This is a book about two very complex characters, Gemma and Mike, who both have terrible backgrounds full of lies and secrecy.
Gemma spends her time cutting out articles about mums from newspapers, after hers 'died' several years ago. She believes she is invisible, ignored by her family and barley speaks to anyone, until she meets Mike. She recognizes him from one of her newspaper cuttings and is out to get him. Mike on the other hand was tormented and beaten up by his dad until him and his mum decide to leave home. Just as they were about to go, Mike's dad returns. Mike pushes him over and he falls into a coma however Mike believes he is just briefly knocked out. Months later his dad dies from a coma which Mike caused and he bears unbelievable guilt. He has killed his dad and the only person in the world who knows is his mum. Soon to follow the police arrest his mum for man slaughter as she doesn't allow Mike to take the blame. Now he bares not only guilt from killing his father, but guilt for his mum being in prison. After this Mike is placed under the care of his grandparents far from home and hopes for a fresh start, until he meets Gemma. Gemma is jealous of Mike. He not only has a mum who loves him, but is the kind of person who everyone likes and easily makes new friends, unlike her. After discovering more about Mike's background from old newspaper articles she knows his secret, the one Mike wants no one to know. Gemma blackmails Mike forcing him to steal and give her money or she will reveal his secret. Terrified Mike does these awful things and feels Gemma has destroyed all hope. However after he is caught by the police for stealing which Gemma forced him to do she begins to realize what she is doing and that however jealous she is she must stop. It's almost too late as Gemma finds Mike about to throw himself off the bridge. Gemma explains why she forced him to do these things by revealing her family life as Mike gradually understands. He then tells her the truth of who really killed is father and Gemma is partly forgiven. They are not yet friends, but are certainly no longer enemies. I really felt for the characters. I perfectly understood Gemma's actions and wanted to hop into the book and help her out. Mike had such a tormented childhood and spent most of his life surrounded by guilt and I'm so glad it all turned out all right in the end. I think eventually Mike and Gemma will become friends because even though they have totally different backgrounds their brains are wired the same way and they have a lot in common. I hope there's a sequel to this book because I have so many questions. Does Mike ever visit his mum in prison? Does Gemma's brother start a new life with his girlfriend? Does Gemma ever meet her mother? But most of all I hope Malorie Blackman continues to write because she is a truly fantastic author!

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