What do you think?
Rate this book
Other Side
Twelve-year-old Liam finds a dead body along the shore at his grandfather's cottage. He can't erase what he's seen and can't focus on anything else, not even the upcoming opportunity of a lifetime to try out for an elite soccer team. Liam believes there is more to the girl's story than her "accidental death" and decides to investigate.When Liam visits his grandfather, living in palliative care, things go from bad to worse. As they watch Germany's 2014 World Cup soccer games together, his grandfather, a German World War II veteran, reveals stories about his past — stories a Jewish Canadian kid doesn't want to hear. Angry and overwhelmed, Liam is swept up in a history that may just help him solve the girl's death — and make sense of his own world again.
- GenresCanada
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2020
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Heather Camlot
12 books43 followersHeather grew up in Montreal and was raised on Expos baseball and Canadiens hockey. Oddly, she was never a sporty child. She preferred reading, drawing and dreaming.
She graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and from New York University with a Master of Arts in Journalism. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Quill & Quire, Style at Home, Canadian Living, The Globe and Mail, Homemakers and TV Guide Canada.
After fifteen years in journalism as a writer, editor and translator, she longed to get back to fiction, something she used to write as a teenager. Her short story, The Boys of Summer, won the 17th Annual Writing for Children Competition held by CANSCAIP and The Writers’ Union of Canada. Clutch is her first novel.
She lives in Toronto with her husband and two kids.
She graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and from New York University with a Master of Arts in Journalism. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Quill & Quire, Style at Home, Canadian Living, The Globe and Mail, Homemakers and TV Guide Canada.
After fifteen years in journalism as a writer, editor and translator, she longed to get back to fiction, something she used to write as a teenager. Her short story, The Boys of Summer, won the 17th Annual Writing for Children Competition held by CANSCAIP and The Writers’ Union of Canada. Clutch is her first novel.
She lives in Toronto with her husband and two kids.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 15, 2020
Bought this book for my high school library, but it’s more suitable for middle school. A great combination of sport, mystery, history and psychology. Somewhat Eurocentric (WWII, German & Jewish history), but also has a Black character (who likes to read!) who relates the issues to the Canadian present.
Review from Quill & Quire: https://quillandquire.com/review/the-...
Review from Quill & Quire: https://quillandquire.com/review/the-...
February 4, 2021
I had high hopes for this book after one of my students loved it so much, she asked for everything else by this author (which is not a lot). But um. I just did not like it.
A couple issues: setting. Camlot chose to set this in Prince Edward County. Many of her readers won't see this as a problem, but I have worked in the County, live right next to it, and I didn't recognize her setting hardly at all. I guess she got the location of the cemetery in connection to the Acoustic Grill and the Tim Hortons alright at the end, but the cottage itself? I know the County has a few locations with cottages on cliffs, but I'm pretty sure they're not close enough for kids to bike 15 minutes to Slickers, and speaking of, whyyyy give Slickers a different name and also try to pass it off as an ice cream factory?!? Sure, they make their own ice cream, and you can even get it in a few other locations around the County, but I wouldn't call it a factory. This threw me off and made me respect her less as a researcher. She could have easily made it a generic "cottage country" rather than appropriating a specific place that she didn't seem to attempt to do justice to.
(Maybe that's nitpicky, and I just wasted a whole paragraph complaining about it, but it BUGGED ME.)
Ok, next. This is currently nominated for the Red Maple award, which is supposed to be targeted at grade 6-8 or so. The reading level felt low to me, for Red Maple. Which could actually be a good thing. Having books that are lower reading levels with higher subject matter is important, particularly for struggling readers who don't want to be stuck reading books targeted at grade 3 students. I think this book does that remarkably well. The book is fast paced, high interest, mixing sports and history and a murder mystery all in one. I will happily suggest this widely to kids in my library. However, I will say it's probably not a middle grade novel that most adults would also enjoy.
Why does the mother keep biting her bottom lip when she's worried?!? This is not something I have ever seen an actual human being do. It was repetitious and weird, felt like lazy writing.
But now I feel like I'm being mean to this book, which I didn't really intend, especially since I do think lots of kids will enjoy it! I just didn't. Like, at all.
A couple issues: setting. Camlot chose to set this in Prince Edward County. Many of her readers won't see this as a problem, but I have worked in the County, live right next to it, and I didn't recognize her setting hardly at all. I guess she got the location of the cemetery in connection to the Acoustic Grill and the Tim Hortons alright at the end, but the cottage itself? I know the County has a few locations with cottages on cliffs, but I'm pretty sure they're not close enough for kids to bike 15 minutes to Slickers, and speaking of, whyyyy give Slickers a different name and also try to pass it off as an ice cream factory?!? Sure, they make their own ice cream, and you can even get it in a few other locations around the County, but I wouldn't call it a factory. This threw me off and made me respect her less as a researcher. She could have easily made it a generic "cottage country" rather than appropriating a specific place that she didn't seem to attempt to do justice to.
(Maybe that's nitpicky, and I just wasted a whole paragraph complaining about it, but it BUGGED ME.)
Ok, next. This is currently nominated for the Red Maple award, which is supposed to be targeted at grade 6-8 or so. The reading level felt low to me, for Red Maple. Which could actually be a good thing. Having books that are lower reading levels with higher subject matter is important, particularly for struggling readers who don't want to be stuck reading books targeted at grade 3 students. I think this book does that remarkably well. The book is fast paced, high interest, mixing sports and history and a murder mystery all in one. I will happily suggest this widely to kids in my library. However, I will say it's probably not a middle grade novel that most adults would also enjoy.
Why does the mother keep biting her bottom lip when she's worried?!? This is not something I have ever seen an actual human being do. It was repetitious and weird, felt like lazy writing.
But now I feel like I'm being mean to this book, which I didn't really intend, especially since I do think lots of kids will enjoy it! I just didn't. Like, at all.
Read
March 11, 2021Good Reads Review
The Novel The Other Side by Heather Camlot Is very descriptive and factual, beginning the novel with a character Liam (12), finding a dead body on his grandfather's cottage, after Liam's Finding he appears to be a lot less focused on school, soccer, with his mixed emotions. Liam feels that there is further reasoning for the death of this girl. During his investigation, he feels that something is not certain, he gets a load of the 2014 World Cup with his Grandfather as he begins to spill secrets that encompass his path as a World War Veteran.
The novel The Other Side was very descriptive I believe that the author added very tender tones to the novel that corresponds with sports and athletes like myself, the novel allowed me to relate to the characters whether that was because of their traits, emotions, etc, this novel is filled with different aspects that anyone can connect or relate too! During the reading, my class and I took notes which were filled with literary devices, connections, questions as I stated before most of mine were connections as the novel is relatable with some aspects.
The author includes key parts in the novel that pursues strong techniques in her writing allowing me to take notes of Literary devices such as Imagery, Flashbacks, and many more to add to our writing arsenal! Some connections I made were to the main character Liam and how he was a sports athlete, or how he was often curious and was an explorer.
In my opinion, I would most definitely recommend this novel If you have interests in a mystery novel or a secretive type novel It allows you to make many connections have questions, and overall enjoy the novel.
In conclusion, I feel this novel pursues a very factual tone discussing many worldly issues a mysterious death that is furtherly inspected, untold secrets, mixed emotions, a struggle with Jewish Specifications, etc. and I would most definitely encourage you to check It out as well!
The Novel The Other Side by Heather Camlot Is very descriptive and factual, beginning the novel with a character Liam (12), finding a dead body on his grandfather's cottage, after Liam's Finding he appears to be a lot less focused on school, soccer, with his mixed emotions. Liam feels that there is further reasoning for the death of this girl. During his investigation, he feels that something is not certain, he gets a load of the 2014 World Cup with his Grandfather as he begins to spill secrets that encompass his path as a World War Veteran.
The novel The Other Side was very descriptive I believe that the author added very tender tones to the novel that corresponds with sports and athletes like myself, the novel allowed me to relate to the characters whether that was because of their traits, emotions, etc, this novel is filled with different aspects that anyone can connect or relate too! During the reading, my class and I took notes which were filled with literary devices, connections, questions as I stated before most of mine were connections as the novel is relatable with some aspects.
The author includes key parts in the novel that pursues strong techniques in her writing allowing me to take notes of Literary devices such as Imagery, Flashbacks, and many more to add to our writing arsenal! Some connections I made were to the main character Liam and how he was a sports athlete, or how he was often curious and was an explorer.
In my opinion, I would most definitely recommend this novel If you have interests in a mystery novel or a secretive type novel It allows you to make many connections have questions, and overall enjoy the novel.
In conclusion, I feel this novel pursues a very factual tone discussing many worldly issues a mysterious death that is furtherly inspected, untold secrets, mixed emotions, a struggle with Jewish Specifications, etc. and I would most definitely encourage you to check It out as well!
Read
March 11, 2021The other side is an exceptional book for intermediate students looking for a good relatable and mystery book. This book covers the life of the 12-year-old soccer-loving Liam Reimold after he finds a dead body on the beach of his Grandfather’s cottage. With a full summer of listening to scaring stories from his german WWII survivor grandfather, while still having the memory of the dead body on the beach, Liam has a lot of struggle trying to focus on what he loves which is soccer. Liam goes through a lot trying to get the memory of the dead body out of his head, but he knew that it wouldn’t happen unless he solved the mystery of how she ended up there himself, so he dedicates almost everything he has to accomplish that goal, even if that means quitting his soccer team a week before the elite tryouts. With his grandfather in a hospital bed awaiting his death, he tells Liam many stories dating back to the second world war, when his grandfather had to fight for the Nazis at 16 years old because he was told it was for his country. After the war, he decided he needed to leave Germany, and head to Canada to be able to live a good life.
This book did a great job making the character relatable to many young teenagers that have gone through many similar things that Liam went through. The book also touched on many topics such as racism, murder, the life of an athlete, war, especially the world wars, and people that have lost friends, family members, or currently have people that are sick. This is the best book for anyone looking for an entertaining relatable mystery book that will leave you wanting more after every page you read. This book is filled with plot twists, and surprises that will deliver everything you want in a book.
This book did a great job making the character relatable to many young teenagers that have gone through many similar things that Liam went through. The book also touched on many topics such as racism, murder, the life of an athlete, war, especially the world wars, and people that have lost friends, family members, or currently have people that are sick. This is the best book for anyone looking for an entertaining relatable mystery book that will leave you wanting more after every page you read. This book is filled with plot twists, and surprises that will deliver everything you want in a book.
October 24, 2020
12 year old Liam’s life is already in turmoil as his grandfather lies dying from cancer in a hospital bed, but when he finds a dead girl at the foot of some stairs leading to the beach at his Opa’s house life gets even harder. Suddenly Liam can’t focus during a soccer game while playing goal and instead his thoughts constantly switch to the dead girl. Liam wants answers but there don’t seem to be any easily found. Liam unearths facts he never knew about his Opa but those just lead to more questions. The Other Side is a story especially written for soccer loving mystery fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2021
A lot of topics are discussed in this book, including soccer, death and dying, murder, racism, and World War. Readers will empathize with Liam, a soccer enthusiast who is not only losing his beloved grandfather to cancer, but who also finds the dead body of a teenager on his grandfather's property. As the book progresses, Liam begins to see how people can be placed in situations beyond their control and how several of them took a stand at the risk of their own lives. This allows Liam to open his eyes to the injustices around him, both past and present.
July 27, 2020
Expect much more than a murder-mystery in Heather Camlot’s The Other Side!
This tender, witty novel works through inter-generational relationships layered with soccer, World War II and the struggle of Jewish-German identities. Canadian based with universal themes, it brought some tears and thought-provoking conversations. While targeted for middle-schoolers the teens (and adults) in our household loved it! Highly recommend it!
This tender, witty novel works through inter-generational relationships layered with soccer, World War II and the struggle of Jewish-German identities. Canadian based with universal themes, it brought some tears and thought-provoking conversations. While targeted for middle-schoolers the teens (and adults) in our household loved it! Highly recommend it!
May 12, 2021
THE OTHER SIDE is a blend of history, soccer and mystery. Camlot’s writing is superb as is her research. She successfully weaves humor, tension, and drama all in the same story. I loved the way she painted a family picture that went back years, by using soccer as a backdrop. The voice of Liam is word perfect. But his relationship with his Opa is not always perfect, which makes it real and heartwarming.
July 23, 2020
Such an amazing book! I loved seeing a male character and the struggle with mental illness.
May 8, 2021
Love this story. Beautiful, and highly recommended!
November 19, 2023
Very good. Maybe even almost a five star. Great book for kids to read about coming to terms with death and with Nazi Germany.
February 24, 2021
The Other Side is a Red Maple book for 2021. It seemed to drag a bit, but it had a little bit of mystery.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews