Very strong and unique voice and a terribly poignant and hard-hitting storyline. One of this book’s main themes is not apparent - it takes on two social evils and like ‘Room’, I found myself wanting to finish it quickly.

Tina is a struggling mother of two young children. Jesika is four years old and loves her preschool she attends every afternoon.

Life gets very scary for Jesika when her mummy and Toby get very sick and need to stay in hospital for a few days. She has to go and stay with foster carers and her mummy’s old school friend Lauren and her daughter Paige. Paige is Jesika’s friend from preschool but she has a very scary uncle Ryan who keeps hurting her tummy. Jesika tells Ryan to stop hurting Paige but he doesn’t and instead threatens and scares Jesika.

This is a book about the struggles of single parents who are taken advantage of by uncouth individuals and a system not equipped to deal with the scale of need. It’s about the courage of a little girl who stands up for her friend and tells the ‘naughty secret’ to stop her friend been hurt. It’s the heartwarming friendships that are cemented in everyday struggles that are so important during the good and the difficult times. And the love and honesty between a mother and her children.

A well written book tackling some very difficult issues around child safety and welfare.

When I got to 19% through this book, there was a little niggle in the back of my mind. I thought I knew which way this book was going.
I have now got to 31% in the book and I'm sorry to say that I'm going to stop reading. It's not just because of the topic either. I was really struggling with reading a book that is from the point of view of a 4 and a half year old. At first, I thought that it would be interesting and a bit of a personal challenge but Jesika just annoyed me.

I realise that I'm very much in the minority and that many others have loved the book and the fact that Jesika is so young but this just isn't for me.

Did not finish.

This is heartbreaking, harrowing and incredibly beautiful. I was completely captivated from the very first page by the style of writing. Not just because it's told from the perspective of a 4 year old but the spelling and flow of the story makes for an incredible insight into how a child's brain works. I fell in love with most of the characters, emotionally invested in the outcome and SERIOUSLY wanting to scream at the book with venom and anger in some places. This really is a remarkable story about the importance of childhood innocence and how it should be protected at all costs. It's a good lesson in judgement and how differently we see the world as an adult. Incredibly well written with a beautiful pace, I couldn't put it down. Emotionally and psychologically its a hard read, but such an amazing story.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down, I was so absorbed in it. It’s told from the point of view of Jesika, a four year old girl who lives with her Mum and baby brother. She’s very inquisitive and asks lots of questions and the author captures her voice perfectly.
It made me laugh and cry this story and I want to read it again and again. But it’s definitely not for the faint hearted

Home is an extraordinary debut novel and yes there will be comparisons to Emma Donoghue’s Room because the narrator, Jesika is 4 and a half years old, however unlike Room I instantly connected with Jesika and as a parent my motherly instincts went into overdrive.

Jesika lives with her mummy, Tina and her baby brother, Toby in a flat full of damp, mould, broken windows, cracks in the bath, unreliable heating and an unscrupulous landlord.

Jesika is the most adorable, insightful, excitable, emotional little girl ever. Her innocence and view on the world made my heart break. There were several moments during the book I had to take a deep breath before carrying on because despite her innocence I was able to see what was happening around her and it felt very uncomfortable not being about to stop and help.

There are several topics which are deeply disturbing, however they are dealt with sympathetically and sensitively. This is only the second book I have read in my life that I read in one sitting starting at 8pm and finishing at 1am in the morning and not regretting a minute of staying up way past my bedtime. It is wonderful and uncomfortable in equal measures and one that I would definitely recommend.

One word review: Breathtaking

Rambling review: Home. I don’t even know where to begin with reviewing Home. From the word “fayvrit” on the first page, you know this novel is going to be nothing like what you’ve read before. You become utterly absorbed into the mind of this four year old, living and breathing her internal narrative and life.

It’s breathtaking, joyful and heartbreaking.

Jesika’s view on the world is pure – her interruption of sarcasm had me literally laughing out loud. You are willing this character along and you gain such a better appreciation for the young, how they see the world and the world they want to see.

[potential spoilers in next paragraph]

I normally make notes when reading a book and this is one I made in the first quarter: “Tenuous line of social services, what is right for a child, struggling single parents (and “normal” parents), identifying abuse”. This note obviously becomes much more pertinent later in the book. Home shows how extraordinarily difficult it is to identify all types of abuse in families and communities. The roles our teachers, medical professionals, and communities place in this is enormous. It demonstrates the very difficult balance of trusting your gut but also not having preconceived ideas (such as about single parent households). This book is such an important read for this reason alone.

[/spoilers]

The only niggle, if you can even call it that, is that she sounds younger than 4 to me. I am certainly not the best judge as the last time I was around 4 year olds I was 4 myself, but she does sound particularly young? She’s technically four a half, and I thought that “proper” school would have started by then, so the presence of preschool further pushed Jesika into the 3 year old territory for me. Not a criticism really, just an observation.

I read this in two sittings (one of which was sneakily at my desk, it was that good) and I want to thrust it into the hands of everyone I know. It is going to be one of the big reads of this year. It was released less than a week ago and it already has over 50 five star reviews on Amazon.

P.S. Very different subject matters, but I would be interested to see how this narrative voice compares with that of Room, which is also written from the point of view of a child.

Star rating: 

*****

Some books are just extra special and will stay with you for a long time after reading...this will be one of those books. The idea of it being written from the point of view of the child gave it more impact, it was heart wrenching, powerful and reminded me of the strength of a mother's love and what it can overcome. Beautiful book and can't wait to read more from this author

This is a story of the damage done to children when their childhood is disrupted. It could be a death in the family, it could be a broken marriage, it could be fear, pain, tragedy or trauma.
Jesika tells us her story, from her four year old point of view. And we can of course fill in the gaps from the adult conversations that Jesika overhears. Jesika lives with her mum Tina and her baby brother Toby, her best friend is Paige and they are all included in Jesika’s tale.
I enjoyed the story. However, I really really didn’t like the “baby spellings”, the phonetic writing. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Jesika knows some very adult words which she spells properly and then simple words which she doesn’t. Lose that and you will. Have a much more readable book. It went from being slightly quirky (first few words) to downright annoying and really put me off going back to this book

Same old story of a young child's point of view, blah blah blah. Right? No, wrong!

Sometimes the writing is a bit annoying, who would want to listen to the ramblings of a 4 year old for that long... But it isn't like that, the story soon pulls you in and soon you are on the same roller coaster of emotions. Awful at times from an adult perspective, but seeing the poverty stricken life from a small person's view is completely different.

Loved it, will be buying it for presents all year I think!

Never read a book like this before. It is written through the eyes of a 4 year old little girl but it's clever the way Amanda tells of difficult subjects but how a young child would see it. The book covers hard things such as child abuse, single parenthood, death, illness and dodgy landlords and housing situations, but through the eyes of Jesika. An unusual read but definitely worth reading

"Home" is Amanda Berriman's debut novel and I knew I want to read it as soon as I've received an email from NetGalley with a short extract from it. It is not the easiest book - storyline - wise - but it is also a read that will have you gripped and that won't let you go."Home" was not the easiest read. It made my stomach turn and I wanted to slap one of the characters with my bare hands. It was heart - breaking, probably because it was so close to reality, and I think the fact that the author handed over the narration in the little Jesika's hands made it even more harder and it totally mess with our emotions.

Jesika, as a narrator, works brilliantly. She's not too mature even though she knows a lot - she's just a very sensible, vulnerable child that experiences things that she shouldn't experience. Seeing world through her eyes is authentic and genuine and honest and you are immediately drawn in - we see things through the four - year - old girl's perspective and those things are perfectly portrayed. We can totally relate to what it is to be a four - year - old and how it is to be a child in this grim reality where the adults not always take you seriously, how it is to be powerless, how hard it is to attract adult's attention to what is really important. The way Amanda Berriman got into Jesika's head and told us this story is actually breath - taking.

However, I am in minority here with my opinion, I know, and while I absolutely, totally appreciate what the author has tried to achieve with her story, it just didn't work for me on all the levels. I am not sure what Amanda Berriman wanted to tell us here and on what should I focus. The two main storyline, the one about Jesika and her family and then Jesika and her friend Paige felt for me under - developed. They were started off but the execution has felt for me here. The subplot with Paige annoyed me incredibly, I just couldn't believe that her mother didn't see the obvious. There were parts in this story that I reckon were not necessary, like Jesika spending time at the foster family - I just think this book could do without it.

But even though it was a hard book to read because of the topics it touches upon, a sense of building dread because you know what's coming, it was easy to read. The writing style is seamless and it effortlessly transports us to Jesika's world and it is very realistic. It is not overdone, actually it is worryingly close to life and you easily imagine all the things happening. However, it is not only doom and gloom, as there are some uplifting things in the story as well - the power of friendship, of finding allies when you're not expecting it at all.

Altogether, "Home" was absorbing, gripping and heart - breaking read with realistic characters that you quickly fell for and with very realistic topics, pointing at the importance of being open and of communication between parents and children. Written with a lot of understanding and subtlety and ultimately I think it was me, and not the book that wasn't quite right. It was a powerful read and I can't put my finger on what was wrong for me but it just didn't work for me as much as I'd like it to. However, don't let me to dispirit you, just go and read this book and you'll see for yourself how powerful and emotional it is. I am already looking forward to Ms Berriman's another book.

Writing in the POV of a four year old child could easily have backfired. The tone could have been too precocious, or too cute, or just annoying. But somehow Amanda Berriman manages to sustain the narrative throughout the entire book keeping it convincing, compelling and utterly believable. Four year old Jessika lives with her mother and baby brother in a small flat. It's all she knows, to her it is home, safe, but to her mother it's a symbol of failure and despair as she struggles to pay the rent to the sleazy landlord and keep her children healthy in an overcrowded, damp flat with used needles on the stairs. When her mother meets up with some old friends it's a tendril of hope in her difficult life. Gradually Jessika senses there is something not right but how can she communicate it when no one listens to her and her small life spirals out of control?
Home is many things. It's an unflinching look at austerity Britain, at how the most vulnerable are affected, how poverty influences every decision in a family's life, how easily it can creep up on anyone. It also brilliantly shows the world from a child's perspective - the fear and anxiety, yes, the lack of autonomy in almost every way, but also the wonder of jam sandwiches, a rainbow in a puddle, a smile from a kind adult. Every politician should read this before making decisions to cut yet another benefit, but everyone else should read it and remember what it was like to be four.

Although the story is heartwarming, I found the style of writing in the words of a 5 year old, irritating to read. The happy ever after theme is somewhat unrealistic.

Poor housing conditions, child abuse , foster care and being a member of a single parent family through a child's eyes. gives a very good insight into all these, written in the language of a 4 year old child. Tina has 2 children, but it is through her 4 year old daughter that we actually feel her reactions. Poignant, sad and shocking, plus some laugh out loud moments. This book disturbed me yet I could not put it down. Excellent reading.

Home is a very different kind of book that I've read before and thats because it is told from jesika's own words and own eyes and thats different because Jesika is only 4 years old.
I have to admit when I started this book I didn't know how I would cope with the wording, spelling etc being told in a young narrative voice but let me tell you after the first couple of pages I couldn't put this book down.
Jesika is 4 years old and lives with her younger brother and her mum in an awful flat living on the bread line and this is seen through her eyes and Amanda has done a fantastic job of highlighting things that are curious to the young eyes of Jesica that we as adults don't see anymore. You can tell as you advance through this book it is going to be at times a hard read and it is but is written about delicately. I couldn't put this book down and read it in a day and although you know what is happening, Jesika doesn't and you so want to rescue her and her family from that kind of life. Although this book has some hard topics in it Amanda has done a very good job in keeping it not too depressive and having an almost laughable tinge to the good bits keeping you hopeful and uplifted.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Doubleday for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Seldom do you come across a debut novel that has such an impact as “Home“. Written entirely from the viewpoint of a tiny, four-year-old girl, the novel touches on issues with important social observations. At first I was taken aback by the way she spoke, but after a few pages I could actually hear her little voice, and the pages flew by.

Jesika Petrowski lives is a run-down, derelict apartment building. She lives with her Mummy, Tina, and her baby brother, Toby. Their flat is a damp, squalid place with broken windows, mould on the walls, an oven that doesn’t work, and heating that is undependable. In her innocence, Jesika draws pictures on the wall by joining up the dots of mould.

“…our house is shivery-cold and all our breathing is coming out of our mouths like smoke.”

Jesika’s mother, Tina Petrowski, is a tragic figure. A young woman with no family support, she is forced to rely on strangers for help. And help she needs. With no financial help from the children’s father (who has returned to their native Poland to live), her despair is palpable. Both she and her baby son, Toby have chest infections and Toby’s condition is worsening on a daily basis. He coughs and coughs until he vomits up his milk. Tiny lives up many flights of stairs and must haul Toby’s ‘buggy’ up and down those stairs every time she goes out. She has to go out a lot as there are no laundry facilities in the building and Jesika attends preschool in the afternoons. Feeling poorly and despondent, her temper is sometimes shorter than it should be.

“Mummy does big noisy swallowing and then she says, “There’s no one to help, Jesika. I’m on my own and no one can do anything for us and I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Jesika’s innocent observations make for many bittersweet moments. Her simple joy at being fed jam sandwiches, a kindly grocer who pulls a ‘magic’ strawberry from behind her ear, the beautiful rainbow she finds in an oily puddle during a rainstorm.

Sometimes, because Toby is poorly, Jesika’s Mummy cuddles him more that she cuddles Jesika, which makes the little girl jealous and sad.

“Mummy only wants to cuddle Toby”.

Jesika makes friends with Paige at preschool. But Paige has troubles of her own – dire troubles indeed…

Then, just when you thought circumstances for the little family couldn’t get any worse, baby Toby is rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Whilst there, Tina is also diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted – leaving young Jesika to go into foster care.

“I have to live somewhere else and it might be so so far away that Mummy will never find me.”

Jesika’s overwhelming fear of abandonment are understandably escalated by these traumatic events. She waffles between fearing her mother will never come back, to the childish certainty that she WILL come back.

“Mummy is coming back to get me. She’s coming to get me when she’s not poorly. She won’t make me find a new Mummy cos I’ll be helpful and good and I’ll never shout at her ever, ever, ever again and I’ll always eat all my pasta even with no cheese. She’s coming to get me soon. She is.”

The story, told in the innocent and naive voice of Jesika is heart-rending to the adult reader who views it with an all too vivid clarity.

The book succeeds on a variety of fronts. It causes the reader to have more empathy for young children, as we quickly forget what it is like to live in the world as a child sees it. It strikes upon many socially relevant issues: poverty, low-income housing, child abuse, etc.

All-in-all, I loved Jesika’s story and recommend it to all who appreciate fiction that at once entertains and educates. “Home” spotlights the very best, and the very worst, of human nature. Didactic and heart-breaking, yet heart-warming. Even though tears will likely be shed, “Home” is still a lovely read.

Little children have big ears.

Jesika is four and a half and lives with her mummy and brother, Toby. They live in a slum flat with mould and broken windows. Jesikas’ mum and brother are taken to the hospital and she is put into foster care.

Jesikas’ mum meets an old friend and her daughter and Jesika desperately wants to be Paige’s friend, but Paige is a frightened child who cannot express or tell anyone anything about the horrible games her uncle makes her play.

A story of modern-day poverty told through the words of a four-and-a-half-year-old.

I read this book quite quickly and it was well written. The story is a sad one and all too real. However, it is told by Jesika in her child-like language which, although it gives the idea of how a child thinks, 300 odd pages of child-speak irritated the hell out of me and I found myself correcting her out loud!!! Therefore, I read the book so quickly, just to get through the agony.

Saying that I also found it hard to empathise with the mum as she was very proud and found it hard to accept the help she was in no position to refuse which could have had disastrous consequences.

All in all, I did not enjoy this book very much, but that could just be my view on things, so give it a read and make up your own mind.

Shesat

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

What a debut novel, it will break you and leave you in pieces, but it’s worth it as you be left thinking about this book for a long time after, you’ve read it. It was gut-wrenching and well written, the way the story is told from the point of view of a small child is new and brings a different view to the story.
The subject matters are difficult ones and Amanda Berriman has done an excellent job of dealing with them in this endearing story.

Such an unusual read. Told from the perspective and in the narrative of four year old Jesika we are entered into a world of desperation, poverty, child sex abuse, true friends and the most wonderful love of a mother. Read in one day this brilliant book will keep you hooked. Sad, heartbreaking and joyous all at once. Wonderful dialogue as Jesika explains things like moles (mould), fecshun, infection and green man and green lady, paramedics!
#Home #NetGalley