Blurb; Ten-year-old Jamie hasn’t cried since it happened. He knows he should have—Jasmine cried, Mum cried, Dad still cries. Roger didn’t, but then he is just a cat and didn’t know Rose that well, really.
Everyone kept saying it would get better with time, but that’s just one of those lies that grown-ups tell in awkward situations. Five years on, it’s worse than ever: Dad drinks, Mum’s gone and Jamie’s left with questions that he must answer for himself.
This is his story, an unflinchingly real yet heart-warming account of a young boy’s struggle to make sense of the loss that tore his family apart.
My Review; Tough one to review. The story is told through ten year old James’s eyes. He has twin sisters Jas and Rose. Unfortunately Rose was killed and this is what the book mainly focuses on. The split parents. The other children. The new school. The new house. New friends. The alcohol. The abandonment.
In parts it’s an emotional story but in others it offers hope and the good shines through with new friendships, secrets, the bond with his remaining sister and a grand finale that was beautiful. Also the cat was a great comfort to James. As his sister passed away when he was only five he doesn’t remember much about her and is made to feel bad about that.
We see how both parents react to the death of their child in different ways and the impact it has on the remaining siblings Jas and James. It also contains bullying with the message you can overcome it. It also contains racism which isn’t pleasant but we get to see both the good side and bad side of this too.
A brilliant eye opening book that says sometimes you just have to let go… A beautiful ending. A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend. An easy read at 232 pages.
Between The Pages Book Club 
Interesting review – my friend keeps telling me to read this! I must pick it up soon.
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