When Lily’s new teacher asks the pupils to team up and create a presentation about conserving the environment, she is thrilled as she is very passionate about wildlife. But as Lily’s supposed-best friend reminds her, she has a stammer and finds some letters particularly difficult to say – other people often talk over her as they don’t have the patience to wait for Lily to get her words out. But she is determined to do the presentation and she videos herself practising to help with her preparation. But then someone shares the video online and the comments fill up with people making fun of Lily’s stammer. Lily is sure that the only solution is to run away to live with her Dad in Scotland, change schools and start over where no one knows her. But perhaps Lily needs to learn to be more hedgehog…
Lily is a resilient and determined character and her experience of living with a stammer is sensitively and astutely explored. ‘How to be More Hedgehog’ is a warm, emotive and inspiring story about learning to face your fears and stand up for the things you are passionate about. Highly recommended.
Swimming in Books 