Overview

Ten-year-old Jamie Matthews has just moved to the Lake District with his dad and his teenage sister Jasmine for a fresh new start. Five years ago, his sister's twin, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His parents are wrecked by their grief, and Jasmine turns to piercing and pink hair and stops eating. The family falls apart. But Jamie hasn't cried in all that time. To him Rose is just a distant memory. Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spider-Man T-shirt, and in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret from his dad-and in his deep longing and unshakable belief that his mum will come back to the family that she walked out on months ago. When he sees a TV advertisement for a talent show, he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together once and for all.

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9781619691278

Table of Contents

Reviews

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) 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 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) 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 It lives off the page. It has a warmth you can bask in; an honesty you can cut with a knife. -- Guardian (UK) In this powerfully honest, quirkily humorous debut novel...Pitcher tackles grief, prejudice, religion, bullying, and familial instability. -- Publishers Weekly (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) 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)

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)

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 It lives off the page. It has a warmth you can bask in; an honesty you can cut with a knife. -- Guardian (UK) 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) 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 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) 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) In this powerfully honest, quirkily humorous debut novel...Pitcher tackles grief, prejudice, religion, bullying, and familial instability. -- Publishers Weekly (starred 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)

"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)"""

Author Information

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 long-running soap opera Coronation Street. Annabel started writing My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece longhand in Ecuador, on a round-the-world trip. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband. David Tennant, Earphones Award-winning narrator, is a Scottish actor who, over twenty years, has starred on stage, screen, television, and radio. In 2008 he played a widely praised Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company but is probably best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 television serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch Jr. in the 2005 film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

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