My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

by annabel pitcher | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780316176903 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 3/18/2017
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, March 18, 2017
I got this good-condition ex-library hardcover from Better World Books, to fill a wish. It's about a family grieving the loss of their 15-year-old daughter to a terrorist bombing in London, told from the viewpoint of their son - age 5 when his sister died, age 10 now, and unable to understand why his family is so badly broken over the loss of someone he can barely remember...

His sister Jasmine, twin to the late Rose, seems to have coped better with the loss than their parents; their mother has abandoned the family and their father spends most of his time drunk.

So, pretty bleak story, right? Not exactly! Sure, the family breakdown is sad, but young Jamie's view of life tends to be more upbeat and naive - at least until he finds himself at a new school, bullied by the resident mean kids and befriended by a girl with sparkling eyes, an attitude -and a hajib. Jamie knows his father won't permit him to associate with a Muslim, since "they're the ones who murdered Rose", but he really *likes* Sunya. Since his sister Jasmine has been spending more time with her new boyfriends, Jamie's only pal is his beloved cat Roger; maybe he could be friends with Sunya as long as his dad doesn't find out...

The story has lots of ups and downs, with some pretty harrowing scenes here and there - including Jamie's faith that his mother will eventually turn up to one of the many school events he invites her to. Is there a chance that this broken family can be mended, and if so, at what cost?

For all the trauma, there are some charming moments here - and while poor Jamie has to suffer several losses of his own, from disillusionment about his mother to a much more personal one that had me sobbing, before he can finally understand why his family was hit so hard by Rose's death, there is hope at the end.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Released 6 yrs ago (3/22/2017 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending this wishlist book to BCer Secretariat in California, as a prize for participating in the 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count release challenge. Enjoy!

*** Released for the 2017 Oh, the Places We Can Go release challenge, for the embedded "Mantel" in the title; it's a town in Germany. ***

Journal Entry 3 by Secretariat at Carlsbad, California USA on Friday, March 31, 2017
Thank you, GoryDetails, for the lovely little book. I've become a fan of YA literature and look forward to reading this one.

Journal Entry 4 by Secretariat at Carlsbad, California USA on Tuesday, May 2, 2017
For me, this was one of those books that sometimes worked for me and sometimes didn't. My problem was that Jamie is supposed to be 10 when the story opens and about a year passes during the events of the book, but often the Jamie presented acted both emotionally and physically beyond his years. If he'd been 13 I'd have had less problem accepting some of his thoughts and reactions. I enjoyed Jamie's personality and need to, in fact, willingness to break from his father's racist leanings and beliefs. I liked Sunya and Jas and appreciated that they protected Jamie where they could. I had nothing but disdain or outright disgust for the Jamie and Jas's parents. I felt great sympathy for Jas who lost her twin sister. No one seemed to focus on how bereft that must have made her feel, especially given how the parents instantly made a saint out of Rose. I wanted to give that kid a big hug and fulfill all her wishes for herself. A worthy read, but not one that worked as well for me as it did for others.

Journal Entry 5 by Secretariat at Village Kitchen & Pie Shoppe in Carlsbad, California USA on Sunday, December 17, 2017

Released 6 yrs ago (12/17/2017 UTC) at Village Kitchen & Pie Shoppe in Carlsbad, California USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Released for the 2017 Never Judge a Book By Its Cover Release Challenge, Week 50, Embedded Nouns in Author Names.

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