due to sensory issues. When sadness breaks up their family, he covers up his emotions by pretending he's forgotten all about his father. However, one day, Em finds that the reason his special felt tips are all dried up even though she rarely ever sees him drawing is because he is writing letters to his beloved Dad. Maxie is very innocent and loves his family with all of his heart. Julie (Mum) – Em, Vita and Maxie's mum. She has a warm and optimistic disposition, but when the shadow of deep sadness is cast over her family, it's almost like there is a grey rain cloud following around all of the time. She begins losing weight and quickly becomes an unhealthily low body weight. Em often sadly says she hears her dear mother crying in bed during the night. Sometimes, under such stressful and upsetting conditions, Mum's emotions lead her to say things she doesn't truly mean, but she really loves her children and wants them to have a nice, warm childhood, despite their situation. Frankie (Dad) – Em's stepdad. Walks out on the family on Boxing Day to live with his new partner, Sarah. He is very affectionate and caring, yet what puzzles Em as much as us is that suddenly, he falls out of love with his wife, and their home is no longer special and loving. He apologises all the time, and he really means it, but he never explains why he left. Sometimes his children wonder if it's because he no longer loves them, and when they ask him if that is true he begins to cry and cuddles them close. Ellen (Gran) – Em, Vita and Maxie's grandmother and Julie's mother who tends to get very stroppy at times. However, she really wants the very best for her family, and seeing her beloved daughter and grandchildren feeling so sad and hopeless is purely heartbreaking for her. She holds a strong grudge against Frankie (their Dad), but she also wishes she could wave a magic wand and make everything alright. Dancer – Vita's reindeer puppet. Jenny and Yvonne – Em's friends. Mrs Marks – Em's teacher. Jenna Williams – Em's favourite author, who makes an appearance in the book. Jacqueline Wilson has said that this character is based on herself. Sarah – The woman that Dad is discovered to be cheating with. When Em, Vita and