Life On The Refrigerator Door

 

Have you ever communicated through notes on your refrigerator door with your mother? 

I haven’t.  Milk, butter, eggs, bread, carrots for the rabbit on post-it notes stuck on the fridge, is how Claire and her mother stay in contact.

Claire and her mother are running out of time, but they don’t know it. Soon, when they find out they are rapidly forced to pick between their social lives or the bond between a mother and daughter.

Through their notes we are let into their lives and how the distance between two people who live together can be revived when tragedy strikes.

Life on the refrigerator door by Alice Kuipers is a short, heart-racing, tear-jerking, unforgettable novel about a teenage girl and her mother who neither have time for each other to fit in their busy schedules.  18 year old Claire is busy studying in University and her mum caught up in work.  Her mother soon finds out she has breast cancer and finds herself battling for her life.

Claire is 18. She is a typical teenager. She is always busy and caught up in her social life she doesn’t always have time for her Mother, but when her Mother develops breast cancer, Claire tries everything she can to mend their broken relationship.

My favourite character in the novel was Claire. She’s a teenage girl caught up in the difficulties of teen life, boys, friends, school. She is a strong character particularly towards the end as she finds herself in a difficult situation where “strong” is all she can show.

I particularly love this book because it’s heartfelt and touching. I loved it and definitely recommend it anyone with tissues nearby. Girls and mothers would love this book, guaranteed. Its inspiring to young readers to love and cherish your mum because you don’t know what it would be like to have your relationship cut short. The book’s message is about making time for those you love, when time itself is running out.