READING RESPONSE: MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE BY ANNABEL PITCHER

   I recently started reading a terrific yet saddening new book titled My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher. This book is written from the perspective of a young boy, whose sister was killed in a terrorist attack. The boy has to deal with his family being torn apart over the loss. He struggles to understand what has happened to his life; his mother has left, his father became an alcoholic, and his other sister is in deep depression.

   James, the young boy, has been raised by his father to hate muslims (it was a muslim who committed the terrorist attack that killed his sister),but eventually he overcomes this absurd obstacle and rather guiltily, becomes friends with a muslim girl. I predict that James' father will find out about his newfound friendship and will be extremely furious with him. James will probably not listen to his father's tormenting words and will remain friends with the muslim girl,Sunya. I can relate to James, and his confusion of the loss of loved one, sometimes I, like James, like to feign ignorance and pretend that the loved one is still with me. 

   Some issues in the book include death, alcohol, cheating, and lying. The issue of death is treated as a sacred topic in the story, for example, the father still acts as if Rose is alive, and enforces a rule that no one says the word 'dead' in the house. The issue of cheating is kept almost like a secret. Jamie's other sister, Jas, never talks about the fact that their mother abandoned them because of an affair, and the father drinks in order to avoid the subject.

   The author of this book, Annabel Pitcher, is a wonderful writer. She choses to present her work in such an artistic way, with multiple flashbacks and descriptive moments. These tools definitely make the story more enjoyable. I think the author wants us to consider what death can truly do to someone, and how it can destroy someone's whole life. She wants us not to just think about the subject of death, but of the experience of knowing someone who went through it. I often wonder why she chose to write the book through the eyes of a small boy. But now I think it is because it emphasizes the pain and confusion the entire family must be feeling. This book is very emotional but enjoyable and I am eager to continue reading it.