One of a series of short novels about members of an after school club. This one is about Alex, 9, who has an attitude problem - but only when she attends the club at which her mum assists. We soon learn that Alex's brother died of meningitis when he was 4, and that Alex was born soon after as a 'replacement' child. Her mum still mourns Daniel and keeps herself overly busy as compensation. Alex is resentful of Daniel, sees him as perfect, and particularly hates the nightly ritual of kissing the box on the mantle that holds his ashes. (This is later explained in context and is not as macabre as it sounds.) It is only after a major blow-up that Caitlin, Alex's older sister explains much about Daniel's death and the resultant tensions this produced in the family that she is able to begin to come to terms with all that has gone before. An easily-read novel full of much psychological truth.