fantastic debut.