The
Year of the Rat by Clare Furniss
Review
by M
The
Year of the Rat is a tragic tearjerker with a little light breathing space
for smiles inbetween.
Just
before her A-levels, Pearl’s mother dies from pregnancy and childbirth
complications. Pearl and her stepfather are left to deal with their grief
alongside the care of the premature ‘rat’, Rose. Pearl doesn’t cope very well
with this at all and the only person she finds she can turn to is…her mother.
Despite
its heavy and real world subject matter (including pre-eclampsia and post-natal depression), The Year of the Rat
is a light read with a heartwarming tone. In a relatively familiar plot, an
endearing mother-daughter relationship made this a compulsive read that
flows easily. Be prepared for tears.
The
Year of the Rat reminded me of a novel by Jane Green that I read shortly after
having had a baby. It also reminded me of Roddy Doyle’s A Greyhound of a Girl. I
think The Year of The Rat will hit a soft spot for many readers, both teens and adults
alike. I think that's me recommending it!
Publication
details: Simon and Schuster, 24 April 2014, London, hardback
This
copy: uncorrected proof for review
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