My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece (Annabel Pitcher)

****

         Ten year-old Jamie doesn't remember his older sister Rose very much.  He was only five years old on the day of her sudden and violent death, but Rose has lived on to haunt his family ever since.  When Jamie's mother can't take the painful memories anymore, she leaves.  Jamie, his dad, and Rose's twin Jas move from London to the countryside for a new start.  They don't get the start that Jamie hopes for, though, because his dad is still an alcoholic and still worships the golden urn in which he keeps Rose's ashes.  Jamie is teased at school and has only one friend, a girl named Sunya.  He's very conflicted because his dad has forbidden him to speak with Muslims, and Sunya is one.  On the other hand, Sunya is kind and loyal, and Jamie knows she's a good person.  Jamie wants to change his life for the better, and he's determined to put his family back together.

         This book was really, really sad, but I loved it.  I originally thought that this might be geared towards younger kids because the protagonist is ten.  That's not at all the case, though - this book gets into some deep concepts and heavy stuff.  Jamie is such a sweet little kid, and his portrayal of his family life is raw and honest.  I felt awful for him because he wants so badly to believe that things will go back to normal, even when it's hard to imagine how that's possible.  Annabel Pitcher did a great job of portraying all the conflicting ideas Jamie is presented with, and how he eventually comes to figure out what he believes in.  Jamie doesn't have many perfect role models in his life, but he manages to find the best sides of his broken family.  I definitely recommend this book!

Rating: 4/5
Completed: September 29, 2012

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