This is the story of a girl called Billie. Billie’s dad had left her and her mum just before Billie was born. So ever since then she had been dreaming and describing the dad that she really wanted:

     “I want a dad who is really fast at running and can time me and train me for the Olympics because I want to be a champion runner.” But does she get what she wants? Quentin is an old, bald man who is really uninteresting and doesn’t know anything about running.

     Billie’s life really stinks now. But there is one person who helps her through her problems and gives her great advice. Archie, Billie’s best friend in the whole world. And Billie loves all Archie’s family: his mum, Suki his dad, Neil and his sister, Mazy and of course Gorki their dog.

     Then one day Billie has the most amazing, exciting and cleverest idea yet. Billie could ask Suki and Neil to adopt her.

     So she sets to work to make sure that Suki and Neil and probably Mazy love Billie as their family. But from that day on everything goes downhill. Billie leaves the car gate open and their dog Gorki runs through to the road. Billie gives Mazy lots of coke and didn’t know that she is allergic and Billie cut Mazy’s hair when the hairdresser was going to come to their house.

     I think this story really makes you feel like you are in Billie’s position, and you feel most of the time quite tense.  It can feel quite relaxing but still, all together, it’s really thrilling.

     Families in a Step Chain, Ballerina Dreams, and School Friends are all probably really good books by the same author, Ann Bryant.

     Billie and the Parent Plan should be read by lots of people aged 8-14 and I really recommend it because you experience different feelings non- stop.

     My favourite character in this book would be Quentin because at first in the story he was quiet and then he shows more of who he is and what he can make and do. In the end everyone in the family learns to love him, even Billie!