Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
May. 19th, 2011 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
”What kind of someone could I let in to the mixed-up mind-maze that is me?”
Mira Levenson’s family is always chaotic – with a little brother and baby sister, busy parents and her artistic, outspoken grandma. She loves them all, but sometimes it feels like nothing is private. And the thing is … Mira does have secrets – her beloved Nana Josie is dying, she’s drifting away from her best friend, and she can’t stop thinking about mysterious, confident Jidé Jackson, who is definitely keeping some secrets of his own.
Mira Levenson’s almost 12 but doesn’t have much to be happy about. Her Nana Josie is dying from cancer, she’s pulling away from her best friend Millie and she’s got a crush on Jidé Jackson. When she joins a school writing club, Mira has to keep a journal for 30 days. Doing so enables her to find her voice and come to terms with what is happening to her family and what is happening to her …
Sita Brahmachari’s debut novel won the Waterstone’s Prize 2011 and it’s easy to see why. This is a beautifully written novel for an MG audience that combines a sweet coming of age story with a tale of family love and all set against a multi-cultural background that never feels like a PC contrivance.
Mira is a thoughtful, introspective girl who’s a little shy but who has a real gift for art that’s encouraged by (and shared with) her grandmother. She’s also very self-aware and her observations about her friendship with Millie and the fact that she is starting to keep secrets from her (notably her crush on Jidé) are well drawn. I particularly liked her relationship with her grandmother, who is shown as a vibrant woman who knows her time is limited and is determined to face it on her own terms and make sure that her family are prepared for it.
I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Mira and Jidé, although as a personal nitpick I wasn’t quite comfortable with all the snogging that goes on between two twelve year olds. Jidé himself has an interesting background and I was impressed with the way Brahmachari brought in references to the Rwandan genocide in a way that didn’t feel exploitative or too graphic – it emphasised the human theme to this story.
There are some heart breaking scenes in the book and those that took place in the hospice did make me teary. At the same time though, this is a life-affirming novel that leaves you feeling upbeat. The only other quibble I’d raise is whether 12 year olds would produce such insightful pieces for their writing group – but this is a minor point given the beauty and simplicity of the language.
All in all, this is a wonderful, warm and human book and I can’t wait to see what Brahmachari writes next.
The Verdict:
Sita Brahmachari’s debut MG novel is a beautifully written, warm and touching story about coming to terms with grief, first love and coming of age. It’s a brilliant story and I would heartily recommend reading it.
ARTICHOKE HEARTS was released in the UK on 7th January 2011. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.
Mira Levenson’s family is always chaotic – with a little brother and baby sister, busy parents and her artistic, outspoken grandma. She loves them all, but sometimes it feels like nothing is private. And the thing is … Mira does have secrets – her beloved Nana Josie is dying, she’s drifting away from her best friend, and she can’t stop thinking about mysterious, confident Jidé Jackson, who is definitely keeping some secrets of his own.
Mira Levenson’s almost 12 but doesn’t have much to be happy about. Her Nana Josie is dying from cancer, she’s pulling away from her best friend Millie and she’s got a crush on Jidé Jackson. When she joins a school writing club, Mira has to keep a journal for 30 days. Doing so enables her to find her voice and come to terms with what is happening to her family and what is happening to her …
Sita Brahmachari’s debut novel won the Waterstone’s Prize 2011 and it’s easy to see why. This is a beautifully written novel for an MG audience that combines a sweet coming of age story with a tale of family love and all set against a multi-cultural background that never feels like a PC contrivance.
Mira is a thoughtful, introspective girl who’s a little shy but who has a real gift for art that’s encouraged by (and shared with) her grandmother. She’s also very self-aware and her observations about her friendship with Millie and the fact that she is starting to keep secrets from her (notably her crush on Jidé) are well drawn. I particularly liked her relationship with her grandmother, who is shown as a vibrant woman who knows her time is limited and is determined to face it on her own terms and make sure that her family are prepared for it.
I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Mira and Jidé, although as a personal nitpick I wasn’t quite comfortable with all the snogging that goes on between two twelve year olds. Jidé himself has an interesting background and I was impressed with the way Brahmachari brought in references to the Rwandan genocide in a way that didn’t feel exploitative or too graphic – it emphasised the human theme to this story.
There are some heart breaking scenes in the book and those that took place in the hospice did make me teary. At the same time though, this is a life-affirming novel that leaves you feeling upbeat. The only other quibble I’d raise is whether 12 year olds would produce such insightful pieces for their writing group – but this is a minor point given the beauty and simplicity of the language.
All in all, this is a wonderful, warm and human book and I can’t wait to see what Brahmachari writes next.
The Verdict:
Sita Brahmachari’s debut MG novel is a beautifully written, warm and touching story about coming to terms with grief, first love and coming of age. It’s a brilliant story and I would heartily recommend reading it.
ARTICHOKE HEARTS was released in the UK on 7th January 2011. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.
