Jelly

This is funny, good-natured, and with a real sympathy and understanding for a character who's often used for laughs - or other cruel comments - in many stories: the 'fat' girl. 

Jo Cotterill takes 11-year-old Angelica (Jelly) and all her worries and concerns absolutely seriously, and never talks down to her or makes fun of her. And I love the fact that while she changes by the end of the story, it's by recognising what she's good at and not by becoming something she isn't. 
The whole book is charming and touching. 

And yes, funny too. Here she is, thinking about Zen:

‘I heard about Zen once. It’s to do with inner peace and, I think, motorbikes.’ 

Just lovely.