Just like Charlie and Me, Mark Lowery takes us on an emotional Journey in Eating Chips with Monkey. The story introduces us to Daniel, a boy with Autism, and his family just as a terrible accident is about to turn their lives upside down.
The accident makes Daniel retreat inwards, where only his toy Monkey can reach him, and the family embark on a very special journey to try to bring him back to them.
The story is sensitively written, and I loved that it was told from the viewpoint of the two children in the story rather than the adults, which will make it resonate more easily with young readers. Daniel's way of visualising emotions as colours will be familiar for many, and possibly a new tool for verbalising emotion for others.
Your heart will break for Daniel, who doesn't understand what's going on, only that he must protect his friend Monkey after his terrible accident, whilst Monkey becomes progressively darker and more controlling of Daniel - trying to stop his family from breaking them apart.
The character of Megan, Daniel's sister, is the other voice in the story. Her life has always been in some way controlled by her brother's needs, but she loves him with all of her heart and would do anything to have him back, quirks and all - and tries everything to break through to Daniel's inner world and pull him back to her.
Mark is a master at writing family stories that will touch your heart, full of joy with the ups, and sorrow with their lows. He gently weaves a story of pure love and all of the imperfections that are in a modern day family, that somehow still add up to a perfect whole, when they all come together in love and acceptance. I couldn't put it down.
Eating Chips with Monkey by Mark Lowery, Published by Piccadilly Press. Recommended for 9+ readers.