“My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece” by Annabel Pitcher

It’s easy to see why this 2010 book from the UK has won so many awards.  Touching and real, it will pull at your heartstrings.  Jamie is a ten year-old boy with issues.  Five years ago, one of his older twin sisters was killed in a terrorist bombing in London.  His devastated parents live every day in memory of their lost child – forgetting the children they have.  Mom up and leaves, dad dives into a bottle.  Starting over in a small town up north, Jamie only has his sister, Jasmine, and his orange tabby cat, Roger, to cling to.  It’s not nearly as depressing as it sounds.  Jamie doesn’t remember his sister, much less her death, and is simply trying to live his life and make it all work out the way that ten year-old boys do.  Of all of the books I have read, Jamie’s voice is one of the most authentic I’ve seen for a child of this age.  Ms. Pitcher deserves kudos for making him absolutely real.  It is only as an adult, reading the book, that your stomach ties itself in knots.  I definitely wanted to reach through the pages and throttle the parents, Jamie’s teacher, the bully, and very occasionally, Jamie.  He is ten, and the author makes no apologies.  In trying to figure out the rules of the world he makes some huge mistakes, and hurts people who try to help.  He learns a lot, though, and his growth throughout the book makes sense.  The only thing I didn’t like was one of those “inevitable” losses so prevalent in YA books.  You will know what I mean when you read it … and I saw it coming from the first pages.  While the event is critical in helping Jamie understand the complexities of grief, I do wish that authors could come up with some other way of moving their young protagonists forward.  In any case, the book struck a very strong chord with me and will resonate for some time to come.  Grab some Kleenex and curl up with it.