Sometimes, I get stuck in a ‘reading rut’, where I either don’t want to
read anything at all, or everything I try to read doesn’t hold my attention.
This happened when I left university and finished The Hunger Games trilogy. It
happened again when I finished my NCTJ this year. Nothing held my attention,
nothing was exciting and I’d lost my love of reading.
After being incredibly disappointed by the long slog of a ‘chick-lit’
novel, I decided to pick up Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher, once again, not
expecting much. I was proved wrong and this is the book that’s dragged me out
of the dreaded ‘reading rut’.
Ketchup Clouds is the story of 14/15 (it’s never specified) year old
‘Zoe’, as she is known for most of the book. The story is set out over the period
of a year when Zoe starts writing to a death row inmate in Texas, Stuart
Harris. Zoe was prompted to become a pen pal for a prisoner after a nun gave a
talk at her school about how she was trying to get the death penalty abolished.
Zoe also has a secret. She’s committed the same crime as Stuart Harris,
the only difference being, she got away with it.
The novel is set out in letters, in each one, Zoe addresses Stuart’s
situation and tells him what happens in the present day, as well as telling her
story in fourteen parts about the build up to what happened, what happened and
the aftermath. At first I thought I wouldn’t get on with the book because of
the layout. I find it difficult to get along with books that are a constant
stream of exchanges, whether it’s texts, emails or letters. But, the difference
with Ketchup Clouds, was that there was no exchange. Zoe has given a false name
and address so she can’t receive a response. The point is to get her story out
and to confide in someone.
I found Ketchup Clouds to be complex for a young adult novel. Time
shifts are not often made clear with headings, dates or times, but it’s easy
enough to grasp what is going on and at what time. It’s a very dark plot, death
and loss are huge themes. Zoe coming to terms with what she did and how it
affects her are quite far removed from an average teen’s life, but you can
sympathise with her. She deals with a lot throughout the book. The prospect of
her parents divorce and her younger sisters being bullied and having disabilities
bring the story back to reality and I’m sure readers could relate to some
aspect of the characters lives.
Some sections make you want to say ‘oh for god’s sake’, usually when the
most popular boy in school, Max Morgan and the mysterious boy with brown eyes
make appearances. It does have it’s moments when it could turn into a typical
young adult love story, but Pitcher pulls it back around.
Pitcher’s writing style holds your attention, with decent sized
chapters, the build up to Zoe’s crime will take hold of you until it’s
revealed. With slight hints towards what might happen, but no certainty as to
whom it happens to, it keeps the drama at an all time high.
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