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Reviews for the book:
The Illustrated Mum,
by
J Wilson
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This book is no longer available for purchase
Ten-year-old Dolphin and her older sister Star lead an unusual life --- sometimes wild, sometimes stressful, but never dull. Their mother Marigold is a beautiful, compulsively creative work of art --- almost every square inch of her body is covered in fantastic, one-of-a-kind tattoos. To Dolphin, Marigold is "the most magical mother in the whole world," with her boundless imagination, her childlike enthusiasm, and her willingness to do crazy things like baking a dozen kinds of cake in a single afternoon.
As Star gets older, though, Marigold is a burden. Too often, Star ends up playing the part of the mother when Marigold stays out too late, has too much to drink, brings home another boyfriend, or disappears to her room in a funk for days on end.
When Star's father Micky, the love of Marigold's life, re-enters their lives, Star jumps on an opportunity to escape her chaotic life with Marigold. Dolphin, fiercely loyal to Marigold, stays behind to care for her mother. Soon, though, Dolphin begins to realize that Marigold's unpredictability --- her violent rages, her spending sprees, her impulsiveness --- might be the signs of a problem that's too big for her little family to solve on their own. Helped by her new friend Oliver and an unexpected ally, Dolphin must make a hard choice that could save her mother's life.
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