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The Tulip Touch (Laurel-Leaf Books) by: Anne Fine

Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library
Release date: 31st May, 1999
Media: Mass Market Paperback

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Average rating - (more reviews)

Rating: - Harrowing yet poignant

I first read this book when i was in primary school and it has remained in my bookcase ever since. It is a fascinating albeit harrowing book to read, but i think it is an important book - even more so in the light of current events with recent goings on with 'The devil Boys'.
The story centres around Natalie Barnes, whose family have taken over the local Hotel. Natalie meets the enigmatic and strange creature Tulip Pierce. Tulip quickly draws Natalie to her and the two engage in various games,such as stinking makerel and road of bones, which become progessively more disturbing and dark - along with Tulips behaviour. Natalie tries to distance herself from Tulip, but she finds that she cant, as Tulip prays on her mind constantly.
This then is where we uncover the story of Tulips background. We see a child who has suffered all manner of physical and, it is strongly implied, sexual abuse at the hands of her violent father. There is one disturbing point where there is a story of a child who had drowned and Tulip takes a perverse interest in it, and she even pays visits to the family to the dead girl for her own amusement.
The story is important because Anne Fine, through this book, makes the point that Tulip could be any child at all, but that because of the life she had and abuse she got at home, presumably from an early age, she did the things she did in the book. The book also has lessons which we can learn in cases such as that of 'The Devil Boys' in England, or indeed the case of Mary Bell, since they too are a product of their hellish upbringing. As the cover of the book itself says, No one is born evil. No one.

Rating: - Stinky Mackeral

Winner of the Carnegie Children's Book of the Year for 1996, this story concerns Natalie, daughter of a hotel proprietor and her friendship with Tulip of the title. Tulip has an awful home-life and at first Natalie's parents encourage their friendship. But they don't really know what the girls are getting up to together. They play some rather silly games, such as `Stinky Mackeral' where the idea is to pretend that somebody smells, without actually saying so to their face. They also play games that have a more dangerous flavour, one of which involves them knocking on a door at random and making up a story that will get them inside the house. But the game that breaks up the friendship and leads Natalie to worry for her own and her family's safety is setting fire to dustbins or old sheds.

Natalie breaks away from Tulip, but Tulip has one last awful game that she's determined to play. Introduce your pre-teen daughters to some excellent writing today by giving them this book.

Rating: - Equally enjoyable for adults as well as older children

My daughter was going to meet Anne Fine at a literary festival so read this in advance and quite enjoyed it. Having met her and heard her describe what inspired her to write the book, I found myself intrigued enough to read it too.

I really enjoyed it and thought it was well put together in terms of both plot and characters. The first few light hearted pages don't really give an indication of a more heavyweight and sinister theme unfolding as the story goes on. For the book was inspired by the Jamie Bulger case, and led her to wonder whether children are born evil or gain an evil streak because of how they are brought up - in this case the 'culprits' are girls, with one being the ringleader and the other getting egged on to do spiteful things. A really thought provoking book with a great theme about rights and wrongs for slightly older children to consider (mature 10 upwards).

Rating: - fascinating - like a car crash

This story was ultimately enthralling with the disturbed character of Tulip making it up-put-downable. The ending leaves you with a real mix of emotions - to feel sorry for Tulip or to condemn her. The reader is asked to consider whether Tulip's upbringing really explains or justifies her behaviour.
Moreover the dilemmas faced by Natalie are very relevant: she is easy to empathise with and her fascination with the charismatic Tulip is all to possible to understand. The social issues raised are important ones for children (and adults) to face.
This book disturbed me. Buy it.

Rating: - The Tulip Touch

This was a dark but gripping story. When I read it I couldn't put it down because it was so fantastic. You can definately feel that you are in Natalie's mind. Everybody has to read this book!

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• - Ages 12-16
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