Book Reviews – The Other Mother

The Other Mother
by Mathew Green

Michael Parsons is 13 and living with his mother, stepfather and two siblings. The past two years, which included suddenly losing his father, have been hard. His mother has no choice but to do double shifts as a nurse, and his stepfather has no interest in helping around the house, leaving Michael to care for his siblings. Everything is about to change, however, as one morning he discovers that his mother has gone and someone who is exactly like her is making breakfast. Nobody can see any difference, and he has got to prove to everyone that this person is a fake. As Michael deals with his many problems, his neighbour and classmate Sarah is beginning to befriend him. This beautifully written book deals with grief, mental health and growing up. An emotional read for me, I will be recommending this book to parents and teenagers.