Lost

by Eve Ainsworth

When Alfie Turner loses his mum, it feels like his world is falling apart. She was the glue that held their family together and, now that she's gone, Alfie and his dad don't really know how to be a family without her. And then Alfie meets Alice. Alice is a force of nature and has her own set of problems, but at least when Alfie's with her he can forget about his. Or can he? Because no matter how hard you run, life will always catch up in the end. Despite everything holding them back, together Alfie and Alice learn two things: that friendship can help dig you out of even the blackest hole, and that it's not the falling down that matters, it's the getting back up. Enormously heartfelt and insightful, this fiercely uplifting novel is Eve Ainsworth at her best.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2019

About the author

Author of Seven Days & Crush
Scholastic
www.eveainsworth.com

http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/eve-ains...

I have also self published an adult comedy - The Blog of Maisy Malone.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blog-Maisy-Ma...

I love reading, long walks, hot baths, eighties music and tea.

Please follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/EveAinsworth

Or find me on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/eveainsworthn...

Reviews

[camilla (lana's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST READ-
DNF at page 51
I wouldn't say this is a full dnf because i'm going to pick it up again at some point next year, but i wasn't really enjoying this.
This book was putting me in a slump, so i wanted to stop reading it, so i could read something else to get me out of the slump!
I will pick this up again, i need to read it for school, but i'm not feeling it at the moment!

SECOND READ (2022)-
read for school!
i really enjoyed this
4.5
it was so sad and actually quite deep!

[Sarcastic Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Książka na pewno warta uwagi. To było moje pierwsze spotkanie z tą autorką i bardzo się obawiałam, ponieważ nic o niej nie słyszałam, ale jak się okazało nie było czego. Ważna historia o tym jak Alfie, młody człowiek przeżywa żałobę po stracie najbliższej osoby, o tym jak zmaga się z tym każdego dnia i nie dopuszcza do siebie nikogo, kto chciałby mu pomóc. Jest to także historia Alice, która na co dzień musi się zmierzać z trudami ciężkich sytuacji, jakimi obdarzył ją los. Przede wszystkim jednak pokazuje to jak możemy pomóc sobie nawzajem oraz że nawet małe gesty mogą mieć wielkie znaczenie.

[Crimelpoint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Przede wsyztskim widze ogromny postęp jeśli chodzi o styl pisania. Pierwsze książki tej autorki były bardzo proste, wręcz ubogie. Autorka tylko liznęła temat, natomiast tutaj jest zupełnie naczej. Mam wrażenie, że ksiązka ta jest bardziej dojrzalsza. Porusza poważne tematy, ale jest to napisane w taki sposób, że bardzo szybko się to czyta. Co więcej jest to idealna historia dla trochę młodszych nastolatków.

Naprawde polubiłam tę historię. Momentami rzeczywiście autorka mogła trochę bardziej zgłębić temat, ale mimo wszytsko jest to świetna młodzieżówka.

[Theirlives · Rating 4 out of 5]

po kazdej przeczytanej ksiazce od tej autorki odczuwam cos innego. historie tak rozne, a jednak tak podobne. problemy mlodziezy, ktore czesto zamiatane sa pod dywan i nie traktowane powaznie. czy ludzie ktorzy dopiero poznaja prawdziwe oblicze swiata powinni byc narazani na wszystkie jego proby? zycie nie kreci sie wokol samych przyjemnosci. kazdy z nas dostrzega to kazdego dnia. ktos cie zranil? straciles bliska ci osobe? nie radzisz sobie z emocjami? ksiazki 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒌𝒂, 𝒌𝒓𝒛𝒚𝒘𝒅𝒂, 𝒛𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒛𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆, 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒂 i 7𝒅𝒏𝒊 w lagodny i bardzo czytelny sposob ukazuja, ze wcale nie musimy zmagac sie ze wszystkimi zlami tego swiata samotnie
"wszyscy mamy blizny. w srodku i na zewnatrz. dzieki nim jestesmy tym, kim jestesmy."

[Bookwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ta książka poruszyła mnie do głębi, ruszyła odpowiednie struny w moim sercu.
Alfie stracił swoją mamę w wieku 9 lat w wyniku raka. Tak jak ja. Dlatego tak bardziej sceptycznie podchodziłam do tej historii, bo znałam cały ten proces od podszewki.
Nie zawiodłam się, książka jest fenomenalna. Opisywanie procesu żałoby, oczami młodszego nastolatka, nie należy do zadań łatwych, a autorce udało się to idealnie. Nic nie było podkoloryzowane, upiększone. Było szczere, tak jak życie. oczywiście, że wszystko na koniec skończyło się dobrze. Musiało tak być, przecież nadzieja umiera ostatnia.

[julaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Książka, do której podeszłam z dużym dystansem. Z myślą, że jeśli dam jej 4 gwiazdki, to będzie musiała być naprawdę dobra.
Siadłam do niej w środku nocy. Minęła godzina - połowa książki za mną. Płynęłam, dosłownie.
Choć "Strata", to tytuł, który nie był idealny. Nie był, choćby dlatego, że dalej nie mogę wyobrazić sobie jak wygląda główny bohater.
Pozycja ma ogromna czcionkę i wielkie marginesy, stąd też przeczytanie jej w jedną dobę nie sprawia naprawdę żadnego problemu.
A, i wzruszyłam się. Choć podchodząc do niej byłam przygotowana na lekką lekturę dla "dzieci".
Była lekka, to prawda. Napisana delikatnym, ale momentami i dobitnym językiem. Całość podzielona jest na zwykłe, codzienne wydarzenie i retrospekcje Alfiego. Na końcu, przy ostatniej retrospekcji; przy ostatniej stronie łzy same napłynęły mi o oczu.
Były książki, przez które wzruszałam się porządnie bardziej. Ale ta, należy do jednej z niewielu, którą jakkolwiek "przeżywałam".

Ocena:
4.5/5 ⭐

[Goska Majewska · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5230912 is my true rating

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alfie is struggling with the loss of his mum after she passed away from cancer. Meanwhile his dad is shut off from him unlike he was before and the pair seen to just exist not live anymore especially as their shared love of football is now nonexistent after Alfie refuses to play now his mum's not cheering him on.



Then at school he meets Alice, the pair judged each other at first sight and since then the pair's new friendship gets off to a Rocky start after Alfie realises his new friend doesn't have a happy home life either for an entirely different reason.



Throughout the novel we get flashbacks to the worst time in Alfie's life when he loses his mum and it was so sadly realistic it was emotional and moving. Meanwhile Alice and her family situation is also dangerous and scarily true for many people out there right now in the world living in fear. Utterly breathtaking this novel is one you will zip through and not forget.

[Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was a very poignant read. It invoked feelings of sadness, grief, loss, but also radiated hope and the slow beginnings of rebuilding after tragedy.

I like that the characters seemed very realistic. I like that everything was tied up nicely at the end. The journey that Alfie went through was arduous, but not hard to follow. His anger at the world was justified and I adored his friendship with Alice.

The only things I wasn't a fan of are the flashbacks - they're written in third-person while the present-day story is written in first-person. And the book needed another thorough edit, I was picking up quite a few double spacings and grammar errors.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nie pamiętam,kiedy ostatnio jakaś książka złapała mnie tak za serce.... Czytałam i płakałam jednocześnie.
Ta książka naprawdę może zmienić naszą perspektywe na życie, uświadomić nam coś, że zaczniemy doceniać to co mamy.
5/5!

[Maria Martins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really lovely book to read, exploring the tragic loss of a parent. Lost mainly follows the story of a young boy called Alfie Turner who struggles to cope with the loss of his mother. Through the use of flashbacks of his mothers long battle with cancer, Ainsworth really shows the reader how death and struggle can swallow a person up into an abyss of darkness. This novel shows us the harsh reality of death- that grief is messy. Picking up the pieces when someone has died can be filled with conflict, resentment, anger and guilt. Death can tear apart happy families and leave them isolated in a time where unity is crucial. Alfie and his dad dont know how to cope with their loss and therefore have a troubled relationship. This relationship was an interesting dynamic because both characters are so understandably caught up in their own grief that they fail to see they are hurting each other. Ainsworth also tells a story of hope, that after the dust settles we can pick up the pieces and begin to move on.
Lost was an emotional story to read because the characters were written in a way where they felt so real to the reader. Their faults make them feel more human and once again shows us the actual struggle of grief.
This true portrayal of loss comes from the fact that it was inspired by a real story. Ainsworth talks about a boy who struggled with the loss of his mother, and his story stuck with the author, inspiring her to write this book.
This book shows us that through determination and time, we can all stand back up and learn to keep pushing forward. Overall an incredible and moving book!

[☆ Iga ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Strata” to moje piąte spotkanie z twórczością Eve Ainsworth i z pewnością nie ostatnie. Jej książki są skierowane głównie do młodzieży, ale myślę, że dorośli też mogliby coś z nich wyciągnąć. Tematy, jakie porusza autorka są niezwykle ważne, a sposób i forma, jakich używa są niezwykle przystępne. Teraz przejdę do recenzji. To, co bardzo mi się podobało, to brak wątku miłosnego i pokazanie, że przyjaźń jest równie ważna i pomocna dla nastolatków. Taka relacja nawiązuje się między Alfiem a Alice. Każde z nich ma swoje problemy, które bardzo wpływają na ich życie. Przez całą powieść głównie obserwujemy, jak nastolatkowie oddziałują na siebie nawzajem, ale niezwykle ważny jest wątek ojca Alfiego i budowania na nowo jego relacji z synem. Jedna z ostatnich scen była dla mnie bardzo poruszająca. Oprócz tych motywów mamy jeszcze znęcanie się psychiczne, jak i fizyczne nad pewnym bohaterem – z wiadomych względów nie powiem Wam, o kogo chodzi. „Strata” pokazuje, jak młody człowiek radzi sobie z problemami i stratą bliskiej osoby – rezygnuje z własnych przyjemności, kontaktów z przyjaciółmi, a także rodziną, przezywają bunt, chcą zrobić coś, żeby zwrócić uwagę na siebie i swój ból. Także sytuacja Alice – jej ciągłe przeprowadzki i zmiana otoczenia, szkół, znajomych oraz nieustanna opieka nad młodszym rodzeństwem wpłynęły na jej zachowanie. Ta książka mi się podobała, podobnie jak inne tej autorki. Serdecznie polecam Wam „Stratę” oraz inne powieści Eve Ainsworth, ponieważ przedstawiają sytuacje, jakie mogą spotkać nas samych lub kogoś z naszego otoczenia i pokazują, jak postępować z ludźmi skrzywdzonymi.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow- it's been a while since I've read a book in a day. Started in bed this morning, read on both bus journeys and then finished this evening.

An absolutely heart-wrenching yet heart-warming story of grief and unexpected friendship. From complete strangers to helping bring light in each other's darkest hours- Alfie and Alice develop such a lovely relationship. A beautiful depiction of how grief and bereavement is experienced by a father and son following the death of their wife/mother. Covers the concept that everyone is fighting battles no one else may know about and it's okay to feel happy even when the most devastating things have happened to you.

Loved the little flashbacks Alfie had back to his memories with his mother but these were absolutely heart-breaking at times, particularly the descriptions of his visits to her in the hospice.

[Me Christine Crawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle grade book, suitable for ages 9+, but it does come with a trigger warning. This story is about a lad whose mum dies of cancer, so whilst it may not be suitable for all children, it is a very worthwhile read and may offer some comfort too.

Alfie is struggling following the death of his mum, and as someone who lost their mum as a teenager, I have to say I identified hugely with Alfie, as Ainsworth has many aspects of this situation down to a tee. For example, Alfie needed to talk about his mum, but doesn’t as he knows it is awkward for other people. Alfie also develops an attitude of ‘who cares what I do’?’ and bunked off school, which was out of character for him, and very realistic.

Alfie’s friendship with Alice is an interesting one that develops as the book goes on, they definitely are a pair that need each other. My only criticism is that the book seems to finish a tad too quickly.

Overall, this book might be of comfort to someone in Alfie’s position, it would also be useful for the friend of someone in Alfie’s position to read this. A great little story about loss and friendship, well worth a read.

[Julia Chen]

When Alfie Turner loses his mum, it feels like his world is falling apart. She was the glue that held their family together and, now that she's gone, Alfie and his dad don't really know how to be a family without her. And then Alfie meets Alice. Alice is a force of nature and has her own set of problems, but at least when Alfie's with her he can forget about his. Or can he? Because no matter how hard you run, life will always catch up in the end. Despite everything holding them back, together Alfie and Alice learn two things: that friendship can help dig you out of even the blackest hole, and that it's not the falling down that matters, it's the getting back up. Enormously heartfelt and insightful, this fiercely uplifting novel is Eve Ainsworth at her best.

[Yasmeen Halim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a solid 4.
Main reason for this rating is because of Eve Ainsworth's writing skill.
It flows, and it suited my preferences.
Bravo Eve Ainsworth for putting yourself into one of my favourite author category.

Usually this type of genre is not my favourite.
As this genre is a bit sappy and depressing.
Not my usual go to type of novel which is rom-com and happy go lucky.
BUT, you managed to make me read in a short period of time.
Looking forward to read more Eve Ainsworth writings soon.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic read. Beautifully written; so poignant and raw and emotional. The author has done a fantastic job in filling these characters out. You really get into the head of Alfie in particular which helps you understand why and how he is feeling. It definitely read as authentic.

Side note, I cried. A lot. Make sure to have tissues at the ready.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

Przeczytana w 2h, szczerze mówiąc ciężko było mi się oderwać. Niektóre wątki mogły by być bardziej rozwinięte. Myślałam, że to książka typowo dla młodszych nastolatków ale uważam, że nawet dorosły mógłby przeczytać. Muszę dodać, że rzadko zdarza mi się uronić łzę czytając ,jednak tej książce się udało.

[Farsha R. Sofyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the plot. I like how Alfie couldnt move from his past but then he met Alice who couldnt stop walking, she kept moving forward. It's inspiring the readers about time and life. No matter what weve been through, even though it sucks, we have to keep walking, moving on. Because that's life - moving forward, never moving or going backwards.

[k · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmm second half was more 4 stars, but i didn't like alfie or alice in the first half so took some time to get going. it's nice enough, i do think the characters didn't quite feel a mere 12/13 - def at least slightly older - but yeah, solid, nice ending. people coming back together despite differences will never not work for me tbh

[Alison Caller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just been sobbing my eyes out reading List. This is an excellent book about loss, grief and hope. Sometimes it feels as if a lot of MG fiction has girls as main character and it's important to have books that show that boys and men can be sad and what grief can look like to others from the outside.

[Alishba Junejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was really good and that it had a deep plot. The characters all had very real lives and went through things that made the story better. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a (sadly) realistic story that you can't put down.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensitively and movingly told - Alfie struggles to make sense of his life with his mum tragically gone. Heartwarming and perceptive, the characters are well developed and grow in their understanding of pain and life. It sounds heavy but this book stays light enough for genuine enjoyment.

[mills🍓 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely love this book with my whole entire heart. Before I read it, I would struggle to get into books but this one honestly changed my whole view on reading and made me ball my eyes out. I could not recommend it enough

[Kev Neylon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very emotional and touching.

[Matylda Saresta · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://mniejniz0minirecenzje.blogspo...

[Aga · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Gabrielle Wales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried a lot

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75