Us Minus Mum by Heather Butler - Revision history

Sue at 15:06, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T15:06:44Z

Sue at 16:21, 10 February 2015

2015-02-10T16:21:58Z

Sue at 14:06, 5 November 2014

2014-11-05T14:06:47Z

Sue at 15:55, 31 October 2014

2014-10-31T15:55:00Z

Jill: Created page with "{{infobox |title=Us Minus Mum |sort= |author=Heather Butler |reviewer=Jill Murphy |genre=Confident Readers |summary=Lovely story about coming to terms with grief. Perfectly ob..."

2013-12-14T09:44:19Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Us Minus Mum |sort= |author=Heather Butler |reviewer=Jill Murphy |genre=Confident Readers |summary=Lovely story about coming to terms with grief. Perfectly ob..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Us Minus Mum
|sort=
|author=Heather Butler
|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Lovely story about coming to terms with grief. Perfectly observed and joyful and sad in equal measure.
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=304
|publisher=Little, Brown
|website=http://www.heatherbutler.info/
|date=February 2014
|isbn=0349124078
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0349124078</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>B00EEBDF4O</amazonus>
|video=
}}

George likes FACTS. He collects definitions. When he writes things down, he makes his favourite words stand out by '''bolding'' or CAPITALISING or ''italicising'' them. He loves school but he hates ''Carl Worthington'' who is disruptive and a bully. He loves his little brother Theo but can't help wishing he wasn't quite such a pain. His favourite game is the one in which he and Mum share random facts with one another. Actually, Mum is George's favourite person in the whole world. Even more than best friend, Dermo, or beloved but scruffy dog, Goffo.

But Mum is ill. Very ill. And suddenly, smiles seem hard to come by in George's life...

''Us Minus Mum'' is completely gorgeous. It's beautifully observed and I fell in love with narrator George. George is a ''good'' kind of boy. He likes the certainty of rules and rarely breaks them. People who ''do'' break the rules are a sore trial to him. This doesn't just include the class bully, it also includes younger brother Theo, who is chalk to George's cheese - Theo is cheeky, busy, and cheerfully naughty at times. George is a bright child so he knows that something is wrong at home but he is also young, so he doesn't figure out quite what it is. And he suffers almost as much from ''not'' knowing what it is as he does when the truth comes out. ''Us Minus Mum'' is very clear on being honest with children. We really should be, you know.

There are so many perfect little details that made me smile - George and his best friend secure enough in their friendship to be open about still taking a best cuddly toy to bed; George feeling the green-eyed monster of jealousy when Theo does something wrong but still gets a lap cuddle from Dad, the worthy essay-come-statement you have to write when you've stepped out of line at school. And those aren't even the funny bits! The funny bits are hilarious! Mostly, these revolve around the family dog and a pet talent show and I won't spoil them. But I will say that farts will be dubbed ''FFFFOURTEENS'' chez Murphy from now on and, I hope, forever.

''Us Minus Mum'' is a perfectly-judged, wonderfully-observed story of coming to terms with the loss of a parent and coping with grief. It's also a funny and delightful portrait of a family that is probably different from your family, but just like it, too. I loved it and heartily recommend it to every single reader of 9 and up.

If you like the look of ''Us Minus Mum'', you might also enjoy [[A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness]] and [[My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher]].

{{amazontext|amazon=0349124078}}

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+{{infobox1
 |title=Us Minus Mum
 |author=Heather Butler
 |reviewer=Jill Murphy
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 |date=February 2014
 |isbn=0349124078
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0349124078</amazonuk>
+|cover=0349124078
-|amazonus=<amazonus>B00EEBDF4O</amazonus>
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 George likes FACTS. He collects definitions. When he writes things down, he makes his favourite words stand out by '''bolding'' or CAPITALISING or ''italicising'' them. He loves school but he hates ''Carl Worthington'' who is disruptive and a bully. He loves his little brother Theo but can't help wishing he wasn't quite such a pain. His favourite game is the one in which he and Mum share random facts with one another. Actually, Mum is George's favourite person in the whole world. Even more than best friend, Dermo, or beloved but scruffy dog, Goffo.

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 {{amazontext|amazon=0349124078}}
 {{toptentext|list=Top Ten Books for Confident Readers 2014}}
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