A moving tale of love, loss, grief, family and self-discovery. I enjoyed following Brie on her adventure. I also appreciate the book acknowledging the very fine line between being spontaneous and irresponsible as I had the exact same thoughts, though I would have preferred a more nuanced approach to the subject of coping with a family member who has dementia.

While the book was a bit too short for me to be fully invested in the story and characters, it was nevertheless a heartwarming read overall.

I think this is a fantastic book for children who are going through grief or want to know more so they can empathise with their friends.

The book gives children hope and some positivity through dark times and the main character - Brie is written so well into what is a challenging theme. She is utterly relatable to any child. She treasures the memories of her mama and the treasure hunts she used to create around where their home island. This is a sensible and mature way of showing that there will always be memories to be cherished and in a way, keep her mama alive in a sense. This isn’t to say Brie, nor the other characters are perfect, they aren’t and this makes the book even more endearing. It shows how things can be messed up and how so much can change. It is great to see how the relationships within the rest of the surviving family also change. It really does give a rounded perspective on the impact on everyone, that a death has on a family.

The letters left behind for Brie to discover, sends her off on quite the twisty adventure of discovery of secrets.

This is a MiddleGrade book I highly recommend!

My daughter loved Kereen's first book so I was keen to get my hands on this for her to read- and it did not disappoint. A perfectly pitched story for MG readers. 12 year old Brie's mother has died- Brie's memories of their treasure hunts are some of her most treasured memories of her childhood. As she nears her next birthday, she finds that her mother has left her one last trail, full of love, special memories and magic.
Its sensitively handled, and Brie's journey to find out more about her mother and their time together was beautifully written.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pushkin Press and Kareen Getten for this digital copy of If You Read This. What a short and sweet read filled with very real topics! It's not often I read Middle Grade but this was a lovely insight into the genre.

On Brie's twelfth birthday, she receives a letter that her late mother left behind for this exact occasion. From there, we follow Brie, along with friends and family, on a little adventure where she learns some important life lessons.

Full of heartfelt moments that show the importance of family and friends, If You Read This handles grief and growing up in an accessible way for all ages!

* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the eARC of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

After 'When Life Gives You Mangoes' became one of my favourite books of last year, I was excited to see what Getten's next work had to offer. In many ways 'If You Read This' is similar to WLGYM, also dealing with the themes of grief and growing up. Like WLGYM, If You Read This is full of vibrant and endearing characters, who form a community of love and support around our main character, Brie. Getten also offers a delightful depiction of Jamaica through a child's eyes - full of the wonder and exploration of childhood, but with the beginnings of an awareness that the world isn't as simple as you thought it was. In particular, I think this book does an excellent job of depicting those first moments when you begin to develop of your parents' own fallibility.

Ultimately, this one didn't have quite the same impact on me as WLGYM- I got a bit of a sense that towards the end the author was pulling her punches. The promise of 'adventure' given at the start never really feels like it bears fruit and there is a sense of the ending feeling a bit rushed in the resolution. Still more than happy to recommend this one to pupils, regardless!

Book Review: If You Read This by Kereen Getten (Pushkin Press)
Cover illustration by Erick Davila
Cover design by Suzanne Lee

For ages 9+

Birmingham-based author, Kereen Getten has been pretty busy since the publication of her first children’s middle grade in October 2020; ‘When Life Gives You Mangoes’ was one of my books of the year! Since then Kereen has written non-fiction, short stories and reading books for schools. ‘If You Read This’ is her second middle grade for Pushkin Press.

In her first novel, I was transported to a Jamaica-esq Caribbean island for an unforgettable adventure with a jaw-dropping twist at the end. Again, I find myself back in familiar country, as is the inspiration for her books having grown up in Jamaica. As with Kereen's first middle grade, her writing style evokes the warmth and colour of the native countryside, cooking and culture within the lines of her text so deftly.

About the book
Our female protagonist is schoolgirl, Brie. Brie lives with her Papa and Nana on a holiday resort complex. Her Papa is a manager there, now widowed, he spends most of his time in the office. We are told that Brie’s Mama was a larger than life, colourful, loud and laughter-filled lady when she was alive - at best unpredictable, but with a beautiful soul and she had so much love inside her. There was no way life was going to pass her by. Sadly she became sick with cancer and died, and it turned Brie’s life upside down.

The story starts on Brie’s 12th birthday, with lots of fuss and fanfare organised by Nana and Brie’s dotting Aunty Elsa and Uncle Julius, plus her best friends Smiley and Femi for company. Her Papa was no-where to be seen, working late, perhaps he forgets her birthday. It’s devastating for Brie. With everyone hushed to silence, Nana gives Brie a very special gift… a box… containing letters… from her Mama.

In this entirely aptly named story, you will join Brie, her friends and her family on a trip to Brim’s Island; the magical family home of Brie’s Mama, where there is a mystery to be solved by following the clues in a sequence of handwritten letters...a posthumous treasure hunt.

This is a hugely enjoyable read, at 188 pages also not daunting for a middle grade reader who isn’t up to much thicker books. Packed full of sleuthing and sometimes a giggle here and there, the author has welcomed the reader into her world of memories and imagination that will warm your heart, particularly as Brie and her Papa struggle to rekindle their father-daughter relationship. Brie misses her Mama so very much, and with this special quest, she finds a space to grieve and the key to feel happiness at last.

I truly love Kereen's writing, and I imagine her to be a fun, deep and quirky individual with stories for days... very much looking forward to the next middle grade adventure!!

I enjoyed this book, but did find I was in tears at many points of the narrative. The poignancy was balanced by a number of amusing incidents. The characters were well drawn as were the wonderful descriptions of place. There was a feeling of jeopardy regarding how Brie’s father would react to her.

Like all books about living without a parent I do not know who to recommend the book to. It could be quite a sensitive topic in many cases. For those who would benefit from reading it I would think they would be in Year 7 or 8.

This is a short middle grade fiction that deals with the emotions of a child and how they perceive things around them, along with the grief of losing someone beloved. Brie is a bright child, excellent at studies and co-curricular activities. She is, as many people comment, a child to be proud of. But behind Brie's facade of being perfect at everything she does is hurt and pain that she does not know what to do with.

The book evidently shows how the behaviour of adults, even the things they don't give much thought about, affects children. Brie is extremely upset about the fact that her father can't find time to be with her, but as she is only a child, she doesn't realise why this happens. It shows how parents, especially single parents, struggle to juggle everything and find a balance, just so that they can provide their children a good upbringing. It also shows how important each action from parents is to kids. At the same time, it also shows how parents miss their kids' milestones because they were too busy.

The ending is very sweet! Dede, Brie's mother, left Brie such a beautiful gift that I felt so happy for Brie. I loved how Brie's friends were actually excited for her. Their friendship was so wholesome! And that last talk between Brie and her father - I think that's what all children need every now and then.

Overall, it was a short and really sweet read :)

The first question you should really ask yourself before you start reading is: Do you feel like you want to really immerse yourself into their world and cry, quite a bit because of it, but also smile and root for them along the way? if the answer is: Yes I do! then THIS is your book!This book pulls all the heartstrings, the story is about a young girl who is surprised by one last treasure hunt, organised by her mother, (organised before her death three years earlier.) A book underpinned by themes of family and love.This book sucks you into it’s pages and won’t let you go until you read it all. It played in the back of my mind, even when I wasn’t reading it. Thinking about what could or will happen. If I would like this? If I would do something like this for my children? What to do when time is running out? This might be a fiction for Young Adults, but it made me rethink the way I do things with my own children. I suddenly appreciate their laughter more, soaking it all up, because what if it is suddenly the last moment I get to spend with them or they spend with me? The book handles difficult subjects like: dealing with loss and grief. The impact it has on the whole family. How difficult it is for everyone and that sometimes children feel forgotten during this process. But it also shows processing, acceptance and carrying on living! It really is an exceptional book! I will even recommend this book to adults, to see the perspective of the Young Adult / Child, because sometimes adults forget that children need to grief too! I will say it ones more, just in case you weren’t sure if you wanted to read this: THIS BOOK IS EXTRAORDINARY! (Ps, my physical copy is on pre-order)

https://readingtheyearaway.co.uk/blog/if-you-read-this

Brie's mama used to make her a special breakfast on her birthday. After she died three years ago, these became some of Brie's most cherished memories. Now, on her twelfth birthday, her mama has a special gift: a message that will take Brie and her friends on an adventure all across their island home that will change everything.

I absolutely loved 'When Life Gives You Mangoes' (it's one of my all-time favourite MG books) so when I heard about 'If You Read This', I couldn't wait to lay my hands on Kereen Getten's new book. I can now confirm that with this story she has cemented her place amongst my favourite authors.

'If You Read This' is a heart-warming story about grief and coming to terms with losing a parent. It's a poignant exploration of many, often conflicting, emotions and it brilliantly captures the age of adolescence. There's adventure, a mystery to solve and a beautiful tribute to the power of dreams and imagination. Kereen Getten's writing is vividly evocative - she has the most amazing ability to transport the reader to the beautiful landscape of Jamaica. Every time I pick up her book, I feel like I'm on holiday, sitting under a palm tree on a beach, being soothed by the rhythm of her writing. And don't be fooled - the book may be less than 200 pages long but it packs a punch.

Brie is turning 12 and as part of her birthday gift she receives a box of letters from her mum who died 3 years ago.
This was a quick and wholesome read and I enjoyed following Brie and her friends on a journey to crack the codes left by her mum. I enjoyed the Jamaican setting and the family feel of the book 😊

A beautifully moving exploration of loss and grief and how it impacts younger children with an element of PS I Love You magic on top.

This middle grade book is a sweet novel dealing with loss and grief. The main character is Brie whose mother died three years previously. On her 12th birthday, she is given a box of three letters from her mother which promise her a treasured secret. From what we read about Brie's mother, she was a character who lived life to the full, was loud, exuberant, exciting and she always included Brie in her adventures. Brie's father seems to be reserved, or in Brie's words – doesn't listen and never spends time with her, always preferring to work. The first letter tells Brie to get her Papa to take her to Brim's island – where Brie's grandfather – Brim – lives because that is where the secret is. Brie hopes that this will be a chance for her to spend time with her father, but he lets her down and she travels with her Nana, her aunt and uncle and a couple of friends.
Brie misses the closeness that she had with her mother, and although we can see that her Nana and her aunt and uncle adore her, she feels as if there is something missing. The 'rift' with her father is not helping her. On the island she acts impulsively in a way that her mother would have adored and the ending is very touching. This is a story about healing a broken family. An excellent read for a middle grade child.

On Brie’s twelfth birthday, she is surprised to find that instead of just family, all the neighbours are in the garden to celebrate with her. Everyone, in fact, except her father, who is, as usual, at work, managing the holiday park where they live. Presents are given and accepted, and when Dad is still not home, Nana and Auntie Elsa present something else, a small box. It contains letters, and they set in motion one last adventure from her fun-loving mum who died three years earlier, each one beginning “My Dearest Brie, If you read this….”
Following the clues in the letters, Brie’s family and her friends travel to Brim’s island, where her mother grew up, in search of a secret; it is also where she and her mum spent every summer, joined by Brie’s dad when he could get away from work. But her grandfather Brim is not there, and it is he who holds the key to the mystery.
A delightful tale of childhood friendships, familial love and of the importance of making memories that nurture us long into the future, this novel shows that while the different ways we deal with grief might seem to divide us, the love of a strong family will reunite us in the end. A beautiful novel, full of the warmth and sunshine of the Caribbean.

This book is beautiful. Brie grief, love, and anger are so raw and wonderfully described. Brim Island is something we all need.

This was a fun read ! I enjoyed the handwritten letters element, adds more to the story!

The books and story is easy to follow along , the words used aren’t confusing or difficult for the age group it’s aimed at.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this

Brie's mama died three years ago and her papa spends all his time working. She yearns for the adventures that she used to have with her mama and, in her twelfth birthday, she is given a letter from her mama which leads to a series of discoveries...

This is a lovely book which explores issues of loss, sadness and illness. Although quite a short book, it packs a lot into the pages.

If you read this
By Kareem Getten
Published by Pushkin Children's Books

Times have been tough for Brie, after her mama dies, things are just not the same. Since her most treasured memories lie with her Mama’s adventures & surprises, making her feel like the most important person in the world but now everything she had has gone. And her Papa is struggling to cope too. So when her mama’s letters are gifted to her on her twelfth birthday, life and all its opportunities change.

Who doesn’t want to go on an adventure with Brie?
Written with true determination and grit, Kareem Getten empowers Brie to cope with grief, guilt and adolescence, proving that bravery, determination and strength can come from within. Spoiler alert - Keep your tissues to hand!

Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of books
#Netgallery
#kareengetten
#Pushkin Children's Books

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you read this follows Brie, who lives with her grandma and her father. After having lost her mother early on, she feels lonely, especially since her father works a lot and rarely has time to spend time with her. But on her twelfth birthday a chance to live an adventure arises and Brie can't help but seek it out.


This was a really sweet book all about grief and feeling lonely. I think whether you fit into the age category of middle grade or not, there will be something for you in this story. It's wholesome and makes you see the world in a different light. I enjoyed my time with this book and wouldn't mind picking up another book by the author.

If You Read This is a sweet, quick contemporary read, centering on a young girl who is surprised by one last treasure hunt, organised by her mother before her death three years earlier. It’s a book underpinned by themes of family and love, and an excellent read because of it.

That’s probably what I enjoyed most about this book. At its heart is Brie and her family, a family she doesn’t always like, but who she loves and who loves her. Even if they don’t always show it in ways she would like. In particular, her father. I think what this book did well was show Brie’s frustration at him, so you could sympathise, but—and I guess this might just be an adult perspective—you could see where he was coming from and the different way he showed his love than other family members. It never made him completely unsympathetic in contrast to Brie, though. There was a good balance to it.

And Brie is also surrounded by other family members and friends who love her. This is what I mean by it’s a book underpinned by love: Brie’s mother’s love for her, which endures after her death, Brie’s father’s love for her, and her family and friends’. I think what was great here was that it showed different ways of loving people: Brie’s father shows his love in a different way to Brie’s mother, but in both ways you can feel it (and, obviously, part of the story was Brie coming to learn that and express her own needs from her father).

Of course, with all this, it helps that the characters and the setting they’re in leap off the page. You’re rooting for them because they feel so real—you can imagine yourself alongside them as you read. That’s what you most want from a character-driven book like this, and it really delivers.

So, if you’re looking for a new middle grade author to try, I would highly recommend Kereen Getten. Both of her books I’ve read I have really enjoyed, and I can’t wait to see where she goes next.