Violet: A Gritty Story of Endurance and Love

by Tina Bruce

Violet abandons her son to the task of making dangerous smuggling runs. What is he smuggling? He can't tell anyone. But he knows he has to do it or else innocent people will suffer. And he knows enough about suffering just like his mom, Violet. Set in the six months leading up to the 2020 lockdown, this compelling debut novel tells the story of a family as they travel from despair to hope in their fractured relationships. Will they heal? Violet is a glimpse into the life of the woman you may see sleeping on a bus stop bench or shuffling along the street dragging a heavy load that is only sometimes visible. What is she carrying? Violet is a story of life's hardships, gritty reality, ultimate change, and discovery of meaningful purpose. You may recognize yourself in this story or maybe someone you know. Maybe you will recognize the struggles Violet faces or be appalled at her life decisions. Violet is a product of her environment who is also, like all of us, seeking to be safe and content in a sometimes brutal world.

230 pages, Paperback

Published April 22, 2022

About the author

Tina Bruce, a member of the Research Committee of the Froebel Educational Institute and a trustee of the National Froebel Foundation, originally studied at the Froebel Institute (now, as Froebel College, part of Roehampton University).

She has written or edited 29 books, and is perhaps best known for the 'ten principles of early childhood education' first published in 1987 in her book Early Childhood Education (Hodder & Stoughton currently in its 3rd edition). She also co-presented the popular Radio 4 series Tuning in to Children with Kirsty Wark.

She has, for ten years, worked with successive Ministers for Children as Co ordinator of the Early Years Advisory Group, and is or has been Early Years adviser to more than 100 local education authorities, schools and centres across the UK.

She co-founded the Early Childhood Research Centre at Roehampton University, and as an educator she is guided by Froebelian principles, being known for her ability to interweave theory and practice in creative and challenging ways.