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After Iris
Each member of thirteen-year-old Blue’s family is dealing with the death of Blue’s twin sister Iris three years before in different ways. For Blue’s parents, it’s absence and arguing: Blue’s mom has gone back to work in a high-pressure job for a beauty company that has her traveling all over the world. Blue’s dad is spending most of his time working out of town, too, leading Blue’s older sister, Flora, to believe he’s having an affair. But when the two are both home, they fight. Zoran is a doctoral student who’s been hired to stay with the kids, who range from eight-year-old Jasmine to sixteen-year-old Flora, with Blue and ten-year-old Twig in between. Wonderful moments of levity and over-the-top humor are infused into a novel grounded in so many real feelings as the grief of this family is slowly revealed. The story is told through Blue’s first-person written diary and scenes describing her video-diary, and as the narrative progresses there are revelations about all of the characters, including Zoran, who came to England at the age of six as a Bosnian refugee. The deft balance of zaniness and deep emotions is reminiscent in the best way of the work of author Hilary McKay. ©2014 Cooperative Children's Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 10-13
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Arguments/Conflict
Diaries and Journals
Families
Feelings/Emotions
Grief and Loss
Humor
Refugees
Siblings
Publisher:
Dial
Publish Year: 2013
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9780803739826
CCBC Location: Fiction, Farrant