Instructions for a Second-hand Heart

By Author / Illustrator

Tamsyn Murray

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Usborne Publishing Ltd

ISBN

9781474906500

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

01-11-2016

Synopsis

Jonny has a faulty heart and his time is running out. Niamh has just lost her twin brother in a tragic accident. As their fates collide, soon Jonny is on the mend - but desperate to know more about his donor. When he tracks down Niamh, he only intends to find out about her brother, the first owner of his heart. He doesn't plan on falling in love...A stunning, tear-jerking novel about grief, guilt, and the unpredictability of love.

Reviews

Having spent the last year in hospital, Jonny needs a heart transplant before it's too late. Niamh's twin brother has just died in a tragic accident for which she feels to blame. Fate brings the two together as Jonny strives to establish an identity for his new healthy self, searching the internet for clues to find out about his anonymous donor. Meeting his donor's sister just makes life more complicated for Jonny, however, as he realises his feelings for her, but Niamh doesn't know the real reason Jonny's sought her out. Told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Jonny and Niamh, this is a beautifully-written and sensitive story about the effects of illness and loss, guilt, and different types of love. 323 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Sam Pett, school librarian.