"What makes a family, and what makes an individual? An authentic, empathetic and warm-hearted dual narrative story about two half-siblings, their families, their struggles, and the things that make them who they are."
I absolutely adored Kristina Rahim’s debut novel The Doughnut Club, and the way she captures family dynamics and pre-teen emotional turmoil with real authenticity and humour. Max and Ella, Stuck Together is an equally refreshing and empathetic exploration of such themes as self-confidence, confronting change, and what make us who we are.
Max and Ella’s worlds begin to collide when, to help him reignite his former confidence, Max’s mums suggest setting up a meeting between Max and Hari, a friend of the family who helped conceive Max through sperm donation. Ella – Hari's daughter – is already grappling with losing her best friend to a new secondary school and missing her busy mum more than she cares to admit – how will this new half-sibling further shake up her life? The narrative reaches a pinnacle when, through a few twists of fate, Max ends up unintentionally gatecrashing Ella’s family’s weekend plans, resulting in an awkward – and subsequently dangerous – hiking trip with trio Max, Ella and Hari.
There are plentiful opportunities for empathy-building, most prominently through the dual narrative format that allows an intimate look at each protagonist’s perspective, and the way their individual struggles compliment, bump up against, and gradually start to mend one another's. I also appreciate the space given to the identities and backstories of the grown-up characters – it's nice to see not just blank ciphers of Mums and Dads, but fleshed-out, flawed and loveable humans in their own right.
What’s particularly refreshing is not only the representation of a family with same-gender parents and the demystifying of donor conception, but the casual inclusion of other family constructs as well, including unmarried parents and a single-parent family. In all, this is a well-written and warm-hearted story, by a talented emerging author going from strength to strength.
From the author of The Doughnut Club, comes a warm, heart-filled story, for every reader who needs help being true to themselves.
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From the author of The Doughnut Club, comes a warm, heart-filled story, for every reader who needs help being true to themselves. Max hadn't thought about meeting his donor parent until his mums suggested it.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Max and Ella, Stuck Together and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
Max and Ella, Stuck Together features in the following genres: Featured Books for 11+ readers, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Stories about Family and Friends, PSHE: Family Issues, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: LGBTQ+, Recommendations, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE)
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Max and Ella, Stuck Together was written by Kristina Rahim and published by Nosy Crow an imprint of Nosy Crow Ltd
Max and Ella, Stuck Together has 255 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
