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Knowing The Score
For as long as Gemma can remember it’s been her and Mum against the world. They're as close as can be, but deep down she longs to get to know the rest of her family – Gran and Mum’s brother Joe – the family Mum turned her back on around the time Gemma was born.
With the summer holidays approaching, Mum is invited on an adults-only holiday. Gemma spots a chance to uncover the story behind the family rift and convinces Mum to let her stay with Joe. He’s the perfect uncle – fun, friendly and generous, and even signs her up for tennis camp. But Gemma can’t shake the feeling that he and Gran are keeping secrets. As the truth emerges, can Gemma find a way to bring her family back together?
A heartfelt story of complex families, forgiveness and new beginnings, for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson, Susin Nielsen and Cath Howe.
With the summer holidays approaching, Mum is invited on an adults-only holiday. Gemma spots a chance to uncover the story behind the family rift and convinces Mum to let her stay with Joe. He’s the perfect uncle – fun, friendly and generous, and even signs her up for tennis camp. But Gemma can’t shake the feeling that he and Gran are keeping secrets. As the truth emerges, can Gemma find a way to bring her family back together?
A heartfelt story of complex families, forgiveness and new beginnings, for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson, Susin Nielsen and Cath Howe.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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March 23, 2026☝🏻I am biased, the author is my VERY talented Aunt!
💓This is a charming book about chosen family, repairing relationships, and discovering inherited talents, paired with the lens of tennis. Ros Roberts’ own talent and passion for the sport is evident and accurate, as is her love of cats (Carrot Cake, may he rest in kitty peace!), dogs (Copper!) and her own family. What a lovely read!
💓This is a charming book about chosen family, repairing relationships, and discovering inherited talents, paired with the lens of tennis. Ros Roberts’ own talent and passion for the sport is evident and accurate, as is her love of cats (Carrot Cake, may he rest in kitty peace!), dogs (Copper!) and her own family. What a lovely read!
July 9, 2024
Knowing The Score is a unusual book in that it has been written in a middle-grade way, quite young in content but the overall plot is more aimed at the YA market.
Gemma wants to find out what big issue years ago caused a huge family rift and left her mum not speaking to her mother or brother, Gemma's Grandmother and Uncle.
I could understand from Gemma's POV that she was never told anything about the family problem and that she feels she is missing out on knowing her family as it is just her and her mum. However, I can also understand everything from her mother's POV given that Gemma is so young and she didn't want to tell her just yet. To be totally honest the book rattled me a little that someone would take it upon themselves to try and sort things out that had nothing to do with them, but then it makes great entertainment.
Overall, Knowing the Score is an intriguing and satisfying read. It certainly hooked me in with its fabulous cast of characters and short chapters.
Gemma wants to find out what big issue years ago caused a huge family rift and left her mum not speaking to her mother or brother, Gemma's Grandmother and Uncle.
I could understand from Gemma's POV that she was never told anything about the family problem and that she feels she is missing out on knowing her family as it is just her and her mum. However, I can also understand everything from her mother's POV given that Gemma is so young and she didn't want to tell her just yet. To be totally honest the book rattled me a little that someone would take it upon themselves to try and sort things out that had nothing to do with them, but then it makes great entertainment.
Overall, Knowing the Score is an intriguing and satisfying read. It certainly hooked me in with its fabulous cast of characters and short chapters.
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June 14, 2024A novel that could have relished in a wonderful back-story, where our heroine's exceedingly needy mother has her relationships with the family aired across many chapters, in intelligently soapy style, but instead goes down the 'here's summer tennis school with an unlikeable other girl often present' route. As a result it was just too much of a teen-only read, and not nearly grabbing enough for other ages. Odd decisions, like calling big name tennis stars of our world by their nationality, only added to the clumsiness. Part of me wanted to stick it out and find out the core family issues, but no sleep will be lost over it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews