The Tulip Touch facts for kids
First edition (UK)
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| Author | Anne Fine |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
The Tulip Touch is a children's novel. It was written by Anne Fine and came out in 1996. The book makes readers think about right and wrong. It also explores how our upbringing and our natural personality shape us. The book won the Whitbread Award. It was also highly praised for the Carnegie Medal.
Story Overview
The story starts when Natalie and her family move. They are going to live in The Palace Hotel. Natalie's dad will be the manager there. Soon, Natalie meets Tulip Pierce. Tulip is a charming girl. She tells amazing and sometimes strange stories. Natalie's father calls these stories "the Tulip touch".
Natalie and Tulip become friends. Tulip introduces Natalie to many games. Some of these games are risky. They might involve bothering people they don't know. Sometimes, Tulip even puts Natalie's younger brother, Julius, in danger. Natalie learns that Tulip's home life is very difficult.
At first, Natalie's family feels sorry for Tulip. They know about the challenges Tulip faces at home. But as Tulip's actions become more serious, Natalie's parents get worried. They suggest that Natalie should stop being friends with Tulip.
Natalie finds other friends. These new friends seem less exciting than Tulip. Tulip's actions become more troubling. She damages things like bus seats and trash cans. Then, Tulip is not invited to the big Christmas party at The Palace Hotel. After this, Tulip causes a large fire at the hotel. This fire puts Natalie's family and their guests in danger.
At the end of the book, Natalie's family moves to a new hotel. Things are going well for them there. Natalie's family, teachers, and others criticize Tulip. They do not like what she did. But Natalie feels very sad about everything. She wonders why the adults around them did not help Tulip more. Natalie was too young to understand the problems Tulip was facing.
