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The List of Real Things
A poignant and big-hearted story about love, loss and believing in the magic of the imagination. The fourth novel from bestselling Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlisted author Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, following BACK TO BLACKBRICK, THE APPLE TART OF HOPE and A VERY GOOD CHANCE.Grace knows the difference between what's real and the strange ideas that float around in her little sister's mind. Their parents died - that's real. A secret hotel on the cliff-top where their parents are waiting - definitely NOT real. So when grief strikes again, Grace is determined not to let her sister's outlandish imagination spiral out of control. But the line between truth and fantasy is more complicated than it seems...'Completely beguiling, and funny and tender and wise, with a heart as big and deep as the sea' - Piers Torday'Poignant' - The Sunday Times'A sparkling tale ... about loss, family and believing in magic' - Sarah Webb writing for the Irish Independent'A book full of warmth, hope, and wonderfully unforgettable characters' - Zana Fraillon, author of The Bone Sparrow
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2018
7 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
15 books117 followersSarah Moore Fitzgerald is a novelist and professor. She's part of the creative writing team that delivers UL’s MA in Creative Writing, founder of UL’s Creative Writing Winter School for mid-career writers and the author of seven novels including The Apple Tart of Hope, All the Money in the World and The Shark and The Scar. Her work has been adapted for the stage, translated into over 20 different languages and shortlisted for several awards (including the Waterstones children's book Prize, Children's Books Ireland book of the year and the Irish Book Awards). She's a recent winner of the London Magazine's Prize for short fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 10, 2018
↠ 3.5 Stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Definitely more on the younger side of YA, but there is something warm and homely and comforting about The List of Real Things. It's a quick read, barely over 200 pages, and looks primarily at the relations between two sisters, one who wishes to fit in amongst her peers and another who's a bit more quirky. The writing style and narration was lovely and the story flowed well, never getting too heavy or bogged down. The small hints of magical realism were just enough to add an extra layer of excitement without becoming overdone and unrealistic. A sweet read indeed.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Definitely more on the younger side of YA, but there is something warm and homely and comforting about The List of Real Things. It's a quick read, barely over 200 pages, and looks primarily at the relations between two sisters, one who wishes to fit in amongst her peers and another who's a bit more quirky. The writing style and narration was lovely and the story flowed well, never getting too heavy or bogged down. The small hints of magical realism were just enough to add an extra layer of excitement without becoming overdone and unrealistic. A sweet read indeed.
September 15, 2018
Weer een prachtig en emotioneel verhaal van Sarah Moore Fitzgerald! Lees hier mijn recensie:
https://nerdygeekyfanboy.com/recensie...
https://nerdygeekyfanboy.com/recensie...
September 8, 2018
Auch dieses Buch von Sara Moore Fitzgerald hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen.
Bee ist ein unglaublich faszinierender Charakter während ihre Schwester noch nicht so genau weiß wer sie sein möchte. Sie passt sich an und ist charakterlos. Sie lügt sehr viel in Bezug auf ihre Schwester, weil sie ihr peinlich ist. Bee ist nun mal ein sehr verträumter und ehrlicher Charakter. Sie sieht die Welt nicht kompliziert - sie sieht sie so wie sie ihr am besten gut tut. Ihre Schwester Gracie hat immer das Gefühl sie müsste sich für die Art ihrer Schwester entschuldigen, weswegen sie sie sogar verleugnet wenn ihre Freunde sie z.B. gefragt haben ob sie eine Schwester hat.
Es geht in dem Buch auch noch viel um die Familiensituation der zwei - um Verlust, Vertrauen, Ehrlichkeit...
Wie geht man mit dem Tod um? Wer möchte man sein? All diese Fragen stellen sich in dem Buch, auf die man im weitern Verlauf der Geschichte auch eine Antwort bekommt.
Zwischenzeitlich hat es sich etwas gezogen, aber das war nicht weiter schlimm.
Das letzte Drittel war wieder sehr magisch und gefühlvoll - so wie man das von der Autorin eben kennt.
Bee ist ein unglaublich faszinierender Charakter während ihre Schwester noch nicht so genau weiß wer sie sein möchte. Sie passt sich an und ist charakterlos. Sie lügt sehr viel in Bezug auf ihre Schwester, weil sie ihr peinlich ist. Bee ist nun mal ein sehr verträumter und ehrlicher Charakter. Sie sieht die Welt nicht kompliziert - sie sieht sie so wie sie ihr am besten gut tut. Ihre Schwester Gracie hat immer das Gefühl sie müsste sich für die Art ihrer Schwester entschuldigen, weswegen sie sie sogar verleugnet wenn ihre Freunde sie z.B. gefragt haben ob sie eine Schwester hat.
Es geht in dem Buch auch noch viel um die Familiensituation der zwei - um Verlust, Vertrauen, Ehrlichkeit...
Wie geht man mit dem Tod um? Wer möchte man sein? All diese Fragen stellen sich in dem Buch, auf die man im weitern Verlauf der Geschichte auch eine Antwort bekommt.
Zwischenzeitlich hat es sich etwas gezogen, aber das war nicht weiter schlimm.
Das letzte Drittel war wieder sehr magisch und gefühlvoll - so wie man das von der Autorin eben kennt.
December 22, 2018
After the death of their parents, sensible Grace is trying her best to look after her little sister. Crazy, funny Bee doesn't seem to know the difference between real and imagination. She speaks to people Grace can't see and thinks their dog, tells her things. But is Bee really imagining or does she just see more than other people? Maybe you don't always have to be sensible, maybe you can believe in a little more than just what you can see.
September 8, 2019
4.5
honestly loved this book. it was rich and full and since its so hard to give it a placement anywhere in the many genres out there i was pretty clueless as to what the plot may be going into it. and throughout it i still didnt. bee was such a beautiful character filled with such emotion. and that was what it was, a book oozing emotions from the words. ive always loved how sarah writes these dark and twisted tales like a bed time story and you might think thats not your thing but trust me on this.
i think graces character development was perfect because it wasnt a straight line of sadness to happiness. she started of as a more or less happy child and due to different overlapping sircumstances she went into this depression that wasnt displayed with crying or eating a tub of icecream in one sitting. sarah, without once mentioning it, managed to come across just how tired and in need of another word heavy she felt. one other thing i really loved is how original it was, the main character was the older sister and it was great seeing the older sisters need to take care of the younger one. another thing that i think that i have alsways loved in her books is: there is no villain. well not really, yes theres the people that we hate but yet again they are still humans. they dont realise they have ever done anything wrong and they arent really ever told. basically i will read anything sarah moore fitzgerald throws at me, not just because shes a great and innovational writer but also because i havent come across a book in a long while that i have been truly surprised by the plot. Pale emily much? personally mindblown
honestly loved this book. it was rich and full and since its so hard to give it a placement anywhere in the many genres out there i was pretty clueless as to what the plot may be going into it. and throughout it i still didnt. bee was such a beautiful character filled with such emotion. and that was what it was, a book oozing emotions from the words. ive always loved how sarah writes these dark and twisted tales like a bed time story and you might think thats not your thing but trust me on this.
i think graces character development was perfect because it wasnt a straight line of sadness to happiness. she started of as a more or less happy child and due to different overlapping sircumstances she went into this depression that wasnt displayed with crying or eating a tub of icecream in one sitting. sarah, without once mentioning it, managed to come across just how tired and in need of another word heavy she felt. one other thing i really loved is how original it was, the main character was the older sister and it was great seeing the older sisters need to take care of the younger one. another thing that i think that i have alsways loved in her books is: there is no villain. well not really, yes theres the people that we hate but yet again they are still humans. they dont realise they have ever done anything wrong and they arent really ever told. basically i will read anything sarah moore fitzgerald throws at me, not just because shes a great and innovational writer but also because i havent come across a book in a long while that i have been truly surprised by the plot. Pale emily much? personally mindblown
March 31, 2018
I enjoyed The Apple Tart Of Hope when I read it a few years back, so I was immediately intrigued by this book. I’m really glad I requested and read this book because it was incredibly heart-warming.
It centres around Grace and Bee who have experienced far too much grief in their life. Grace’s sister, Bee seems to have a very vivid imagination. She believes that their dog can talk, that she’s visited by ghosts and lots more besides. Grace believes that she knows what’s real and what’s not unlike her sister. Grace is determined to show her sister what’s reality. However, she begins to find out that the line between real life and fantasy is much muddier than she had ever anticipated.
I loved the characters, but particularly Bee. I loved that she was so quirky. She wasn’t afraid of who she was. I felt like Grace just wanted to fit in. I loved how Bee was unapologetic. Bee did come across as a little older than she actually is, but that didn’t matter to me. I loved that Bee didn’t care if people thought she was weird whilst Grace was embarrassed of her sister’s quirks.
This book is intended as a middle grade read, so don’t be surprised if you find it to be quite young. It is, but it was also highly enjoyable to read as an adult. It’s so quick to read at just over 200 pages. I loved the hints of magical realism, it made the book stand out for me. I loved how there was a focus on grief, mental health and family.
It centres around Grace and Bee who have experienced far too much grief in their life. Grace’s sister, Bee seems to have a very vivid imagination. She believes that their dog can talk, that she’s visited by ghosts and lots more besides. Grace believes that she knows what’s real and what’s not unlike her sister. Grace is determined to show her sister what’s reality. However, she begins to find out that the line between real life and fantasy is much muddier than she had ever anticipated.
I loved the characters, but particularly Bee. I loved that she was so quirky. She wasn’t afraid of who she was. I felt like Grace just wanted to fit in. I loved how Bee was unapologetic. Bee did come across as a little older than she actually is, but that didn’t matter to me. I loved that Bee didn’t care if people thought she was weird whilst Grace was embarrassed of her sister’s quirks.
This book is intended as a middle grade read, so don’t be surprised if you find it to be quite young. It is, but it was also highly enjoyable to read as an adult. It’s so quick to read at just over 200 pages. I loved the hints of magical realism, it made the book stand out for me. I loved how there was a focus on grief, mental health and family.
April 25, 2018
Another delightful family story from Sarah Moore Fitzgerald. Her latest book gives us the wonderful McAuliffe sisters, Grace and Bee, who have found completely different ways to come to terms with the death of their parents. This makes life complicated for them and for their uncle who is doing his best to look after them, with the help of their grandfather.
Things are far from ideal as the girls, and the adults in their lives, make mistakes and begin to grow apart. Bee's eccentric behaviour as seen through Grace's eyes provides some of the laughs in the story but the laughter is bittersweet. This story of unexpressed grief, childhood imagination and the supernatural takes the reader to unexpected places. Written with great tenderness and heart, it struck the right note for my 12-year-old.
Things are far from ideal as the girls, and the adults in their lives, make mistakes and begin to grow apart. Bee's eccentric behaviour as seen through Grace's eyes provides some of the laughs in the story but the laughter is bittersweet. This story of unexpressed grief, childhood imagination and the supernatural takes the reader to unexpected places. Written with great tenderness and heart, it struck the right note for my 12-year-old.
November 20, 2019
Did like the book. The writing is good and keeps you going. But not my kind of ending. Still I can recommend reading it. 👍
March 15, 2018
A delightful, yet thought provoking story about loss and acceptance.
March 17, 2021
This book was very cute and I honestly loved it. I terrible at writing reviews, but I definitely recommend for middle-grade readers.
November 26, 2022
This book is YA, I would say teen really, didn’t realise before I started. But a lovely book none the less! TW: grief/loss of parents/close family member.
I cried for about an hour at the ending, which is strange because I don’t even believe in that kind of thing but it was just so well written I felt like I was there with them.
I cried for about an hour at the ending, which is strange because I don’t even believe in that kind of thing but it was just so well written I felt like I was there with them.
February 25, 2018
Just gorgeous and wonderfully written, this is a tale of loss and love that fills your heart with joy and sorrow at the same time. Had me weeping in public...but they were happy tears. Brilliant!
Read
January 7, 2021This one is for you Bee, no matter how the fabrics of the world unravel, it is your faith which moves the layers and the world whispers its secrets in the wonderful place that is your mind.
May 20, 2020
The List Of Real Things review
I gave this book a 5* because I loved reading it! People that like adventure and mystery will love reading this because I did.Pls reaad it!😊
I gave this book a 5* because I loved reading it! People that like adventure and mystery will love reading this because I did.Pls reaad it!😊
April 11, 2018
Received from NetGalley for review.
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: prompt #10, a book about death or grief.
The List of Real Things is a sad and lovely middle-grade story about life, loss and grief, and the magic of imagination, with an exciting dose of magical realism. It’s a beautiful and heart-wrenching book that really makes you think about life and all its fragilities. It makes you wonder what is real and what isn’t, and how we define reality; is something any less real because no one else can see it?
Grace and Bee have lived with their Grandfather Patrick, his dog Louie, and Uncle Freddy since their parents died five years ago and have always got along just fine – Grace is mature and sensible, and just wants to fit in, as most teenage girls do, and Bee seems to live in her own happy little world, believing in all kinds of fantastical things. It’s only when their Grandfather dies and their Aunt Lucy turns up out of the blue that things change – Grace’s desire to fit in and be ‘normal’ leads to her resenting Bee and her quirks and becoming angry at Freddy that their lives aren’t more ‘normal’.
I loved the way Fitzgerald explored the characters of Grace and Bee. Grace felt so authentic – teenagers can be silly, selfish, and make poor choices. They can be mean, moody, and take out their frustrations on the ones they love, but usually, there is goodness underneath it all. Grace’s desire to be part of the ‘in -crowd’ overwhelms everything, and she finds herself almost wishing away her eccentric family so that she can be that mythical thing – normal. It takes a lot for her to realise that as weird as she finds Bee, she’s her sister and she loves her regardless. I absolutely adored Bee. So much of what she says and sees is left to interpretation – is it real or not? – but she believes in it entirely, and I loved her incredible imagination and way of seeing the world.
I think this is a brilliant middle-grade book – it reads fairly young, but not in a patronising way, and I can imagine many younger people thoroughly enjoying it and relating to it. Both Grace and Bee are interesting and well-thought out characters, and the story is all about exploring their relationship, alongside deeper themes of death, grief, and fear. And the ending is a misty-eyed delight; it brings everything back to magic, to hope, to knowing that the storm will pass. Some things remain unclear and I think that is the beauty of magical realism – it’s up to you, in the end, to decide what was real and was not.
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: prompt #10, a book about death or grief.
‘There was magic in the air and Bee McAuliffe at the centre and I started to see that there were things she understood and things she could picture and things she knew that the world was not ready to see.’
The List of Real Things is a sad and lovely middle-grade story about life, loss and grief, and the magic of imagination, with an exciting dose of magical realism. It’s a beautiful and heart-wrenching book that really makes you think about life and all its fragilities. It makes you wonder what is real and what isn’t, and how we define reality; is something any less real because no one else can see it?
Grace and Bee have lived with their Grandfather Patrick, his dog Louie, and Uncle Freddy since their parents died five years ago and have always got along just fine – Grace is mature and sensible, and just wants to fit in, as most teenage girls do, and Bee seems to live in her own happy little world, believing in all kinds of fantastical things. It’s only when their Grandfather dies and their Aunt Lucy turns up out of the blue that things change – Grace’s desire to fit in and be ‘normal’ leads to her resenting Bee and her quirks and becoming angry at Freddy that their lives aren’t more ‘normal’.
“Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there, that’s what they said. And I believe them.”
I loved the way Fitzgerald explored the characters of Grace and Bee. Grace felt so authentic – teenagers can be silly, selfish, and make poor choices. They can be mean, moody, and take out their frustrations on the ones they love, but usually, there is goodness underneath it all. Grace’s desire to be part of the ‘in -crowd’ overwhelms everything, and she finds herself almost wishing away her eccentric family so that she can be that mythical thing – normal. It takes a lot for her to realise that as weird as she finds Bee, she’s her sister and she loves her regardless. I absolutely adored Bee. So much of what she says and sees is left to interpretation – is it real or not? – but she believes in it entirely, and I loved her incredible imagination and way of seeing the world.
‘The fear did not weaken me. It made me strong, made me angry, made me brave.’
I think this is a brilliant middle-grade book – it reads fairly young, but not in a patronising way, and I can imagine many younger people thoroughly enjoying it and relating to it. Both Grace and Bee are interesting and well-thought out characters, and the story is all about exploring their relationship, alongside deeper themes of death, grief, and fear. And the ending is a misty-eyed delight; it brings everything back to magic, to hope, to knowing that the storm will pass. Some things remain unclear and I think that is the beauty of magical realism – it’s up to you, in the end, to decide what was real and was not.
August 8, 2020
“𝑨𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓”
When sisters Beatrice (Bee) and Grace become orphans at a very young age, they are taken in and raised by their uncle and grandfather. Not allowed to mention their parents' name or acknowledge their grief, Grace struggles to be "normal" in school and help Bee grow out of her overactive imagination and eccentric behaviour. But Bee believes that on a cliff nearby there is a mansion where their parents are waiting for them, and she's determined to get there.
This is a perfect read for children age 10 - 14, although adults can enjoy the story as well, due to the fact that it has themes relating to death and mental health.
This was honestly such a sweet story. Both of the main characters were so well written that they felt like real children. Bee is an adorable little girl, with so much spirit, wisdom and bravery. Grace is courageous in other ways, taking on the responsibility for her little sister while she's also just a child.
Throughout the novel there were little threads of magic and mystery that will be entertaining to children. However, some serious concepts are acknowledged.
The main characters, Bee especially, learn the hard way that it's not a given that our loved ones will always be there, that somedays we feel too sad to get out of bed and feel confused about how the world works. Bee and Grace experienced some intense emotions, constantly fluctuating between happy and sad.
The best part of this book for me was how it emphasized the importance of discussing these emotions with children, instead of ignoring it and pretending that nothing is wrong. Grace and Bee both appeared to be fine, but had unacknowledged pain inside that they felt was "wrong" to bring up, because it will make their uncle upset.
I look forward to reading other books by this author
When sisters Beatrice (Bee) and Grace become orphans at a very young age, they are taken in and raised by their uncle and grandfather. Not allowed to mention their parents' name or acknowledge their grief, Grace struggles to be "normal" in school and help Bee grow out of her overactive imagination and eccentric behaviour. But Bee believes that on a cliff nearby there is a mansion where their parents are waiting for them, and she's determined to get there.
This is a perfect read for children age 10 - 14, although adults can enjoy the story as well, due to the fact that it has themes relating to death and mental health.
This was honestly such a sweet story. Both of the main characters were so well written that they felt like real children. Bee is an adorable little girl, with so much spirit, wisdom and bravery. Grace is courageous in other ways, taking on the responsibility for her little sister while she's also just a child.
Throughout the novel there were little threads of magic and mystery that will be entertaining to children. However, some serious concepts are acknowledged.
The main characters, Bee especially, learn the hard way that it's not a given that our loved ones will always be there, that somedays we feel too sad to get out of bed and feel confused about how the world works. Bee and Grace experienced some intense emotions, constantly fluctuating between happy and sad.
The best part of this book for me was how it emphasized the importance of discussing these emotions with children, instead of ignoring it and pretending that nothing is wrong. Grace and Bee both appeared to be fine, but had unacknowledged pain inside that they felt was "wrong" to bring up, because it will make their uncle upset.
I look forward to reading other books by this author
February 19, 2019
I thought the book was very well written.
But it is not exactly exciting, since you only follow two sisters through part of their childhood.
Still I did really like the read!
And I'm still surprised I was able to keep up reading it, since I usually don't stay with a book for very long if it isn't exciting enough. That's why I assume that I just really liked the way this one was written.
So if you're looking for a very exciting novel, this is NOT the book for you!
- But if you are looking for a book that might make you a little bit thoughtful and entertains on a very light level, this might just be the book for you.
I also liked about it, that it was so short and still contained some kind of depth to the story and how the characters were described. You kind of get a "feeling" of the atmosphere in which the two sisters are living, eventhough Fitzgerald doesn't describe every detail and at times leaves a lot "up to you".
There also is SOME kind of suspense, because about in the middle of the book I did wonder how the obvious difficulties (which were not obviously described! ;)) were going to resolve.
And eventhough I thought the end was kind of predictable, I still overall just enjoyed reading the book.
But I will not "miss" the story or the characters as much as I usually do, when I get myself really into a story. I usually want more. But in this case I do not feel the need. I feel like this story I can let go a lot easier. Still I have a feeling it will stick with me in one way or another anyways.
I never read a book alike.
So I really recommend all of you to read it for yourself! ;)
But it is not exactly exciting, since you only follow two sisters through part of their childhood.
Still I did really like the read!
And I'm still surprised I was able to keep up reading it, since I usually don't stay with a book for very long if it isn't exciting enough. That's why I assume that I just really liked the way this one was written.
So if you're looking for a very exciting novel, this is NOT the book for you!
- But if you are looking for a book that might make you a little bit thoughtful and entertains on a very light level, this might just be the book for you.
I also liked about it, that it was so short and still contained some kind of depth to the story and how the characters were described. You kind of get a "feeling" of the atmosphere in which the two sisters are living, eventhough Fitzgerald doesn't describe every detail and at times leaves a lot "up to you".
There also is SOME kind of suspense, because about in the middle of the book I did wonder how the obvious difficulties (which were not obviously described! ;)) were going to resolve.
And eventhough I thought the end was kind of predictable, I still overall just enjoyed reading the book.
But I will not "miss" the story or the characters as much as I usually do, when I get myself really into a story. I usually want more. But in this case I do not feel the need. I feel like this story I can let go a lot easier. Still I have a feeling it will stick with me in one way or another anyways.
I never read a book alike.
So I really recommend all of you to read it for yourself! ;)
February 18, 2018
I received this as a free ebook from NetGalley. This does not affect my review.
I'm seeing the word "quirky" used a lot to describe this book, and that's about right - it doesn't sit easily in "teen" or "middle grade" categories; it doesn't quite know whether to be about popularity or bereavement or mental health or relationships - and actually, that's what makes it work. Life is messy. We don't just have to deal with loss in isolation. Poor old Grace is trying to deal with loss AND her weird little sister AND a first boyfriend AND popularity AND family changes all at the same time, and almost inevitably she makes a mess of it to some extent. Anyone would. Little sister Bee's way of dealing with life is completely off-beat and it's only when the girls are forced to look through a very unusual lens that they come to some kind of understanding.
I think this is reasonably well-written but I would have liked it to have been fleshed out a little more; most of the adult characters don't really get developed and the final section is a bit disjointed from the rest if you hadn't picked up on some of the earlier cues.
I'm seeing the word "quirky" used a lot to describe this book, and that's about right - it doesn't sit easily in "teen" or "middle grade" categories; it doesn't quite know whether to be about popularity or bereavement or mental health or relationships - and actually, that's what makes it work. Life is messy. We don't just have to deal with loss in isolation. Poor old Grace is trying to deal with loss AND her weird little sister AND a first boyfriend AND popularity AND family changes all at the same time, and almost inevitably she makes a mess of it to some extent. Anyone would. Little sister Bee's way of dealing with life is completely off-beat and it's only when the girls are forced to look through a very unusual lens that they come to some kind of understanding.
I think this is reasonably well-written but I would have liked it to have been fleshed out a little more; most of the adult characters don't really get developed and the final section is a bit disjointed from the rest if you hadn't picked up on some of the earlier cues.
April 14, 2018
As I was a huge of Sarah`s previous novels, I was looking forward to this, but though I liked aspects a lot, I had mixed feelings. It`s about sisters Grace and Bee as they navigate their grief over losing their parents a few years prior and another member of their family during the book, while Grace also attempts to teach Bee, who is perceived by her family to be imagining things, the difference between fact and fiction. I liked their complicated but ultimately loving sibling relationship, and those between them and the other members of their family, which were similarly troubled yet touching in how much they care for each other. The other thing I really enjoyed was the magical realism element, and I wish there had been some more of it, as the scene in which it is most prominent was wonderful. The final thing I liked about the book was that the prose was stunning, but there were also things I didn`t like as much, such as finding it really slow paced till around halfway through, and I found the blurb quite different to the events of the book. I`ll still be reading whatever the author writes next, but ultimately this wasn`t what I expected 3.5/5
December 8, 2018
Grace and her little sister Bee became orphans 5 years ago, losing their mother to an illness and their father two days later. Their sun-loving, travelling Uncle Freddy returned immediately to become their guardian. Soon after their grandfather moved in too.
Five years on and they’ve done ok. Uncle Freddy forgets to pay the bills sometimes and housework isn’t his top priority, but the girls feel loved and cared for. If only they could talk about the not-to-be-mentioned subject. The loss of their parents and in turn, their grief.
Now Grace is older, she’s become embarrassed by her little sister’s quirkyness and insistence on imaginary things being real. According to Bee, their parents are still around, their dog talks to her, and there is a magical hotel at the top of tall cliffs nearby.
When Grace wants to be part of the ‘top group’ at school, she fears Bee will spoil it for her, and she does everything she can to prevent that – with terrible consequences.
Another wonderful story by this author. This is a tale of a blended family all dealing with a great loss all in their own way, and a special little girl who sees things differently. Beautiful.
Five years on and they’ve done ok. Uncle Freddy forgets to pay the bills sometimes and housework isn’t his top priority, but the girls feel loved and cared for. If only they could talk about the not-to-be-mentioned subject. The loss of their parents and in turn, their grief.
Now Grace is older, she’s become embarrassed by her little sister’s quirkyness and insistence on imaginary things being real. According to Bee, their parents are still around, their dog talks to her, and there is a magical hotel at the top of tall cliffs nearby.
When Grace wants to be part of the ‘top group’ at school, she fears Bee will spoil it for her, and she does everything she can to prevent that – with terrible consequences.
Another wonderful story by this author. This is a tale of a blended family all dealing with a great loss all in their own way, and a special little girl who sees things differently. Beautiful.
February 22, 2018
I received a proof copy of this book and started to read it straight away as I was intrigued by the story and how imagination and reality could cross. I was a little unsure at the start as I found it a bit slow but after a few pages I found myself wanting to know what would happen next and where it would take the girls. I liked getting to know the characters and found Graces perspective on Bees imagination very interesting and although she thought it was strange i liked that it showed the relationship between the sisters. I was surprised when Chris came into the story as I thought it would take away from the issues already being dealt with in the book but I was pleased it didn't and just added to the story. I think this is a unique book, it's hard to describe, but it's a very well written story about many important issues including loss and grief which I haven't read much about before in such a realistic way. I'm glad I've read it, maybe it proves imagination can be real when you want it to!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
Theme: loss, life, girls, ghosts, family, poor, teenage, imaginary, camping, death, parents, desire
2 sisters lost their parents and this is their story of their grieving process.
My older sister and I lost our mom when we were young and this hits that sweet spot for me.
Their Uncle takes care of them the best way he knows how, which isn't always the best way possible as he refuses to talk about their loss.
This is a beautiful story of loss, family, and sisterhood. I would have loved to be able to read this when I was going through my own loss. This will be a great resource for those young tweens who may be going through the same, or even who just love a good book.
2 sisters lost their parents and this is their story of their grieving process.
My older sister and I lost our mom when we were young and this hits that sweet spot for me.
Their Uncle takes care of them the best way he knows how, which isn't always the best way possible as he refuses to talk about their loss.
This is a beautiful story of loss, family, and sisterhood. I would have loved to be able to read this when I was going through my own loss. This will be a great resource for those young tweens who may be going through the same, or even who just love a good book.
February 1, 2018
An odd, hard to classify book. It's a beautiful read, very simple; it reads as a young teen/tween level. But it's a fabulous meditation on loss and grief and how the people we love are never far away.
I loved the relationship between the two girls. Let's face it, we've all been embarrassed by our siblings or parents or friends at one time or another, desperate to fit in and afraid the 'uncool' people will drag us down. I liked Bee; she's a little off kilter, but I like her way of looking at things and her unshakable belief. I loved the way everyone rallied around in the end.
And Chris, let me just say, you got exactly what you deserved.
Receiving an ARC did not alter my review in any way.
I loved the relationship between the two girls. Let's face it, we've all been embarrassed by our siblings or parents or friends at one time or another, desperate to fit in and afraid the 'uncool' people will drag us down. I liked Bee; she's a little off kilter, but I like her way of looking at things and her unshakable belief. I loved the way everyone rallied around in the end.
And Chris, let me just say, you got exactly what you deserved.
Receiving an ARC did not alter my review in any way.
April 4, 2018
I loved this book.
Even as an adult, about 13 or so years out of the intended age range of this novel, the emotions in this novel hit home with me.
Loss and grief affect everyone, and Sarah Moore fills this novel with poignant details, beautiful descriptions of scenery, and maintains a realistic young teenage tone with her narration. The plot would not be challenging for a younger reader to follow—but even I was found surprised at some of the events, which was nice and unexpected. Sarah Moore’s Grace and Bee are lovable, their imagination is incredible, and I definitely will be recommending this book to everyone.
Even as an adult, about 13 or so years out of the intended age range of this novel, the emotions in this novel hit home with me.
Loss and grief affect everyone, and Sarah Moore fills this novel with poignant details, beautiful descriptions of scenery, and maintains a realistic young teenage tone with her narration. The plot would not be challenging for a younger reader to follow—but even I was found surprised at some of the events, which was nice and unexpected. Sarah Moore’s Grace and Bee are lovable, their imagination is incredible, and I definitely will be recommending this book to everyone.
January 29, 2018
I received a free proof edition of this book to review, so i am being 100% truthful when i say this was a really great book! The relationship between the sisters was very sweet but still realistic, and Bee completely stole my heart she was just so precious!! The way the book deals with grief & loss is very impressive and it never feels like the author is patronizing the reader, but there are still comic and lighthearted moments. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Wonder by R.J. Palacio or Goldfish Bot by Lisa Thompson.
April 8, 2018
As soon as I saw that there was a new book from Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, I knew that I had to read it; I adored her other books and how she sensitively but effectively deals with difficult topics. The List of Real Things is no different - it's a wonderful story that focuses on grief, family relationships and friendship.
One thing I love about Sarah's books is how they're on the border of Middle Grade and Young Adult and are very much magical realism books; the characters are not-quite teens but are faced with situations that are difficult and there is an element of fantasy within a contemporary setting.. This makes them the perfect choice for more advanced younger readers, as well as a nice read for older readers.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend The List of Real Things for anyone who's a fan of Sarah's other books, as well as people looking for a good book to dive into. Because of the subject matter and style of writing, fans of Sunflowers in February by Phyllida Shrimpton and Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson should love this one and not hesitate in picking it up!
One thing I love about Sarah's books is how they're on the border of Middle Grade and Young Adult and are very much magical realism books; the characters are not-quite teens but are faced with situations that are difficult and there is an element of fantasy within a contemporary setting.. This makes them the perfect choice for more advanced younger readers, as well as a nice read for older readers.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend The List of Real Things for anyone who's a fan of Sarah's other books, as well as people looking for a good book to dive into. Because of the subject matter and style of writing, fans of Sunflowers in February by Phyllida Shrimpton and Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson should love this one and not hesitate in picking it up!
February 22, 2021
This book was recommended to me by a child in my class. It's quite an easy read vocabulary wise but a difficult read emotionally. The main characters are orphans and are struggling to come to terms with life without their parents. It's got an unusual, but quite soothing event at the end of the story that helps you to understand about death and emotions. I think this book is for mature children aged 9+.
March 19, 2018
I read this book in one sitting. I loved the characters - Bee and Grace - they are beautifully drawn. The setting - Dalkey - is familiar to me as it's where I grew up and again is beautifully drawn. It's a book about loss, grief and family and is lyrically yet simply written. I'd recommend it for age 11+ and young teens.
July 9, 2018
This is a fantasy adventure about 2 girls who are orphaned at a very young age. It is a very readable story - I read it in one day - and an exciting adventure. However. this book covers a very real situation and deals with grief and the different ways in which people cope or fail to cope with a bereavement.
September 28, 2018
I love Sarah's writing, she is so good at capturing emotion and making it resonate with the reader.
The List of Real Things is a beautifully written story about two sisters and it features love, loss and grief and throughout it is both heartfelt and heart-warming.
A must for fans of Cathy Cassidy and Claire Furniss.
The List of Real Things is a beautifully written story about two sisters and it features love, loss and grief and throughout it is both heartfelt and heart-warming.
A must for fans of Cathy Cassidy and Claire Furniss.
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