Other Brother (Simon French, Walker Books)

Monday, 19 March 2012 Unlocked content from the archive. Books+Publishing

The last time Kieran saw his cousin Bon was two years ago when Bon and Aunt Renee crashed Kieran’s Dad’s birthday party and Bon stole one of his toy horses. Now Bon has been enrolled in his class at school and Kieran is desperate that no-one should find out they are cousins. With his tatty clothes and waist-length plait, Bon becomes an instant object of ridicule, and Kieran is trying hard to fit in with the cool crowd. Kieran is even more upset when it is revealed that Bon will be splitting his time between Kieran’s place and their nan’s house. Kieran refuses to make Bon’s transition easy, abandoning him on their walks home from school and joining in with the bullying ‘cool’ boys in their class. It is Julia—a new student who, like Bon, has had a difficult time with her mother—who makes Kieran re-evaluate and change his behaviour. This book is for upper primary school kids and takes a thoughtful look at both bullying and family-related problems, with a great message about standing up for those you care about.

Amelia Vahtrick has awarded Other Brother three and a half stars out of five. Amelia is the children’s book buyer at Better Read Than Dead in Newtown

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Category: Reviews