Cuckoo Sister

by Vivien Alcock

Convinced that her family's problems will end if only Emma is returned by the person who snatched her from her baby carriage, Kate longs for the older sister she never knew. But when a tough-looking stranger shows up with a letter claiming she's the long-lost sister, there's more trouble than ever.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens, Audiobook

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Born September 23, 1924, in Worthing, Sussex, England; died October 11, 2003, in London, England. Author. Alcock was a bestselling author of mystery and fantasy fiction for young adults. Her early training and career, however, was in commercial art, and she attended the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Arts from 1940 to 1942. She left school to become an ambulance driver for the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II; after the war, she held several different jobs, including as an artist for the duplicating firm Gestetner Ltd. from 1947 to 1953. This was followed by three years as an employment bureau manager; and from 1956 to 1964 Alcock worked as a secretary for Whiltington Hospital in London. Although she had enjoyed storytelling and novels since she was a child, Alcock was shy about trying to be a published author and was content to stay in the background behind her famous author husband, Leon Garfield. However, she did occasionally give him ideas for his books, such as the popular Smith stories. It was not until 1980, therefore, that she finally published her first novel for teenagers, The Haunting of Cassie Palmer. Alcock continued writing fantasies, ghost stories, and mysteries through 2001, many of which proved popular with teens and some of which were adapted to television as movies and series. She published almost two dozen books in all, including Travelers by Night (1983), The Cuckoo Sister (1985), The Monster Garden (1988), A Kind of Thief (1992), Time Wreck (1996), A Gift on a String (1998), Ticket to Heaven (2000), and her last book, The Boy Who Swallowed a Ghost (2001). Several of her novels were named notable books by the American Library Association (ALA), and The Monster Garden was named the best science fiction/fantasy book of 1988 by the ALA.

Reviews

[Jen Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this as a child, it stuck with me. And it really held up.
Childhood fears and tantrums, and that feeling of knowing you're out of control and being childish or mean or unpleasant. And helpless to those emotions.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book -- it was so much more British than I expected. I didn't know it was a British book at all. But it's fairly British, at least with Rosie's accent and the demarcations of class in their society. My main problem is that I felt that Katie's character was not at all solid. Her internal thoughts often did not mesh with her external behaviors, and I couldn't quite grasp who exactly she was or what her motivations were.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It gives you a feeling on what life can throw at you and what it can give you.

[Swapna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I read 'The Mysterious Mr. Ross' I have been looking forward to reading Vivien Alcock's other books. I got a copy of this now out-of-print book from a used books website.

The story is quite good with an old worldly feeling. The characters are realistic - Kate comes across as a spoilt brat and Rosie an irritating one, the parents, their behaviour towards Kate, Mrs. Trapp, Ms. Wait. The mystery would have been solved today with a DNA test, but this book was published in 1985 when such things were unheard of and inaccessible to common folks.
A good book to read as a filler for grown-ups and recommended for YA reading.

[Mackenzie Wilson]

This week I read "The Cuckoo Sister" by Vivien Alock. I really enjoyed this book. It is about the main charecter, Kate who is an ordinary, happy-go-lucky girl until she overhears her parents discussing their other baby daughter who was snatched from her pram as a baby. Kate's feelings are confused, cleft between jealousy at her parents' sadness and a genuine sense of loss on her own part. Then, one day, a letter arrives at the Seton's house announcing that the baby is Rosie, now a thirteen-year-old girl--and nothing can ever be the same again in the Seton household. I would recommend this book to any elementary school student or teacher.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in school - a coming of age/battle with personal identity story, if I remember correctly. I remember liking it, but not loving it. Can't remember too much about it though to be honest.

[Yang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know how to use this app.i found the book but I can't open it

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was pretty good. The characters are frustrating but in believable ways, and the resolution is satisfying.

[Good- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engrossed and unsettled.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of all her books.