My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher audiobook

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece: A Novel

By Annabel Pitcher
Read by David Tennant

Hachette Book Group

Unabridged

Format : Library CD (In Stock)
  • 1 Format: Library CD

  • ISBN: 9781619691278

Runtime: 5.93 Hours
Category: Fiction
Audience: Children (8–12)
Language: English
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Summary

Summary

Longlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize

Winner of the 2012 Atlantic Wire YA/Middle-Grade Award for Most Deftly Handled

An ALA Notable Book for Children

A 2013 Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books for Children

Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award

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.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews

“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 naïveté 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)
“In this powerfully honest, quirkily humorous debut novel...Pitcher tackles grief, prejudice, religion, bullying, and familial instability.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The contrast between Jamie’s innocence/naïveté 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)
“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)
“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)
“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

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Author

Author Bio: Annabel Pitcher

Author Bio: Annabel Pitcher

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.

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Details

Details

Available Formats : Library CD
Category: Fiction
Runtime: 5.93
Audience: Children (8–12)
Language: English

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