Title: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
Author: Annabel Pitcher
Reviewer: Mikaela Palandra
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Five years ago was when it happened. That was when Jamie’s sister, Rose, died. Ever since then, his family has been struggling to live on. His parents are broken up with grief. Rose’s surviving twin, Jas, has gotten piercings, pink hair, just to rebel against the expectations of her parents. And Jamie can’t understand why. To him, Rose is a vague memory, and her days on the mantelpiece are much clearer to him. So here we find a ten-year-old Jamie, and things have only gotten worse. Mom left on Jas’s birthday with a man from support group and Jamie, Jas, and their father are moving to the Lake District, for a new start. In this new place, Jamie is faced with keeping his new friend, Sunya, a secret from his dad, dealing with his dad’s drinking, and an increasing desperation to bring his family back together. In this new town, things seem like they could change, and here, Jamie’s family finally tries to come to terms with grief they’ve held onto for so long.
This
book is short and sweet, but leaves you with a lot to think about. It provides
an expansive perspective into the ways people experience grief, with the
different struggles that Jamie’s family members go through to handle Rose’s
death. The story is simply-written, which fits perfectly with the point of view
of a ten-year-old. The author does a fantastic job with expressing the way
Jamie sees situations, as opposed to his parents and sister. I absolutely love
the style of the story; through simple thoughts and actions, you get all the
emotion, all the drama. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a book
that’s a quick read, but is still thoughtful and insightful.
Librarian announcement/interruption/yelling/hand waving: Two fantastic reviews for My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece! Both of our copies just landed back on the shelf as of the publishing of this post. Come and get it!!!
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