My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Audiobook By Annabel Pitcher cover art

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

By: Annabel Pitcher
Narrated by: David Tennant
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.98

Buy for $22.98

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Ten-year-old Jamie Matthews has just moved to the Lake District with his Dad and his teenage sister, Jasmine for a 'Fresh New Start'. Five years ago his sister's twin, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His parents are wrecked by their grief, Jasmine turns to piercing, pink hair and stops eating. The family falls apart. But Jamie hasn't cried in all that time. To him Rose is just a distant memory. Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman T-shirt, and in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret from his dad. And in his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago. When he sees a TV advert for a talent show, he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together once and for all.

2013, Brandord Boase Award, Winner

©2011 Annabel Pitcher (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Ltd Family Family & Relationships Literature & Fiction
All stars
Most relevant  

Would you consider the audio edition of My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I can't imagine a better experience than hearing David Tennant reading this book

What did you like best about this story?

The stroy itself was profound and insightful. The eyes of a ten year old boy offer new insights into grief, racism and family struggles

What about David Tennant’s performance did you like?

He captured the heart and soul of the 10 year old boy, I loved it

Wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have to listen to this book every year around christmas. It never gets old. Family matters and even more friendship matters so get together, be tolerant, be kind.

This story is important

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Would you consider the audio edition of My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version.

Would you recommend My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece to your friends? Why or why not?

YES.

What does David Tennant bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

An excellent interpretation of the characters by David Tennant - he brings each character to life.

Any additional comments?

I recommend David Tennant as an excellent narrator for stories suited to his particular type of presentation..

A GOOD LISTEN

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It is a beautiful story about growing up, dealing with loss and trying to understand the world we live in. Story flows easily and you laugh, cry and cheer for the boy throughout his story.
David Tennant narration is fabulous as always. He brings dynamics to the story and you feel the emotion in his voice. The man is a brilliant narrator.
Strongly recommend this book.

Brilliant story about growing up in this messed up world

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I suppose death of a loved one is something all of us must go through, at least several times in our lives. The only differences are in the ways we cope and the age in which we first experience it.
The fact the whole story is told from Jamie's perspective - a ten-year-old boy - gives it honesty and a certain rawness you'd never experience elsewhere. Adults rarely talk about these things; rarely even acknowledge them - the way we cope with pain and loss, and the things we do wrong as we try to survive, as life goes on and nobody wants it to. Even though Jasmine's maturer than Jaime, she isn't quite an adult, either, and her perspective connects Jamie's view with the "adult view", so to speak - the things that are so clear to us listening to the story (or reading it) but he himself doesn't get. They certainly make unusual heroes in this world we live in. And the story, about love and loss and pain and family and racism and bullying and all those tiny little things that make up the human life, is beautiful. Yes, you will cry, but by heaven, it's worth it.
As for the narration: I'm a longtime fan of David's work, so that's hardly a surprise I loved it. David manages to portray every one of the characters, while keeping true to Jamie's view and world. As you're listening, you can literally see Jaime telling you these things; David becomes Jaime, in every sort of way, right until the end. He is absolutely magnificent. But then again, he always is.

A beautiful tale of grieving and maturing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An absolutely wonderful, touching story. The characters and emotions are terribly real and you are completely drawn into their world. David Tennant reads beautifully, more subdued than for other books, embodying the heartbreak and joy in this family's life.

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book. It shows how the impact of grief and loss affects the entire family.

Touching story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautifully written and narrated. A little gem of a story. Touched on some heavy issues such as grief, abandonment, alcoholism, racial prejudice and family breakdown, but still managed to be uplifting as well as heartbreaking.

Loved it !!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book so much. The story was written and told with such authenticity and lack of sentimentality that it was breath of fresh air and it made the sad parts more real and poignant.

Great book with raw honesty

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What did you like about this audiobook?

Written from the perspective of a ten year old, this book shines a light on loss, racism, intolerance and grief in a way that is not sentimental and which utterly engages both Children and adults alike. My 6 and 9 year olds both loved the book, with each being able to access it at different levels. I loved it too. David Tennant is a perfect narrator. We forgot we were listening to 'DR Who" within ten minutes- he captures the innocence, poignancy and truth in Jamie's narrative voice beautifully,

Compelling, honest and wonderful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews