My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

A bestselling, moving, poignant yet gently funny novel about one boy's struggle to deal with the aftermath of his sister's death in a terrorist attack. This book is more relevant today than ever.

Five years ago, Jamie's sister, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His family is torn apart by their grief. His mum runs away. His dad turns to drink and hate. Rose's surviving twin sister Jasmine stops eating, gets piercings and dyes her hair pink - anything to look different to her twin. 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 Spiderman T-shirt, and his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago.

But moving away for a Fresh New Start introduces Jamie to something else very interesting - a girl named Sunya. Sunya is bright, exciting and fun, and the one person at school he can call a friend. But how far can this new friendship grow when Jamie is desperate that his dad doesn't find out?

Winner of Branford Boase Award 2013 (UK)

“This is a warm-hearted, funny tale which will by turns make your spirit soar and your heart break... Painfully honest and beautifully written, you'll devour it - and hopefully be left looking at the world a little differently. - COSMOPOLITAN...it was so moving, sad and yet ultimately uplifting in a way I can't possibly describe to you. It's just something you simply have to read for yourself. - MAGIC OF READINGThis is a book which could easily have sunk under the weight of sentimentality. That it doesn't, that it is an inspiring tale of resilience and kindness, is a tribute to Pitcher. This is a fine debut novel. Truthful, clear-eyed and wise. - THE TELEGRAPH - Martin ChiltonTackling current issues, this debut is brave and significant. - DAILY EXPRESSYou know how, every once in a while, you find a book that you know will become a class reader, found in every book cupboard, on every reading list? Well, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is just one of those books. It is a stunning, special read. - NATE CLASSROOMHeartbreaking and funny in near equal measure the story of 10-year-old Jamie's direct and wide-eyed telling of the emotional chaos he and his family live through following the death of his sister in a terrorist attack is poignant and warm hearted. Emotionally charged, this is a wonderful, touching story that never slips into worthiness. - THE OBSERVERI can't imagine you could read this novel and remain dry-eyed ro fail to clutch it tightly, desperate to know what happens next but almost unable to turn the page to fund out in case it's not what you hoped it would be. - CORNFLOWER BOOKSI loved this book! Jamie was a fantastic narrator and I felt I understood his complex problems entirely - FARM LANE BOOKS”

Brilliantly observed and packing a huge emotional punch, this impressive debut manages to be heartbreaking, poignant and hilariously funny, and quite unputdownable. - The Bookseller

A compelling and courageous novel. - Jenny Downham, author of BEFORE I DIE

If there was a book to redefine the phrase 'emotional rollercoaster' it's this one... - Sugarscape.com

This appealing story explores tolerance and intolerance, and ways of grieving and loving. - The Sunday Times

A book full of hope. It is sure to resonate with its readers for a long time. - Waterstones Books Quarterly

Annabel graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English Literature and an ambition to be a children's author. She had a variety of jobs before deciding to travel the world and focus on writing. Annabel now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and two young sons.

Her first book, MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE, won the Branford Boase and a Betty Trask Award in 2012 and KETCHUP CLOUDS won the 2014 Waterstones Children's Prize. Annabel's work has been shortlisted for numerous prestigious awards including the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Galaxy British Book Award and the Red House Children's Book Award and longlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the 2012 CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Visit Annabel's website at and follow her on Twitter @APitcherAuthor.

A bestselling, moving, poignant yet gently funny novel about one boy's struggle to deal with the aftermath of his sister's death in a terrorist attack. This book is more relevant today than ever. Five years ago, Jamie's sister, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His family is torn apart by their grief. His mum runs away. His dad turns to drink and hate. Rose's surviving twin sister Jasmine stops eating, gets piercings and dyes her hair pink - anything to look different to her twin. 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 Spiderman T-shirt, and his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago.But moving away for a Fresh New Start introduces Jamie to something else very interesting - a girl named Sunya. Sunya is bright, exciting and fun, and the one person at school he can call a friend. But how far can this new friendship grow when Jamie is desperate that his dad doesn't find out?

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