What Milo Saw by Virginia Macgregor

What Milo Saw
By Virginia Macgregor
Published by Sphere (Hardback and Kindle edition - Out now; Paperback - 13 August 2015)
ISBN: 978-0751554274

Publisher's description
Nine-year-old Milo Moon has retinitis pigmentosa: his eyes are slowly failing and he will eventually go blind. But for now he sees the world through the pin hole and notices things other people don't. When Milo's beloved gran succumbs to dementia and moves into a nursing home, Milo soon realises there's something very wrong at the home. The grown-ups won't listen to him so with just Tripi, the nursing home's cook, and Hamlet, his pet pig, to help, Milo sets out on a mission to expose the nursing home and the sinister Nurse Thornhill.

My verdict
What Milo Saw is a sweet touching book with an emotional message. It's all about hope, sadness, forgiveness, letting go of the people you love and finding out where you belong.

I fell in love with nine-year-old Milo and his pet pig Hamlet from the outset. Milo suffers from a progressive eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, which means that he currently sees the world through a 'pinhole'. But Milo doesn't let his disability interfere with his life - it just makes him see the world differently. In fact, he often sees what other people miss, probably because he has to concentrate more on the world around him.

Mum Sandy is struggling to cope with ageing great-grandma Lou, and decides that it's time for Lou to move into a care home. But Milo feels that something isn't right soon after Lou moves in. The care home residents aren't being looked after properly, so Milo comes up with a plan to get his gran back home as soon as possible.

The author has a lovely way of writing, with words that flow seamlessly off the page. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. When I reached the final chapter, I didn't want to leave the characters behind, from capable Milo to sweet Lou and Sandy, who is struggling to pay the bills. The relationship between Milo and Lou (who hasn't spoken in years) is very moving, while Hamlet the pig brings some humour into the story.

What Milo Saw is gorgeous and heart-warming and I will be recommending this book to my friends and family.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.