Saturday, May 9, 2015

After Iris by Natasha Farrant - OPTIONAL

Farrant, Natasha After Iris, 260 pgs. The Penguin group, 2013. $16.99. Language: PG ( 14 swears mostly diety); Mature Content: PG13 (teen drinking and mild discussion of sex ed); Violence: PG.  

12-year-old Bluebell Gadsby is documenting her life through journal entries and short film segments.  A loner at school since her twin, Iris, died 3 years ago, Blue captures her family in short vignettes: younger brother and sister Twig and Jasmine,  their pet rats, and her older sister Flora, sullen and removed; mum and dad each work out of town and are gone most of the time, and no one talks about Iris.  The family seems to be imploding.  Dad hires an au pair, Zoran, and Joss - the neighbor’s grandson adds chaos to an already frustrating family situation.  

A very British story, (Anglophiles will adore this) however, the format makes it rather fragmented and choppy.  

MS - OPTIONAL Lisa Librarian

1 comment:

Ms. Yingling said...

So tired of sad. Felt the same way!