To ask if you remember this VERY strange book from my childhood ...

[eatsleepread]

I'm mid-forties, and I've sometimes wondered about a book I read while at primary school. It really was weird. It's about a dark-haired young girl who lives in a tent with her family. Looking back, I think they were made out to be gypsies.
The girl discovered a tasty herb growing locally, or possibly some sort of salad leaf. She used to pick it and hide it under her duvet. When her father found out, he beat her.
I read it at lower primary, and it was a story/picture book, as opposed to a chapter book.
Reading my post, it makes me wonder how a book like this could ever have existed. But I'm not making it up!

Wasn't the one with a little girl called kizzy?

I'm the same age and don't remember that one. It sounds disturbing. Maybe it was removed from schools and that was a copy that got overlooked

The Didakoi..may not have spelt it right.. I remember they roasted a hedgehog in mud. Easier to get the spines off seemingly!

I have a feeling you are talking about Kizzie.

Kizzy lives in a caravan and with her grandmother so not that one.

I remember Didikoi, but she had a gypsy caravan.

The Diddikoi (Rumer Godden) is a chapter book.

kKizzie, the main character, has no dad. She lives in an old fashioned wagon with her great great grandmother, and after the elderly lady dies, is fostered by a member of the village community, who ends up marrying the very shy owner of the local manor house, all through their shared interest in horses.

No herbs, duvets, or tents....

In my mind's eye, the girl is in a tent with a pink quilted blanket over her. I could be wrong though. I don't think it's any of the books previously mentioned, but thanks anyway!

Oh God, another memory: feathers!! I think it's possible that she plucked something and stuffed her pillow with the feathers. Maybe it's that her dad gets angry about, instead of the salad.

I sound like a madwoman ... and I don't even drink!!

Funny how the memory clarifies, when you start to think about it properly.

am now intrigued...

It's definitely not The Diddakoi. But I don't know what it is, sorry.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/992601.The_Diddakoi

I remember Kizzy

Try posting it on the Stump the BookSeller page on Loganberry Books. They're an American bookshop with an online forum where you can post your book query--other readers may find it and answer. I found one of my favourite childhood books that way (beware, it may not be as good as you remember!)

‘Kizzy’ was the name of the BBC TV series based on Rummer Godden’s ‘The Diddakoi’ - 1970s and with Penelope Wilton as Kizzy’s teacher.

I remember Kizzy - wasn't there a fire in the caravan ? And the person who took her in bought her three sets of clothes - one to wear, one spare and one in the wash ?? That's all I can remember !!

Don't know the book or Kizzy but this thread has reminded me of a Rumer Godden book called Little Plum that I loved.

I’ve still got The Didda koi book, the paperback and the cover is from the TV programme with Kizzy and a horse stood in front of a caravan.

A field full of butterflies?

It's definitely not the Diddakoi.

Confused why someone thinks it would have been a banned book?

I adored Kizzy as a child and also Lizzie Dripping and the witch.

Was it by Enid Blyton. She wrote a few gypsy books. Jo was the gypsy child in it.

serge-passions.fr/c5_jo_la_gitane_english.htm

Doyoumind I loved Little Plum too. Had completely forgotten about it!

Try posting it on the Stump the BookSeller page on Loganberry Books. They're an American bookshop with an online forum where you can post your book query

SquirrelFan, thank you for this wonderful resource! I've just been poring through it, fascinated by these half-lost memories people are trying to retrieve.

I remember one on, one off and one in the wash!

I also remember she used a toilet forwards, like a horse.

It was a super book. I still remember the red cardigan the girl wore in the TV adaptation.