Just based on that synopsis, this could have been a depressing book, but instead it was just wonderful, full of quirky humor and fascinating family dynamics as Blue slowly but surely re-enters the world, complete with first love, baby rats (really!), family fights (and reconciliations) and new, unexpected friendships. The four remaining children are left mostly in the care of an overwhelmed young au pair (a really, really fabulous character who provides some of the funniest lines in the book). Unfortunately, their parents have both coped with their own grief by fleeing, one to a new job a hundred miles away, another into a workaholic lifestyle that sends her regularly jetting around the world to escape the pain of her memories. Life seems to have moved on for her other three siblings, from her dramatic older sister Flora to her rat-obsessed younger brother, Twig, and his hyper-sensitive twin Jas - but all of them are hiding their own grief as they splash out in their different ways. Now, Blue feels like she's the only one who really remembers Iris. It's been three years since 12-year-old Blue's twin sister, Iris, was killed in a terrible accident.

Written in a lovely, warm style reminiscent of I Capture the Castle (but set in the modern day), it manages to be really funny and really heartbreaking, sometimes both at the same time. There's generally a lot of arguing and raised voices, but loads of caring and affection, too.Such a lovely, bittersweet, wonderful book! After Iris is about a big, quirky family trying hard to rebuild itself after a tragedy. In another scene, a teen comes home drunk, and then so does her dad. An argument turns violent when a girl bumps her head her face is 'covered with blood,' and her dad punches a teen he thinks is responsible. There are also a couple of incidents of bullying at their London school kids pull a chair out from under another girl, and other kids retaliate by preying upon a girl's fears to humiliate her. family is a strong theme kids are exposed to parents' arguments and they fear their parents will divorce. Information about a death is gradually revealed.

Parents need to know that Natasha Farrant's After Iris concerns the feelings of a British family coping with a devastating loss, while they also deal with absentee parents, a new au pair, and typical teen/tween emotions and changes.

In one scene, a teen comes home drunk, and then her dad does the same.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

After iris by natasha farrant