(Published by Tivoli)
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Melissa Diem’s novel tells the story of Jean, a single mother who has given birth to a severely handicapped daughter. In line with the old Irish story of the changeling – a less than perfect baby who is given by the fairies to replace the perfect baby they have taken away – Jean believes that she was a changeling and so too is her daughter Sugar Pea.
Rejected by her mother from an early age, Jean felt alienated and fearful at home. She vows to leave home as soon as possible, an ambition encouraged wholeheartedly by her mother. A brief affair leads to the conception of her daughter and Jean resolves to be the perfect mother, unlike the mother she had.
Moving to the country, and away from all that is familiar, Jean’s pregnancy leaves her plenty of time to daydream about the perfect life her child will lead. But when Sugar Pea is still very young it becomes apparent that all is not right. Jean battles with doctors to discover what is causing her daughter’s ailments. Frustrated by their inability to diagnose Sugar Pea’s condition, Jean remains convinced that her daughter will be fine. As Sugar Pea ages, her condition grows worse and the full extent of her handicap becomes more apparent. Her illness becomes a black threat that hangs over Jean, invading their home and their minds, and leaving Jean questioning her own sanity.
Author Diem has done what an English teacher once told me to do – only write about what you know. One of her own daughters is profoundly disabled and it is apparent in her writing that Diem knows what she’s talking about. She has managed to put into words a mother’s fierce protectiveness of her child and how a mother’s love knows no bounds, particularly in a hostile world.
Although this book is not what I would describe as an enjoyable read, it is both educational and insightful. 
Buy now: Special online price: 7.99
