There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

I didn't really like this story about a mother and daughter dealing with the loss of the sister. I thought it was creepy and not in a good way. It reminded me of Coraline by Neil Gaiman. I didn't think my students would enjoy it.

I was drawn to this book by it's cover and then it's blurb. I an always intrigued by stories that allow characters to walk in and out of paintings and interact with each other. I have read a few books with this premise. This story didn't disappoint. It's a good read for kids and teaches forgiveness without being preachy. I think kids and teens will find it a satisfying tale.

This was a great book, but the grief brought onto our protagonists because her mother is in a coma touched too close to home as I dealt with a similar situation. While I am stuck in dealing with my own feelings, Annie escapes inside a painting where she meets and befriends Claire. A beautiful and haunting tale about grief.

Back in 2014, I was so charmed by Charis Cotter’s debut The Swallow (review here) that I nominated it for a Cybils award. Today I’m reviewing Cotter’s sophomore middle grade novel. The mention of a lonely lighthouse caught my interest. Cotter, a native of Toronto who now lives in Newfoundland, evokes crisp imagery in her descriptions of the coast and lighthouse. The atmosphere, for me, makes up for the lack of explicit ghosts.

Annie soon deduces Claire’s identity, so I don’t believe it’s a spoiler to state that Claire is Annie’s mother, some years in the past. I enjoy books that explore the familial relationships between children and adults (an enjoyment that can be traced back to my reading of Inkheart at 10 years old). The mother-daughter relationships explored in The Painting are the kind where the daughter wants one thing for herself and the mother wants something else for the daughter. Conflicts sparks as they fail to understand each other’s needs. (The Pixar film Brave also did a great job at exploring this kind of relationship.) Annie sees her relationship with Claire inverted in Claire’s relationship with her own mother Maisie – Maisie paints, Claire studies, Claire wants to attend high school in town and Maisie wants her to stay at the lighthouse. In the modern timeline, Annie finds herself clashing with Claire over Annie’s interest in art and her introverted demeanor.

A number of poignant moments are scattered throughout the story. The death of Claire’s younger sister complicates Claire and Maisie’s relationship and gives further depth to their relationship. The first person narrative of a young girl who thinks she’s to blame for her sibling’s death or who believes her mother doesn’t love her can sting to read.

If you liked the style of The Swallow, you will probably like the style of The Painting. The narrative alternates between the two girls in short segments. As with The Swallow, I found Annie and Claire’s voices to be very similar. There is less creepiness in The Painting than in The Swallow – though atmospheric, the characters drive The Painting even more so than in The Swallow.

The Bottom Line: A touching story primarily set along Newfoundland’s atmospheric coast, Annie and Claire work together across decades to save Annie’s mother and in the process repair their own relationships with their mothers.

This is a beautiful book with meaning. A book that children who have began to read longer books will enjoy. This is also a book which can be enjoyed with parents too.

A big thank you to Charis Cotter, Tundra Books, and Netgalley for this free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.


Annie is placed in a precarious position. She doesn't get along with her mother, but her mother has been in a car accident and now she's in a coma. It's enough to make her head hurt. Maybe that's why she's suddenly inside the painting? Playing with Claire?

This story is about relationships and forgiveness-that it's never too late to say " I'm sorry". Also I think it's about guilt. Guilt is an ugly, black devourer of the soul. It can ruin a life. These characters teach us to talk about tragic events, to not let emotional wounds fester and break the bonds between the loving relationships in our lives. We miss out on so much. And not only us, but those who follow. It's a downward spiral.
Cotter keeps his focus on the past. I think we can all think of situations we wish we could rewind. Let's all take inspiration from this book and reach out to someone tonight.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is perfect for the age group I teach. The characters are believable and I grew fond of them as I progressed through the book.
Just enough mystery and ghostliness without scaring the reader. I enjoyed learning the truth of the story as the pages unfolded. The true nature of Claire and Annie's characters slow unfold and you begin to relate to them. A triumph!

A deep and suspenseful story for young readers about loss, guilt, misunderstandings, and mistakes. | This will definitely be too much for some readers, it hurt my heart and I have decades more life than the target audience. But there are good messages here, and the reader can see how hiding one's feelings never works--they come out round the edges and impact you later regardless. All of the characters are well and sympathetically drawn, everybody has their flaws and their virtues, and the reader can understand the perspective they're each coming from, even if it's not our own. I'm grateful for an upbeat ending, even if the time lost isn't glossed over, and there are certainly young readers carrying unearned guilt who will appreciate it as well.

Appreciation to the publisher for an ARC, which did not have an effect on my review or rating.