Review: The Other Mother by Matthew Dicks

Thirteen-year-old Micheal is a kid with a problem. A very big problem. His mother is gone. And in her place is a woman who looks, acts and sounds just like his mother. Everyone else thinks that she is still the same person, including his younger brother and sister, and his annoying stepfather Asshole Glen. But Michael knows better. And now, how does he go about trying to find his real mother.

This was an interesting read about a boy who is dealing with a lot. The sudden death of his father, behavioural problems that mean daily visits to a student guidance counsellor and the fact that soon after his father's death, his mother married a man who was beneath her. (To summarise, Glen is a bit of a freeloader and often passive-aggressive.) And then, well ... this happens. Capgras syndrome, where a person believes that a loved one has been replaced by an imposter is a rare but very real thing. The author handles this and other sensitive subjects in a way that is both tactful and engaging. Michael handles the situation in the way that a child of his age would, imperfectly and the novel shows his struggles to accept the fact that what he believes may not be true. Some parts of the novel touch on dark subjects, such as suicide and it is never clear whether Glen is an abuser or just a dickhead. The novel also shows some real moments of joy and hope. In particular I loved the way he stood up to a teacher who was bullying a student. 

I enjoyed this one although it gets tough in places.

Recommended.

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