Mabel Mynt (with a Y !) is a little girl with a serious problem with worries - so serious, in fact that she carries a heavy suitcase of them around with her everywhere. This is not a literal suitcase, but she is aware of it constantly. Most of it has to do with her Dad, who has disappeared without telling either Mabel or her 12 year old sister, 'Terrible Topaz, where he is going or what is happening to him. Mum is distraught with sadness, and Mabel has a 'hole in her heart' where he should be. Mum has acquired a new boy friend, but by the end of the first chapter, we know that Topaz hates Gavin and believes he is two-timing their Mum, while Mabel is confused because she likes Gavin, particularly his love of space and astronomy, an interest she shares. This is a complex novel about lies, deceit, and misunderstandings, mistakenly done for the best reasons, and a basically loving family that has become highly dysfunctional. There is considerable humour rather surprisingly for such serious subjects, but it is well handled, and we learn much about Mabel, her school, her affable teacher, a new and rather odd friend, and her inability to talk to those who might help, and the ultimate solution when everyone confesses they have not handled things properly because they have all been carrying around their own suitcases full of worries is believable if a tad too simple. Terrible Topaz has been very unhappy in her new secondary school because her classmates have discovered her Dad has gone to prison for stealing and selling-on his misbegotten goods; Mum will not be going back to him, but there is every prospect of a happy relationship with Gavin and both girls. Love is the answer as Dad will be able to continue his loving relationship with the girls, while Gavin will also continue being the good support he has been all along. A light but very readable handling of a serious subject.