My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Lib/E

Product Description

My sister Rose lives on the mantelpiece. Well, some of her does. A collarbone, two ribs, a bit of skull, and a little toe.

To ten-year-old Jamie, his
family has fallen apart because of the loss of someone he barely remembers: his
sister Rose, who died five years ago in a terrorist bombing. To his father,
life is impossible to make sense of when he lives in a world that could so
cruelly take away a ten-year-old girl. To Rose's surviving fifteen year old
twin, Jas, everyday she lives in Rose's ever present shadow, forever feeling
the loss like a limb, but unable to be seen for herself alone.

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.



Review

As a study of grief's collateral damage, it deals with the topic realistically without losing sight of hope. Jamie is a frank narrator whose naivete is tempered by the wisdom he acquires. He relies on his relationship with Jas for stability and eventually sets his own moral compass. An outstanding first novel.-- "Booklist (starred review)"

Capturing the confusion of an optimistic but sensitive child navigating a tough situation without guidance, Jamie's narration is by turns comic and painful...Each character is believably flawed, and readers anticipate the heartbreaking scene when Jamie's plans for a family reunion fail. However, the final triumphant chapters of this striking debut demonstrate that even as Jamie's sorrows increase, so too, does his capacity for understanding, courage, and love. Mum is gone, but Dad may recover, and Jasmine and Sunya are in Jamie's corner. Realistic, gritty and uplifting.-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

In this powerfully honest, quirkily humorous debut novel...Pitcher tackles grief, prejudice, religion, bullying, and familial instability.-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

It lives off the page. It has a warmth you can bask in; an honesty you can cut with a knife.-- "Guardian (UK)"

So completely does David Tennant slip into the authentic voice and point of view of ten-year-old Jamie that the listener is immediately immersed in the story. Tennant doesn't perform vocal acrobatics, and we don't need him to: His nuanced delivery and pleasing Scottish brogue perfectly convey all of Jamie's bewilderment, frustration, grief, and fears as he navigates the choppy waters of adolescence...Pitcher's writing is full of humor and charm, even when dealing with difficult subject matter including bullying, racism, alcoholism, and the death of a loved one. Listeners will give their hearts over to Jamie, his sister Jas, his friend Sunya, and his cat Roger. Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award.-- "AudioFile"

The contrast between Jamie's innocence/naivete and the circumstances in which he finds himself are striking. His voice is compelling and believable, and his narrative is by turns heartbreaking and hysterically funny. This debut novel, set in the UK, will resonate with readers in post-9/11 America, many of whom will also relate to the issues of family alcoholism, bullying, and friendship that transcend cultural divisions. This is an important book that could be used in classes and book-discussion groups. Don't let it fall through the cracks.-- "School Library Journal (starred review)"

This book is a great catalyst for opening conversations about death and loss as well as difficult discussions about hatred and prejudice.-- "Children's Literature"

This is a book which could easily have sunk under the weight of sentimentality. That it doesn't, that it is an inspiring tale of resilience and kindness, is a tribute to Pitcher. This is a fine debut novel. Truthful, clear-eyed, and wise.-- "Telegraph (UK)"


About the Author

Annabel Pitcher graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English Literature and went on to edit television scripts for the comedy Harry Hill and the