Family secrets are revealed in this ambitious novel for teenagers. The most complex and closely guarded is the Jewish identity of an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer's. Set in a small English city during World War II and in the present, the story also involves homosexuality, racism, inter-racial dating and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Plot, setting, and characterization are skillfully blended to create a thought-provoking exploration of family and social issues. Some sex scenes and instances of mild anti-Zionism will put off some readers.