‘My Dad’s Gone Away’ portrays the world from the perspective of a child, who had to deal with the shock of having her parent suddenly snatched away from her, as well as her confusion when realising that her beloved father had done something horribly wrong. The subtle changes in the mood and illustrations as the book goes on makes it even more meaningful and enjoyable. In the beginning, the illustrations portrayed sad scenes, where everything but Tarah herself and her dog, who seems to be a source of comfort for her, was dull and grey. But as the book moves on, and Tarah briefly reunites with her father again, she meets her friend Johnny, with whom she can relate to. Tarah begins to see light and colour in the world again, as she realises things weren’t going to be so bad after all.
I rate this book a 9.5/10, and it would be an amazing read for readers of all ages for its simple but touching storyline. This would be an especially well-suited book for people who often look on the bright side of things, like Tarah.
Book review by Charvi