Sorrow and happiness course through this book of huge emotions, which gives lots of room for optimism despite dealing with tragedy. Fourteen-year-old Luke is used to coping with things, especially his accident-prone younger brother Jesse. But nothing can prepare him when his mother suddenly becomes dangerously ill. How Luke and Jesse react to their mother’s illness and death is touchingly told in Luke’s voice as he charts the different ways the boys deal with the shock and grief and, above all, how by pulling together and committing absolutely to keeping their own lives going, they survive. However, as well as these heavyweight themes it is also full of football and friendship. A harrowing but life affirming debut.
Luke’s world is turned upside down when his mum collapses at the hospital where she works as a nurse. Fourteen-year-old Luke and his football-obsessed younger brother Jesse each cope in their different ways, and, as time passes, they must confront some painful truths.
What’s up with your mum?’ We sit on the railings and, as the grey clouds scud over our heads, I tell Jack and Freya about Mum being ill. I don’t tell them that I’m worried stupid, but they’re my mates, I think they can work that out for themselves. I also tell them about Jesse and his accident. The prat. ‘Blimey – sixty-six per cent of one family in hospital at the same time!’ says Jack. ‘You’d better watch yourself, Lukey. It could be an ancient Indian curse . . . Why don’t you sleep at mine tonight?’ ‘Yeah, go on,’ I say. ‘Don’t fancy another night home alone.’ To tell the truth, I’ve eaten the last pizza anyway.
Honest, funny and deeply moving, this is a story about facing the worst and surviving.
