The M Word

Moya. The M Word. Whisper it. Conceal it. But, please, never mention it …

Maggie Yates tells her best mate Moya everything.

She tells her about Mum losing her job – how Mum's taken to crying in secret. She even tells her about her foolproof plan to cheer Mum up: find her a fella with cash to splash.

Moya's with her every step of the way. I'll help, she smiles. Though you're surfing a rainbow if you think someone like that exists round here.

But at the back of her mind Maggie knows that Mum's crying is more than sadness. That there are no easy fixes. And that she shouldn't be speaking to Moya any more. Because Moya died months ago.

An unforgettable novel about grief and healing from Costa Children's and Irish Book Award-winner Brian Conaghan