Eleven-year-old Martha is used to being the one who has to keep her head. Tug, her little brother, is too small. Dad is too strange. And Mum's not here any more.

So when Dad falls off the roof, it's Martha who ices his knee and takes him to the doctor. And when Dad doesn't come home, it's Martha who cooks Tug's favourite pie and reads him his bedtime story. And when Dad passes out, it's Martha who cleans him up and keeps his secret.

But eventually Dad's problems become too big for even Martha to solve. There is only one person who can sort things out now. Dad.

Simon Mason is an author of children's and adult books. His first adult novel, a black comedy entitledThe Great English Nude, won the Betty Trask first novel award andMoon Piewas shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize.Running Girlis his first story starring Garvie Smith.

Simon lives in Oxford with his wife and their two children.