4.5/5 Stars: ‘The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree’ is a Middle Grade, Contemporary by Paola Peretti; ‘The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree’ is a quiet, philosophical story about a nine-year-old girl suffering with Stargardt disease, which causes gradual vision loss and eventual blindness. ‘All children are scared of the dark’, reads the opening line of this heartfelt and moving novel, and before the story ends, young Mafalda will find herself forced to contemplate all of her deepest fears and anxieties. It not an easy one to read. The unflinching honesty of Mafalda’s plight contributes to an oppressive atmosphere that is quite hard to take. It is to Peretti’s credit then that this ultimately becomes an inspiring and hopeful story, and this is down in huge part to the wonderful friendship crafted between Mafalda and Estella, a Polish caretaker who works at Mafalda’s school. Estella knows better than anyone how the frailties of one’s own body can be turned against them, and together the two characters begin to focus less on what they cannot do, and more on what they might be able to encourage and inspire in each other. A challenging, but incredibly honest book.