Borders Book Group

Set in grim 1970s Manchester, Once In A House On Fire tells the harrowing true story of three sisters and their mother, from the point of view of the eldest sister Andrea. They are a close-knit, loving family but are forced to battle with poverty, depression, and terrifying abuse at the hands of two stepfathers. Andrea, a sensitive and highly observant child, witnesses and suffers unbearable cruelty yet refuses to give into despair. She seeks escape in learning and is ultimately able to see a future beyond the darkly violent world of home.

Through the sharp and penetrating eyes of childhood, Andrea imparts a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a family terrorized by the explosive rage of one stepfather and then another. Sensitive and observant, the young girl watches the remorse, apologies, and repeated rampages of these men, yet she never gives in to despair.