If You Read This

This was such a beautifully written book that I couldn't put down, I read it in one very short sitting. It was a heart-wrenching read but also full of hope and courage. A very important book for chuildren especially those that have lost someone and are finsing it hard. A really good book

I loved this book. I read it in one sitting. It gave me P.S. I love you vibes but with a very different twist. I was so intrigued by the letters left by Brie's mum and it was bitter sweet to see how her relationship with her mum developed even after her mum's death. I think it was also important to see how her relationship with her father and the other members of her family changed over the course of the book. I would highly recommend this book to the children in my school and will definitely be purchasing it to put into our book corners.

This book deals with loss and grief and how to come in terms with it. Part melancholic, part courageous, I was totally immersed into it beautiful and heart rendering story. Couldn't put it out of my mind even after I finished it within a short period of time.

I'm not sure that I completely understand the term 'quiet book' but if it describes a book whose action is more in the changing mind and emotions of the main character rather than a fast moving plot then that is definitely the way to describe If You Read This. Once again Kereen Getten has managed to create an authentic and moving portrayal of a young person on that cusp between childhood and adolescence, filled with realistic friends and relationships and struggling with the biggest questions of all. The grief at the loss of Brie's mother is at the heart of this book but there's grief at the loss of her Father because of his grief as well and also a much more subtle point about the realisation that our parents are people. People who were once the same age that we are with similar hopes, dreams and problems. People who get things wrong and mess things up when they're trying their best to do otherwise and people who can be embarrassing and disappointing at times and who let us down because they have their own issues going on, although this doesn't reflect on their love for us or for our love for them. Readers of Rebecca Stead, Sarah Pennypacker and Karen Foxlee will love this book and it's an important addition to a growing group of sensitive, subtle titles for young people.

I loved this book so much. The characters were so vivid. I could visualise them all. This story deals with grief and family relationships so well.

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

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.

It's Brie's twelfth birthday and she is conscious of the fact that, for the third year, her mum is not there to celebrate. Her mama always made life special, including treasure hunts, going on adventures together, and also leaving a breakfast menu under her door the night before her birthday. Since her mama's death, Brie has been leaving her breakfast menu request under her Nana's door; however this morning, she can't smell anything so heads to investigate. Her nana is quick to persuade her into a frilly pink dress before ushering her into the back garden where her family and friends are waiting for her. In fact, everyone is there except her papa who is at work ... again. Amongst the presents, there is one from her mama: a small box containing three letters with clues for one final treasure hunt that will lead her to a very special place.

I was incredibly excited about reading If You Read Me, having loved When Life Gives You Mangoes (anybody in school will tell you that and I've made no secret about the 'Mango' chats we've had) and I wasn't disappointed! Set in Jamaica, the warmth of the island radiates off the pages and the adventure Brie has is both powerful and moving in equal measure. I sobbed and smiled my way through the book and the ending ... well, it's safe to say I hugged the book!
Brie is a wonderful main character who is clearly trying to find her way in the world without her mama who she was obviously very close to. we get hints of her mama's larger than life character which I think is more evident as she feels that her father has forgotten about her, prioritising his work over his daughter. He comes across as distant and removed, an outsider even when Mama was alive and still that way even though his daughter needs him. Although Brie doesn't always get things right, she is a strong character and we see some of her mama's feistiness as the book progresses. The treasure hunt gives her one last adventure with her mama and something she will remember forever.

Brim was the other character I loved. The sound of his house made me love him before I'd even met him; a place that was built with love and obviously holds special memories for Brie and her family. When we meet Brim, he appears to be suffering from Alzheimer's and has been moved into a home but obviously isn't happy. I particularly liked his conversations with the girls when he felt they were talking over him - he may be forgetting things but he was determined not to be ignored! The relationship between Brie and Brim is a special one.

Don't be fooled by the size of this book. At 192 pages, If You Read Me is short but perfectly formed and I was surprised (why should I have been?) by how much Getten manages to cram into the pages (and how beautifully she writes). There's a warmth and tenderness to this book which explores grief in a sensitive way; the death of a parent, especially for a child, is an incredibly difficult thing to deal with and this book does it so well. Emotional, loving, heart-breaking and heart-warming, If You Read Me is a story of hope as well as remembering; it's a story of family and friendship, of coping with grief and learning how to live again. I adored When Life Gives You Mangoes and I love If You Read Me just as much - Kereen Getten is quickly becoming a writer with an exceptional talent for creating warm, thought-provoking books that will stay with you long after you've finished the final page and I can't wait to see what's next!

If You Read Me is due for release on the 1st September.