Zoe Collins has done something bad. Something so bad that she can never seem to escape from the guilt, from the trusting faces that all remind her of one thing: nobody found her out.

One day, she decides to tell someone. In the garden shed in the dead of night she begins to write. She writes letters to Stuart Harris, a criminal on Death Row. Gradually, she begins to tell him of the event and all the events leading up to it. These letters make up Ketchup Clouds.

In these letters we find out how she and Max first met and how she gradually came to discover her love for his brother, Aaron, and how this eventually caused a terrible event. Along the way, we're let into her family life, with her annoying sister Sophie (no – not me!) and her cute little sister Dot, who's deaf.

We learn about her life at school, and their arguments about Grandpa, who's in hospital. At the end, almost as a postscript, we get to read Dot's Diary, which, despite all its simplicity and spelling mistakes, is very telling and revealing.

This is definitely not my usual type of book – not one I'd pick up in a bookshop. I was surprised though. I really enjoyed it! Normally I hate books about romance and family troubles, but the darkness to this made it a chilling tale, with a definite edge.

All the way through you're aware of what will happen, but when it comes you are still completely shocked and worried for Zoe. In case you're wondering, that's not her real name. It also adds a lot of perspective on our own troubles. None could be bigger than this!

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this one is so lovely – I'd treasure it even if I hated the story! I especially like the red birds printed on the edges of the pages, so when you look to open it they seem to be flying along the book!

The way we learn about the little details of everyday life in Zoe's home is really nice, as it makes the story seem much more real – otherwise I think it would seem a little far fetched. Definitely one I'd recommend. I think it could easily become the next modern classic. Try it, even if you think you won't like it – you'll be surprised!

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