The Other Mother, Matthew Dicks
The Other Mother, Matthew Dicks
List: $35.99 | Sale: $25.20
Club: $17.99

The Other Mother

Author: Matthew Dicks

Narrator: A.J. Beckles

Unabridged: 8 hr 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/12/2021


Synopsis

From Matthew Dicks, the beloved author of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, comes The Other Mother, a novel about a teenage boy coping with the rupture of his family by viewing his mother in an unusual light. The one he loves most, is the one he knows least.Thirteen-year-old Michael Parsons is dealing with a lot. His father's sudden death; his mother's new husband, Glen, who he loathes; his two younger siblings, who he looks after more and more now that his mother works extra shifts.And then one day, Michael wakes up and his mother is gone. In her place is an exact, duplicate mother. The 'other mother'. No one else seems to notice the real version is missing. His brother, his sister, and even Glen act as if everything's normal. But Michael knows in his heart that this mother is not his. And he begins to panic.What follows is a big-hearted coming-of-age story of a boy struggling with an unusual disorder that poses unparalleled challenges―but also, as he discovers, offers him unique opportunities.

About Matthew Dicks

MATTHEW DICKS is a writer and elementary school teacher. His articles have been published in the Hartford Courant and he has been a featured author at the Books on the Nightstand retreat. He is also a Moth storyteller and a two-time StorySLAM champion. Dicks is the author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing, and Unexpectedly Milo. He lives in Newington, Connecticut, with his wife, Elysha, and their children, Clara and Charlie.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Nilufer on October 16, 2020

A heartfelt, dramatic, smart story with a delicious twist! Welcome to thirteen years old Michael’s world who is really angry, frustrated, lost after losing his father two years ago, dealing with siblings who are making him want to jump down from the window, an irritating stepfather always gets into......more

Goodreads review by Katie on December 08, 2020

4.5 stars I had enjoyed another book by Matthew Dicks, Twenty-one Truths About Love, so I just dove into this one without reading the publisher synopsis ahead of time. I absolutely adored this book. Maybe the main character, Michael, isn’t for everyone, but man, I’m glad I got the chance to be part o......more

Goodreads review by Shaylan on December 03, 2020

2 stars, maybe 2.5. This book just wasn't for me. Eight grader, Michael, is struggling with his mental health. The book starts with Michael saying his mother has been replaced with a replica who acts and sounds like his mother but is not his mother. No one else around him notices that this other mot......more

Goodreads review by Midu on March 10, 2021

I requested this book on Netgalley and I'm so glad I did! Even though the title brings Gaiman's Coraline to mind, this book isn't horror. The protagonist has Capgras Syndrome and thinks his mother has been replaced by an imposter. First of all, a very unique premise and one that sent me a-searching,......more

Goodreads review by Chase on June 20, 2024

I went into this pretty unknowing expecting some sort of mystery/Coraline-esque story. Emotional sucker punches and heart wrenching galore. I found little parts of myself showing up and feeling validated so truthfully in the way that Michael had to navigate some extremely hard/scary things. MD write......more


Quotes

"A.J. Beckles's performance as Michael is solid—he credibly captures the angst and volatility of a 13-year-old who is coping with grief and anger.… Beckles has a youthful voice that becomes Michael's, and his pacing and subtle variations in dialogue make this an easy listen." AudioFile Magazine"Captivating... a perfect read for fans of John Green, R.J. Palacio, and Marcus Zusak." School Library Journal"A touching coming-of-age tale. For fans of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Andrew David MacDonald’s When We Were Vikings." Library Journal