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namsmommy09's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
The way this boy learns how grief feels, just so raw and real. I loved everything about this story.
juneuk's review against another edition
5.0
This is published as a children's book, but it deals with some very dark issues. I wouldn't recommend it for my 8 year old, but perhaps in a couple of years time it'd be fine.
The premise of the book is that a child has been killed in a terrorist bombing in London.It is her ashes that live on 'the mantelpiece' of the title. The story is told through the eyes of her ten year old brother Jamie, and looks at how the family cope, or more pertinently, fail to cope with the grief and loss.
The father moves the family away from London to somewhere'where there are no Muslims' as he puts it,because, as he says.. 'Muslims killed my daughter'. Ironically then,our narrator, Jamie forms a friendship with the only Muslim girl in the class, a friendship he keeps secret from his father,for obvious reasons.
Ultimately only time can heal this family. The book was moving,sad, but also funny in parts.. and not just for children
The premise of the book is that a child has been killed in a terrorist bombing in London.It is her ashes that live on 'the mantelpiece' of the title. The story is told through the eyes of her ten year old brother Jamie, and looks at how the family cope, or more pertinently, fail to cope with the grief and loss.
The father moves the family away from London to somewhere'where there are no Muslims' as he puts it,because, as he says.. 'Muslims killed my daughter'. Ironically then,our narrator, Jamie forms a friendship with the only Muslim girl in the class, a friendship he keeps secret from his father,for obvious reasons.
Ultimately only time can heal this family. The book was moving,sad, but also funny in parts.. and not just for children
angevba's review against another edition
4.0
Este libro me hizo reír como muy pocos libros lo han hecho :')
El final es conmovedor, aunque sinceramente esperaba algo más que no conseguí, me parece que podrían haber pasado algunas cosas mas que me hicieran sentir que fue un desenlace completo y creo que por eso no le doy las 5 estrellas.
A pesar de eso, muy entretenido y extremadamente fácil de leer, además de que en ocasiones es un poco raro y eso hace que sea mas interesante.
El final es conmovedor, aunque sinceramente esperaba algo más que no conseguí, me parece que podrían haber pasado algunas cosas mas que me hicieran sentir que fue un desenlace completo y creo que por eso no le doy las 5 estrellas.
A pesar de eso, muy entretenido y extremadamente fácil de leer, además de que en ocasiones es un poco raro y eso hace que sea mas interesante.
xestibalizx's review against another edition
3.0
Jamie es un niño de 10 años que no entiende lo que pasa en su entorno. Sus padres se han divorciado, se ha mudado a Londres y parece no recibir suficiente atención por parte de su madre. Sin duda, una hsitoria dura y cruel que te hará llorar. Por si fuera poco, su única amiga, Sunya, es musulmana, y Jamie tiene odio a los musulmanes porque fueron los que mataron a su hermana. ¿Podrá Jamie dejar los prejuicios a un lado y fortalecer su amistad con Sunya?
De este libro puedo hablar más bien poco. Ha pasado por mi vida como quien no quiere la cosa. Ni me ha maravillado ni me ha repugnado. Supongo que soy difícil de complacer. Iba con las expectativas muy altas con este libro, pero creo que me decepcionó un poco. No por nada en especial, si no porque no era lo que me esperaba. Pero si que me hizo llorar. ¿El final? Perfecto. Creo sin duda que es lo que más me ha gustado de todo el libro.
Es una historia más bien dura. No apta para cualquiera. No apta si pasas un momento malo. No apta para gente sensible. No apta, no apta, ... Si, es un libro que solo puede leer esa clase de gente 'de acero'.
De este libro puedo hablar más bien poco. Ha pasado por mi vida como quien no quiere la cosa. Ni me ha maravillado ni me ha repugnado. Supongo que soy difícil de complacer. Iba con las expectativas muy altas con este libro, pero creo que me decepcionó un poco. No por nada en especial, si no porque no era lo que me esperaba. Pero si que me hizo llorar. ¿El final? Perfecto. Creo sin duda que es lo que más me ha gustado de todo el libro.
Es una historia más bien dura. No apta para cualquiera. No apta si pasas un momento malo. No apta para gente sensible. No apta, no apta, ... Si, es un libro que solo puede leer esa clase de gente 'de acero'.
bethanlouux's review
2.0
I can’t lie, I hated this book all of the way through, and was going to give it 1 star. Right up until the last few chapters, which redeemed itself up to a 2. I understand the book is written from a 10 year olds perspective, and that is done very well - but I just found some parts too insensitive and a little upsetting. I’m studying death and memorial at university so thought this would be a good research resource, but boy was I wrong!
bluewithstars's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Brutal and emotional.
befsk's review against another edition
4.0
Heart wrenching when the cat dies, but it was a little simplistic as a read otherwise. Black and white morality. Good for kids, no nuance for adults reading. Though I suppose at least his dad wasn't a complete bad guy despite having a tendency towards terrible traits like alcoholism and racism. In the end though, it's written off as not his fault and just his reaction to his daughter's death - again, very simplified reasoning for something so complex.
hannahlou93's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
My mom recommended this book to me after it had been given to year six children to read for their transition to secondary school. Mom was appalled that these children were expected to read this book without adult intervention.
I’m in complete agreement with her. This book is powerful and phenomenally moving. However, if a child read this without context and support I worry that some of the undesirable behaviours with in the book (alcoholism, racism, child neglect, bullying) might be glorified and seen as acceptable, especially if a child didn’t finish it.
I’m in complete agreement with her. This book is powerful and phenomenally moving. However, if a child read this without context and support I worry that some of the undesirable behaviours with in the book (alcoholism, racism, child neglect, bullying) might be glorified and seen as acceptable, especially if a child didn’t finish it.
giureads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
cerysm_04's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0