A tender coming-of-age story about coping with family change, mental ill-health and school upheaval. Magic, mystery and friendship give Phyll ways to explore belief, choice and the possibility of making a new beginning.
Phyll is trying to understand her mother’s depression while the family relocates and her mother’s condition changes from day to day.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The treatment is described as sympathetic and realistic about fluctuation, without presenting magic as a cure.
Talk about: Which parts of Phyll’s understanding of her mother feel clear, and which remain difficult?
Change, friendship and self-confidence
Phyll moves home and school, encounters hostility from Hilda, and develops supportive relationships with Clark and Mr Djinn.FavourableFavourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.Favourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.
How the book presents it: Friendship, encouragement and growing self-confidence are presented as meaningful supports during upheaval.
Talk about: What kinds of support help Phyll take ownership of her changing life?
Belief, wishes and appearances
Mr Djinn claims to be a genie, discusses wishes with Phyll and becomes a trusted mentor; apparent family stability is also shown to be misleading.AmbiguousAmbiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.Ambiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.
How the book presents it: The book invites philosophical reflection rather than confirming a straightforward fantasy explanation; its ending is explicitly enigmatic.
Talk about: Does the story ask you to believe in magic, in people, in yourself, or in several possibilities at once?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
It may offer a thoughtful way into conversations about how a parent’s depression can affect family life without suggesting recovery is simple. The friendships and changing circumstances also acknowledge loneliness, support and resilience.
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What Deserves Attention
Be ready to discuss depression, a move prompted by the family situation, loneliness, bullying and dog thefts. The story also includes an older care-home resident whose claims about being a genie remain deliberately uncertain.
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A Conversation Worth Having
If Phyll’s mother’s depression affects your family, what feels recognisable or different? What might make a wish helpful or harmful, and how does the uncertain magic change your reading of the ending?
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Reading Approach
Read alongside the child if family depression, relocation or bullying may feel close to home. Pause after Phyll meets Mr Djinn to consider belief, and leave time afterwards for the unresolved ending.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Living with a parent’s depression: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
Change, friendship and self-confidence: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
Belief, wishes and appearances: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
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