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About the Brand

HARPERCOLLINS

Publishing great authors since 1817, HarperCollins is the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. With 200 years of history and more than 120 branded imprints around the world with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, and mystery, romance, reference, religious, and spiritual books, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year.

USBORNE

Usborne is one of the world’s leading independent book publishers. We are proud to be a family business that aims to create brilliant books for children of all ages.

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HarperCollins

Cruel to Be Kind

  • SKU: 9780008259556
  • UPC: 9780008259556
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Details

Fostering Max gets off to a bad start when his mother, Caz, complains and threatens Cathy even before Max has moved in. Cathy and her family are shocked when they first meet Max. His social worker has failed to mention that he is chronically obese; it’s not politically correct. But his social worker isn’t the only one in denial; his whole family, all obese, are too.

Caz is discharged from hospital some weeks later but Max stays with Cathy as the social services have concerns about her ability to look after him. Gradually Cathy establishes a relationship with Caz, and then one day she breaks down in tears and tells Cathy that as a child she was abused by her stepfather, and her husband is violent. Her only comfort is food. Max is allowed to return home to support his mother . .Three years pass and then Cathy receives a devastating phone call from Caz’s best friend, Bet, and life is thrown into a total spin. What lies ahead for the mild-mannered Max and his weight issue and will





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