The Other Mother: A Novel - Hardcover

Dicks, Matthew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250103460 ISBN 13: 9781250103468

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2021

Synopsis

From Matthew Dicks, the beloved author of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, comes The Other Mother, a novel about a teenage boy coping with the rupture of his family by viewing his mother in an unusual light.

The one he loves most, is the one he knows least.

Thirteen-year-old Michael Parsons is dealing with a lot. His father's sudden death; his mother's new husband, Glen, who he loathes; his two younger siblings, who he looks after more and more now that his mother works extra shifts.

And then one day, Michael wakes up and his mother is gone. In her place is an exact, duplicate mother. The 'other mother'. No one else seems to notice the real version is missing. His brother, his sister, and even Glen act as if everything's normal. But Michael knows in his heart that this mother is not his. And he begins to panic.

What follows is a big-hearted coming-of-age story of a boy struggling with an unusual disorder that poses unparalleled challenges―but also, as he discovers, offers him unique opportunities.

About this title

About the Author

MATTHEW DICKS is a writer and elementary school teacher. His articles have been published in the Hartford Courant and he has been a featured author at the Books on the Nightstand retreat. He is also a Moth storyteller and a two-time StorySLAM champion. Dicks is the author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing, and Unexpectedly Milo. He lives in Newington, Connecticut, with his wife, Elysha, and their children, Clara and Charlie.

Reviews

Gr 8 Up-Michael is drowning. His life seems relatively easy: He's 14, white, in middle school, is interested in girls, and has a mom, two younger siblings, and a stepfather. But he also has two huge secrets that are taking over his life and pulling him under. First, and most importantly, his mother is missing. She has been replaced by another mother, an exact twin, and no one has noticed except Michael. The other secret is so big he can't even contemplate it. Meanwhile, he has to take care of his younger brother and sister while his other mother works two shifts at the hospital to support them and his perennially unemployed stepfather. On top of that, Michael has to check in twice daily with the school counselor for anger management (after all, he did throw a laptop through a window). Determined to find his mother, Michael tackles adult-size problems, and along the way, finds out that friends and family can be a greater resource than he ever expected. This is a captivating story, told from Michael's point of view with incredible veracity and heart. VERDICT A perfect read for fans of John Green, R.J. Palacio, and Marcus Zusak.-Gretchen Crowley, formerly at Alexandria City P.L., VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250103460
• ISBN 13: 9781250103468
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320