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Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
Jun. 22nd, 2014 10:36 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
Zoe Collins has a dark and terrible secret that she dares confess to no one. But one day she hears of a criminal on death row who knows all about secrets. And lies. And betrayal. Desperate to confide in someone, Zoe picks up a pen.
These are the letters that she wrote.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Annabel Pitcher’s highly anticipated follow-up to MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE is a love triangle thriller told in an epistolary format that’s won a host of awards (including the 2013 Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize). Having greatly enjoyed Pitcher’s debut, I was disappointed that this didn’t live up to my expectations. The book revolves around a love triangle between Zoe and brothers Max and Aaron, which contains all of the contrivances necessary for the plot to keep moving forward. Unfortunately the triangle’s so skewered in one direction that it’s easy to guess who’s died but I also struggled to see what either brother saw in Zoe, who’s self-absorbed and more than a little shallow. One character’s skeevy behaviour (including sending out a topless picture of Zoe) goes without much comment or censure while a family subplot involving Zoe’s parental grandfather (who’s suffered a stroke) fizzles out without resolution. Ultimately the only thing that kept me going was the distinctive voice that Pitcher gives Zoe in the letters, which feel fresh and authentic while the downbeat ending felt realistic. It’s just a shame that the ending is then undone by the bonus final chapter of Dot’s diary, which is written in an overly cutsey style and tags on a revised ending that’s more open-ended and hopeful. Ultimately, I think that Pitcher’s one of the most exciting writers in YA at the moment and although this book didn’t work for me, I would definitely read her next one.
Zoe Collins has a dark and terrible secret that she dares confess to no one. But one day she hears of a criminal on death row who knows all about secrets. And lies. And betrayal. Desperate to confide in someone, Zoe picks up a pen.
These are the letters that she wrote.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Annabel Pitcher’s highly anticipated follow-up to MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE is a love triangle thriller told in an epistolary format that’s won a host of awards (including the 2013 Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize). Having greatly enjoyed Pitcher’s debut, I was disappointed that this didn’t live up to my expectations. The book revolves around a love triangle between Zoe and brothers Max and Aaron, which contains all of the contrivances necessary for the plot to keep moving forward. Unfortunately the triangle’s so skewered in one direction that it’s easy to guess who’s died but I also struggled to see what either brother saw in Zoe, who’s self-absorbed and more than a little shallow. One character’s skeevy behaviour (including sending out a topless picture of Zoe) goes without much comment or censure while a family subplot involving Zoe’s parental grandfather (who’s suffered a stroke) fizzles out without resolution. Ultimately the only thing that kept me going was the distinctive voice that Pitcher gives Zoe in the letters, which feel fresh and authentic while the downbeat ending felt realistic. It’s just a shame that the ending is then undone by the bonus final chapter of Dot’s diary, which is written in an overly cutsey style and tags on a revised ending that’s more open-ended and hopeful. Ultimately, I think that Pitcher’s one of the most exciting writers in YA at the moment and although this book didn’t work for me, I would definitely read her next one.
