When a surrogate mother pretends the pregnancy has miscarried, and bears a daughter - to whom does the child belong? To her runaway birth mother, or her deceived father and his wife?

Scout, born as a result of a surrogacy arrangement, is kept by her biological mother, Joanie, who has deliberately deceived both the clinic and Scout's intended parents by claiming to have had a miscarriage. When this deception comes to light ten years later, a compelling moral dilemma unfolds as Joanie makes her situation worse in the eyes of the law and social services by going on the run.

Scout is a resourceful, anxious, perceptive child. She craves normality in the face of her mother's restlessness and unaccountability. She is loyal to her mother, and loves her deeply, despite being aware of her inconsistencies.

Will the Family Court make the right decision for this vulnerable and determined little girl?

Funny and poignant exploration of motherhood and surrogacy

About the Author
Kay Langdale is the author of five novels: Away From You, Choose Me, Her Giant Octopus Moment, What the Heart Knows (Rowohlt, Germany) and Redemption (Transita; published as If Not Love by Thomas Dunne Books.) Visit Kay's website at www.kaylangdale.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KayLangdale.

Reviews
Readable, poignant . . . the author's skill is to woo the reader into empathising with conflicting viewpoints * The Sunday Times *
'Thought-provoking' ***** * Woman's Own *
A delight to read, the characters pull at your heartstrings * Candis *
This is both a comic and poignant read told via quirky prose, and is impossible to put down * Image *
Sweet and sad and funny and thought-provoking * U magazine *
An endearing child-heroine and a controversial moral question make HER GIANT OCTOPUS MOMENT a must-read * Good Housekeeping *
Poignant novel about parenthood * Woman & Home *
Funny and poignant * Choice *
A poignant, at times funny, at times saddening book about morals and motherhood * Tatler Ireland *
Brilliant new novel . . . impressively plausible and realistic . . . truly heartbreaking and yet life-affirming at the same time. A thoroughly enjoyable and light-hearted, engaging read. * welovethisbook.com *
A gripping, heart-rendering story. The characters are portrayed skilfully, especially Scout, who is a wonderful child . . . An extremely exciting and emotional read. * New Books *
The sympathetic understanding of her characters, the even-handed exposition of different types of mothering and the beauty of her crystal-clear prose all come together to make this a must read. * Red *
Vivid storytelling . . . A delicately told tale of an unconventional childhood * Oxford Times *



Book Information
ISBN 9781444728255
Author Kay Langdale
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 224g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 130mm * 19mm