It can often be difficult to discuss death and bereavement with teenagers, or even for teenagers to do so with parents/carers. But don't think this is a downer, though it did have me crying at one part. The voice of Jamie is so real, and so natural and so funny it kept be going, as was his friend Sunya, who knows that she is also the odd one out, as well, because she is Muslim and wears a hijab, in very white, Christian school. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is about a boy called Jamie. He has ginger hair and a wonderful cat called Roger. When Jamie was just five years old, his older sister, Rose, was killed by a bomb which exploded in London. Although everyone in the family tries to live with what's happened, it's impossible. Jamie's dad starts to drink too much, Rose's twin sister, Jas, dyes her hair pink and then Jamie's mum decides to move out and live with another man called Nigel. Todas as vezes que olhei no lago, nunca vi qualquer outro bicho. O peixe é sozinho. Sei exatamente como ele se sente.” Everyone kept saying it would get better with time, but that's just one of those lies that grown-ups tell in awkward situations. Five years on, it's worse than ever: Dad drinks, Mum's gone and Jamie's left with questions that he must answer for himself.

In this book I like how Annabel Pitcher writes through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy. Jamie is a normal boy whose family is traumatised. The author has done an exceptional job of displaying the emotions of the characters, it is this and Jamie's hopeful outlook that make the book flow brilliantly and make you want to read every last word. urn:lcp:mysisterlivesonm0000pitc_e0c5:epub:3b44c642-0bda-48dd-b64b-fe7f534df508 Foldoutcount 0 Identifier mysisterlivesonm0000pitc_e0c5 Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t4kn0cr7h Invoice 1652 Isbn 9781780620299The sibling relationship was one of the strongest points of the book. After their child-abandoning-mother and their alcoholic-Islamophobic-father basically abandon their children, Jas, the sister, takes care of Jamie and becomes the parent figure. Their mum could not stand Jas no longer looking like an exact replica of Rose and ran as fast as she could, then their father moves them to a small town where he is going to work, but instead spends his time drinking himself into oblivion while staring at Rose’s ashes. If you don't live in the UK (I live in France), I think it's a brilliant book for finding out what it's like to go to school in the UK. It's also really interesting to see how English children speak to each other - and to adults! Nonna dice sempre che la gente è verde d'invidia, ma io non sono d'accordo. Il verde è calmo, fresco, pulito e piacevole come il dentifricio alla menta. L'invidia invece è rossa. Ti brucia nelle vene e ti accende un fuoco nella pancia.”

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is a very good story about the effects of an act of terrorism on a family. A lot of sad things happen, but there are good things too. Told with warmth and humor, this powerful novel is a sophisticated take on one family's struggle to make sense of the loss that's torn them apart... and their discovery of what it means to stay together. A middle grade book dealing with terrorism and death? Needless to say, I had my doubts. However, Annabel Pitcher confronts issues like hate, loyalty, and loss in such a straightforward way that its simplicity belies its depth. Even more impressive, she confronts the pressure to grieve.Aisha Al-Wasi: 14-18 years old to play an adult. The loving mother of Sunya, who befriends Jamie, but who has a blow out with Jamie's father when he reveals how racist his family is. She is protective of her daughter, and won't stand anyone treating her with disrespect because she's different.

We meet Jamie in the midst of his family falling apart after the traumatic death of his older sister Rose - her urn on the mantelpiece the only constant in an otherwise unsettling life. If guilt was an animal then it would be an octopus. All slimy and wriggly with hundreds of arms that wrap around your insides and squeeze them tight.” Dura, muy dura, pero estar narrada bajo la voz de un niño hace que esa ingenuidad le reste crudeza (o puede que esa misma voz infantil lo haga más emotivo). I scratched my head. Eight hundred and thirteen I said. But I started late and finished early. We exploded into laughter. We do the same joke every single day and it never ever gets boring.”The narrator of the story is a ten year old boy and if you think the complexity is compromised by the young age of the narrator and protagonist, please think again. The best thing about using such young mediums to tell a grown up story is that there are so many chances of saying the profoundest of things in the simplest of ways. You know the saying…”from the mouths of babes…?” Yeah. Jamie’s portrayal of his life, of his longing for his mother, of his inability to steer through the shark infested waters that is elementary school rife with bullies and biased teachers is so on the point that you cannot help but be drawn immediately into the story. His voice is fresh, wondering and perhaps, a little intentionally, cheeky. His observations are pertinent and at times may, again unintentionally, make you snort out with laughter. His relationships with his parents and his remaining sister are also shown in a beautiful manner.

Rose Matthews: 8-12 years old to play a 9-year-old. A twin of Jas, who Rose likes to tease. She doesn't, however, realize it's lowering Jas's self-esteem. She is always trying to out-do Jas to be the perfect daughter. Tess starts to question herself and her life when things start to fall apart, although she finds solace in a bright orange goldfish.

Young Jamie Matthews: 7-10 years old to play a 7-year-old. An innocent little boy, reliant on his mother and father. I recommend this book to people who like a sad story but that has some funny parts. If you like Jacqueline Wilson's Diamond Girls where the mum just lies in bed the whole time and doesn't take care of her four girls, you'll love this. Jamie's realationship with his parents is incredibly important in the book, and i really don't know how to talk about it without giving a lot away. It certainly contributes to the feeling of helplessness that lingers throughout the whole narrative, and makes you ponder about just how important family bonds are when you're Jamie's age. I listened to the audio version of this book by Annabel Pitcher and it was narrated by David Tennant. She pretended to count on her fingers. Nine hundred and thirty-seven she shrugged. It's been a quiet day. We started to giggle. How about you, Spider-Man.