paula hickford's first book, lavender girl is a bright and inspiring novel, following the new friendship between elizabeth bailey, 60, and tamika asiedu, 10, as they come to terms with losing family and find a way to cope with life after loss together. ever since her husband died, liz has been alone in an empty house. her only son hardly bothers with her, she rarely sees her grandchildren, and her best friend has left the neighbourhood. now retired, she has nothing but housework to keep her occupied and everything in the house is immaculate, save for the tangled and overgrown garden which was once her husband's pride and joy. life begins to change when a removal van pulls up next door, and monica and tamika move in. monica is stressed and over-worked and tamika is a sad little girl. liz initially hears nothing but fighting from next door, but reluctantly gets involved in their lives when one cold, wet evening in early january, she notices tamika waiting outside in the rain for monica to get home. liz invites her in and as the two of them get to know one another, their friendship becomes the catalyst that changes all of their lives for the better.