My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Book

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 Jasmine turns to piercing 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 Spiderman T-shirt and in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret from his dad. And in his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago. When he sees a TV advert for a talent show he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together once and for all. ; ; ;

Annabel Pitcher's story of a family torn apart by the death of a child is clever, insightful and thought-provoking. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award 2012 in the Older Readers category and was the winner of the 2012 Branford Boase award.