Book review: The Ketchup clouds

Author Blurb

Fifteen-year-old Zoe has a secret—a dark and terrible secret that she can't confess to anyone she knows. But then one day she hears of a criminal, Stuart Harris, locked up on death row in Texas. Like Zoe, Stuart is no stranger to secrets. Or lies. Or murder.

Full of heartache yet humour, Zoe tells her story in the only way she can—in letters to the man in prison in America. Armed with a pen, Zoe takes a deep breath, eats a jam sandwich, and begins her tale of love and betrayal.

The Ketchup clouds
Author: Annabel Pitcher
Published: 2012

Would you write to a death row inmate, one you knew had murdered someone? Alice did. Not only that but, writing as Zoe, she told him her deepest, darkest secret. Although this book's blurb threatened a somewhat heavy read it was anything but. Instead it was an emotionally charged, sometimes humorous, surprisingly easy tale of young love, being stuck in the middle and growing up - something that we can all relate to.

Well written and sensitive it was also surprisingly accessible for such a heavy topic and, as mentioned above, very relatable. No, not every 16 year old has a confidant on Death Row and certainly not everyone has a secret like Alice's but everyone has, is or will experience the excitement, confusion and pain of first love. everyone understands and knows the pressures of popularity and your peers and the significance and importance of it in school. everyone is aware of the rebellion and firsts of growing up, while around 80% of us know what its like to be a sibling.

The ketchup clouds touches on all of these things and so much more. Although the majority of these topics are, in a way, new to this genre the way in which they are shown especially through who the letters are addressed to is what makes The ketchup clouds such a breath of fresh air in the YA/Middle Grade market.

Rating: 4/5