SuitabookWaiting and absence
The narrator waits at the port for her fisherman father and builds rituals around possible homecomings, while her mother appears tired of the fishing season.
Loading your next page
Book details
Pam McGaffin - Author
A reflective coming-of-age novel centred on a teenager waiting for her fisherman father, with family strain, friendship, first love, self-image and prejudice among its stated concerns.
Book Brief
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceA reflective coming-of-age novel centred on a teenager waiting for her fisherman father, with family strain, friendship, first love, self-image and prejudice among its stated concerns.
The narrator waits at the port for her fisherman father and builds rituals around possible homecomings, while her mother appears tired of the fishing season.
The narrator keeps a homecomings binder, tests radio songs as omens and weighs conflicting explanations about her parents and her own name.
The opening includes an absent parent, a moody mother, worry about a fisherman’s return, a death-related dream and references to loss, prejudice and first love.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
LY-Excerpt - Pam J. McGaffin Author - The Leaving Year
Limited information
Checked: 23 September 2026.
Reflections on a book birthday - Pam J. McGaffin Author - The Leaving Year
Limited information
Checked: 23 September 2026.
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.