Talking to the Moon by SE Durrant

Talking to the Moon is a very sad book BUT it is also an uplifting story. Mimi is beginning to lose her memory. Everyday tasks are becoming difficult and she is making mistakes. Iris has moved in with her grandmother (Mimi) because her room at home needs repairs and home often feels like chaos since the arrival of her twin siblings. Iris loves Mimi and she loves living in her house but the strange things that Mimi does are so confusing and Iris is terrified her high pressure action doctor mother will swoop in and take over. She might even move Mimi to a care home. Iris is determined to keep Mimi safe but as each day passes this is becoming increasing difficult. 

Iris has started to write a list of helpful hints for Mimi.

1. The girl sleeping in the next-door bedroom is called Iris. She is your grandaughter. Rena is Iris's mum (your daughter)

2. Iris doesn't like jam on her eggs.

14. Don't put peas in chocolate cake. Carrots go in cakes sometimes but not peas.

17. The boy next door is called Mason. Though if you give him cake and model kits he won't mind what you call him.

23. Don't wear slippers to the beach. It's too cold.

Mimi loves to talk to the moon - hence the title and Iris loves to talk to the seagull that perches outside her window. Iris is a numbers girl. She likes to count the calls which always number exactly twelve. Iris is also trying to solve a family mystery. Mimi has a photo of her young cousin aged two. Mimi tells Iris that young Coral died in a tragic family boating accident over seventy years ago but at the local museum Iris and her new friend Mason discover a film which clearly shows a young girl who looks exactly like Iris (red hair) and who is wearing a special bracelet (Mimi has one too). The girl in this film is not two years old she is ten and the film was made in 1954.

I don't remember how I came to add this book to my shopping list but after two days of glorious reading I am very glad I did. This, as I said, is a sad book and at times I did need to take a break - watching Mimi unravelling is heartbreaking but:

"Whilst an emotional read, it is also very sweet and with continuous moments of tenderness throughout which lifts this from a tearjerker to a heartwarming yet bittersweet story of love and understanding." Lillyandthefae

I really appreciate publishers (thanks Nosy Crow) who give books matching covers. The full set of these three books by SE Durrant will look so appealing on your library shelves. You can hear the first chapter of Talking to the Moon here on the Nosy Crow web site.

I recently read the term 'companion reads' so I going to adopt this when I list other books to read that link with my focus book.  Here are several companion reads to explore after reading Talking to the Moon:

Don't Breathe a word

Pearl verses the World

The ABC with Honora Lee

Heartbeat

If you are looking for picture books on the topic of dementia or Alzheimer's disease here are two links to explore:  Kinderbookswitheverything and One Photo.