Because of You
By Eve Ainsworth and Ali Ardington
3/5
()
About this ebook
Poppy feels like her life is falling to pieces in this coming-of-age novella of blended families and online bullying from best-selling author Eve Ainsworth.
Poppy's having a nightmare at home. Her parents have split up and her mum's new boyfriend is moving in. Dad is the one who's always been there for Poppy, but now he's drifting further and further away. It seems like things can't get any worse until it all goes wrong at school as well and Poppy finds herself being targeted by spiteful bullies. As the vicious online comments keep coming, who can Poppy turn to for help? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 12+
Eve Ainsworth
Eve Ainsworth is an award-winning teen author and experienced school speaker, with a background working for secondary schools in pastoral and child protection roles. She is the author of several best-selling novels including the award-winning and Carnegie Medal nominated 7 Days.
Read more from Eve Ainsworth
Know My Place Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJust Another Little Lie Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5All to Play For Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Blog of Maisy Malone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Because of You
Related ebooks
Saturday Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ripples Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI Can't Live Without You, Pretty Boy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Letting Go Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Leaving Season Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just Above Water: A YA Anthology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Flicker in the Clarity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsListen To Me Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Take Two Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Say Yes, Sarah Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOur Year in Love and Parties Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nowhere to Hide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKitchen of My Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecret Sister Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDamsel Distressed Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Void the Size of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAvoiding Mr Right Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Year of Second Chances: A totally heartwarming and emotional read Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRain and Revelation Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Godmother: An emotional and powerful book club read from Amanda Brookfield Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Forever Summer: A Chelsea High Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaving Jazz Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Prom-Wrecked Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThese Things I've Done Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Distance Between Us: What happens to a marriage once children and life take over... Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Single Mums Move On Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaving Evangeline Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSurface Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Christmas in St Ives Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHide And Seek (Part 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
YA Family For You
The Hate U Give: A Printz Honor Winner Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Giver Quartet Omnibus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Red Queen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legendary: A Caraval Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finale: A Caraval Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Caraval Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Giver: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bloodmarked Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5They Both Die at the End Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poet X Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War Storm Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Do-Over Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Allegedly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Hello Beautiful: by Ann Napolitano - A Comprehensive Summary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gullstruck Island Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gallant Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Heir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Son Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glass Sword Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Savage Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Dark Crowns Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blood Like Magic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rumble Fish Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Seedfolks Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5These Hollow Vows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty Little Liars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5King's Cage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love & Gelato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Because of You
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
Because of You - Eve Ainsworth
Chapter One
Today is the day. D‑Day. And in all honesty, I reckon it’s going to be the worst day of my life – so far.
I watch Mum and Richie from the safety of my bedroom window. They want me down there with them. They want me to do the right thing, to get involved and show them that I’m happy with this sweet new arrangement.
But I’m not happy, am I? In fact, I’m far from it.
From up here, I shoot dirty looks at Richie’s soppy face as he unloads his boxes and stacks them up on our driveway. So many stupid boxes. How much stuff has he got? I can’t stand how smug he looks as he loops his arm around Mum’s waist and kisses her cheek. He looks like he already owns the place, and Mum too. And look at Mum – giggling like a girl. It turns my stomach. So pathetic.
Just behind them, Kayla is holding a smaller box. She looks out of place standing there – too pretty and perfect to be leaning on our rough, crumbling wall. I see Kayla’s nose wrinkle, her lips pouting with boredom, then her eyes move up to meet mine.
We are locked together in an icy stare. I don’t want to break my gaze away, but I have to. This is Kayla Roberts after all. She’s not just older than me but also one of the most popular girls in school.
Maybe this is a bad day for Kayla too. Does she really want this to happen?
Mum is making such a huge mistake.
Mum really wants me to like Richie. It’s painful to watch. Mum’s eyes go all wide and pleading and she starts coming out with all the reasons why her boyfriend is so good for us.
He makes me laugh,
she says. He’s so kind. He just wants to make us happy.
I don’t agree. For one, he doesn’t make anyone laugh apart from Mum – and she’s the type of person who finds adverts for toilet roll funny. Any normal person would find Richie loud, annoying and think he tries too hard. As for his kindness, OK, he might be all right to Mum as far as I know. But what man tries to muscle in on a woman who was just doing her job? Mum told me that she had been caring for Richie’s sick dad and she and Richie had begun to get close. She told me that Richie was struggling
. He had lost his wife years ago and his dad’s death had brought back memories of that. Mum keeps going on about how kind and sensitive Richie is, like I care. He isn’t being so kind and sensitive now, is he? Breaking up our home, ruining everything. I bet Dad doesn’t see him that way.
And the last reason – he wants to make us happy? God, don’t even get me started on that one. That’s the biggest lie of them all, because if Richie Roberts wanted to make us happy, he would leave us alone.
I’m sorry. I probably sound all bitter and twisted, and maybe I am. I can’t help my feelings. I hate upsetting Mum, but the fact is I will never like Richie and it’s not worth pretending.
I have a dad already. And he’s the one who should be coming home now, clasping my mum’s hand and beaming up at me.
Not Richie.
Mum is making a special dinner. She never normally cooks, so this meal is bound to go horribly wrong. I feel like staying in my bedroom for the rest of the evening, but I know this will cause more trouble than I need. So I slip downstairs and watch as Mum fusses around in the kitchen. I avoid the living room, because I know Richie and Kayla are in there. Already taking over space, watching what they like on our TV. Laughing far too loud. I really can’t deal with it.
I lean on the door frame, watching as Mum moves around the kitchen, humming softly to herself under her breath. She’s pretty, my mum – everyone says so. She is tiny and cute like a doll and has delicate features. I look nothing like her. I’m all Dad.
It makes me feel a bit sad that Mum’s only cooking like this now. Normally she just sticks a pizza in the oven or mixes up a pasta dish from a jar. I’ve never seen her chopping up ingredients or weighing things out. In fact, I didn’t even know that we owned a set of scales. This is all for Richie. This is all to prove to him how perfect we are – which is another stupid lie. Mum never did this for Dad. It seems unfair somehow. A red‑hot fire burns in my belly.