The Sun Hasn't Fallen From the Sky

By Alison Gangel and Dashka Slater

Seven-year-old Ailsa Dunn's Ma is prettier than all the other mothers, her Da is the most handsome man in the world. They're made for each other... But the grown-up world is more complicated than that, and when alcohol intrudes, violence becomes the norm and unpredictability reigns - and the ground shifts beneath Ailsa's small feet. Ailsa and her big sister Morag - both Ailsa's cruellest tormentor and her staunchest defender - are removed from the care of their adored parents and enrolled at McGregor's Orphan Homes, a world away from their Wallace Street tenement. Here, the rules are strict: there are chores, there are curfews, the ever-present threat of Auntie Vera and bitter resignation as visits from Ma and Da become fewer and further between. But there's also fish and chips, a holiday by the sea, a pillowcase full of toys at Christmas and, life-changing for Ailsa, an inspirational teacher and the chance discovery of a rare musical talent that will give her the opportunity to take her future into own hands. The Sun Hasn't Fallen From the Sky is a vibrant portrait of two sisters growing up together in 1970s Glasgow as their family falls apart; a tender childhood memoir both heartbreaking and uplifting.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1408822059
• ISBN13: 9781408822050
• Release Date: December 2011
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Paperbacks
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.6" x 5.3"