Out of Heart

This is a moving story about a boy and his family; each alone in their own world. Adam is a gifted artist who finds it hard to express his feelings and talk to others at school, so he keeps a diary full of sketches and poems and sprays graffiti under the protection of the local gang. Following a fall, his sister is unable to speak and uses sign language and notebooks to communicate, we later learn that Adam blames himself for what happened to her. Their mother is trying hard to make ends meet after leaving her abusive husband. The children need her love, but she's tired and finds it hard to show affection to Adam - who looks so much like his father. They are all grieving for Adam's grandfather who shocked everyone in their close knit British Asian community by donating his heart on his death. The recipient of his heart, William, turns up unannounced one day and is reluctantly welcomed in to their home. He sits in grandfather's old chair as if he belongs there and he soon becomes part of their family. William has led a lonely life, but here with the Shah's he finds the family he needed and in turn he helps them to heal and connect once more. The author's use of art work and poetry, interspersed with facts about the heart, draws us into Adam's world. It's wonderful to read a book about connectedness and what links us together. I did feel that some of the characters were underdeveloped and I was left wanting more. It would be a great book for class study, exploring as it does so many issues: grief, guilt, community/family expectations, domestic abuse, gangs, loneliness and communication to name but a few. The short chapters would also make it ideal for reluctant readers. 263 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Alison Ustun, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 11+

Out Of Heart is a quick read for teenagers that deals with some of the more painful topics in life including death, organ donation, racism, friendship, love and different cultures. This is a story about Adam, whose family home is an unhappy place of silence and secrets. He copes with these secrets by obsessively writing and doodling in his notebook. When his late grandfather - who lived with them - chooses to donate his heart to a stranger and the stranger turns up at their door, everything begins to unravel. William, the recipient of the donated heart, seems to have had a hard, lonely life - I say 'seems' as I feel that this character could have been more developed, however the family unquestionably take him in but people in their neighbourhood disapprove and Adam's abusive father once again begins to cause trouble. Adam struggles to find his place in the world and at times you really feel for this character. Personally, I would have preferred the book to have been longer and have some of the other characters in the book developed; that is the only reason I gave it a three star. Give the book a go and see what you think. 272 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 11+