Coping with Chloe

by Rosalie Warren

Anna and Chloe are twins. They share everything: from secrets to clothes; from fending off the school bully to dealing with their parents’ separation. Even Chloe’s terrible accident hasn’t split them apart. After all, twins have a special bond, right?

But Anna is beginning to realise that being inseparable isn’t always easy. Especially when no one else seems to understand that Chloe isn’t really gone. No one apart from the good- looking new boy that is, who, inconveniently, seems to like both sisters...

Told through the eyes and mind of 12 year-old Anna, this is a powerful novel exploring the mysterious bond between twins and the grieving process.

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2011

About the author

Hi there. My pen-name is Rosalie Warren but I am also known as Sheila Glasbey, my name in real life. I answer happily to any of Sheila, Rosalie or Ros.

I'm a mother of two grown-up children, a grandmother, and a retired university lecturer. I've been writing novels for children and adults since my retirement in 2006 and have published several, in various genres (time I made up my mind?)

As of Nov 2017, I have recently ventured into non-fiction. Under my real name, Sheila Glasbey, I've just published a short guide to copy editing for authors. It's called 'From the Heart of a Copy Editor - the 10 Most Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them'. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heart-Copy-E.... There's a code inside the book which will give you a generous discount on my editing services at https://www.affordable-editing.com/. The book is now available as an e-book for Kindle, on pre-order for £1.99. Publication day is Nov 15th 2017.

My latest novel is sci-fi, but if you're not a scifi reader, don't be put off. It has strong elements of psychological suspense, as well as being a story about a strong female lead who is searching desperately for her children as well as facing the consequences of her scientific research. I'm hoping it will appeal to readers who aren't necessarily sci-fi fans.

Lena's Nest is now available on Amazon, Kindle version £1.99. The paperback verison is now available too.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Reviews

[Helen Baggott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coping with Chloe tells the story of how Anna copes with the tragic death of her twin sister. But that’s a very simple explanation. To me it highlighted the impact on a number of people when tragedy strikes – parents, siblings and friends. That ripple effect could be seen through the breakdown of her parents’ marriage, animosity at school and of course, through Anna’s own emotional turmoil.

But this isn’t a book full of dark days. Anna’s tale is one of hope and it eloquently demonstrates how the grieving process works – at its own pace and very differently within each person affected.

When I first decided to read this book I wondered how I would appreciate it. My teenage years are in the distant past. But it’s a very intelligent book. It doesn’t patronise children and it doesn’t avoid the serious issues of life and death.

I found it immensely moving and one of the most satisfying books I can remember reading. As well as young teenagers, it should be read by anyone who has an interest in how we all need support and understanding.

Writing as an adult for a teenager requires skill and the author must also have a special gift. Not just the gift of being able to write an interesting tale, but also of understanding how insecure and vulnerable we all were in our younger years – and perhaps still are. Rosalie Warren has written a book of importance. Don’t label it children’s’ fiction. It’s a brilliant read.

[S.P. Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Coping with Chloe" starts with an intro from Rosalie Warren, the author, inviting the reader to interpret the events in the book in their own way. This small intro sets the tone of the whole book for me - not patronising, preaching or dumbing-down. There's nothing worse than books, especially for this (11+) age group, with an agenda, such that the reader is then manipulated into a certain way of thinking.

It's clear from the effortless way that the story reads that the author has done her research into twins and into the ways the mind may work in such a case of bereavement. Anna's story and thoughts are completely believable - not once did I find myself feeling no, this is getting far-fetched. The way this extraordinary inner life (or lives?) is woven into normal young teenage everyday life is done very well and there are enough light comic touches to lift the story out of potential heaviness, given the main themes.

The only part where I stumbled a little - and this has been mentioned by another reviewer - was the "Daily Mail"-style bogeyman towards the climax of the story. It may be just an adult perception but I felt that slightly cliched character didn't belong in such an original piece of fiction. But I can't speak for young readers here.

Overall, I'd thoroughly recommend "Coping with Chloe", with its well-drawn characters and story that draws you in and keeps you right in until the end, to anyone of 11 or over - adults included.

[may · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coping with Chloe tackles the effects of bereavement on those left behind through the eyes of a young girl, Anna. It's strange in that the writing is simple and yet the content is tough and challenging. Ultimately though that's probably what most kids want; I remember always wanting to read books with difficult issues even when I was very young.

Anna, our protagonist, lost her twin sister in an accident and the story follows the aftermath as she struggles to come to terms with her loss. The book takes an unusual angle as Anna faces each day absorbed by a great sense that her sister, Chloe, is present within her.

It is only her new best friend Joe that keeps her on the right path. He helps her and looks after her, not poking fun like some of her other classmates. He too has issues to deal with and this subplot is interwoven carefully with a shocking and troubling conclusion.

It's important that authors don't shy away from the tougher topics of life and Warren certainly hasn't. I personally don't think that it is a teen story though and I'm not too sure it should be marketed that way. It seemed to me suitable for a relatively young audience. Nevertheless I would still recommend Coping with Chloe as it's a short yet thought-provoking read. I look forward to Rosalie Warren's next publication.

[Jennifer Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sign of a good children's book, in my opinion, is that it can be read by adults and enjoyed.

Some of my favourite books were the ones I read as a child; books that introduced me to new ideas and views of the world. One of my favourites was Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan and in some ways Rosalie Warren's Coping With Chloe reminds me of that.

While the earlier book introduced me to astral projection, in Coping With Chloe we have life after death. Anna's twin sister Chloe may have died in an accident, but Anna can still speak to her. We all know the bond between twins is a special, even unbreakable one, but can it really transcend death?

In this book it seems it can and it's a pleasure to read for that.

The bright and breezy first person narrative carries you along, making you want to read on. And, the good news for reluctant readers is that reading this book isn't an effort; it's a joy. Anna is smart and witty and immediately she feels like a friend. You care what happens to her and you want to find out what happens next.

Coping with Chloe is an engaging read that children will enjoy. The themes of loss, bullying and first love are important ones to explore.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning this my have a few spoilers. I really enjoyed this book and it was one of the first books I've read in ages that the characters are better off in the end then the beginning. I've read a lot of cheesy romances lately so it was I nice change. It still had a bit of romance in it but the main plot is Anna trying to be free from her twin sister, Chloe, who got hit by a car and died. But Chloe isn't quite gone; she shares Anna's body. No-one seems to understand that Chloe isn't gone apart from Joe. Both twins fall in love with Joe and he seems to like them both. I would really recommend this book to anyone.

[Rosemary Kind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aimed at young adult readers and from my adult perspective I think it works well. A great story portraying loss and our abilities and methods of dealing with it. A moving and gripping story which will leave you wanting to know more about what happens next to this family.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So incredible and amazing definably a must read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I found the writing absorbing, assured and sparse, with no word wasted. The plot moved at a steady pace, not too fast and with time to get to know the characters. The story was tender and engaging; the voice of Anna jaunty and appealing with touches of humour.

The story begins with surviving twin Anna who has recently lost her twin sister in a tragic accident. Cue Joe the new good-looking boy at school, one of the few people who really understands what Anna is going through. Most of her school friends don't understand her and some are out and out bullies. Her home life is just as bewildering with her grieving mother and her largely absent father. I don't want to give away any spoilers but the concept was a very unusual one. I liked the way that it was called Coping With Chloe which challenges our normal expectations of how someone would feel without their twin sister.

My only criticism is that sometimes the language and expressions were a bit anachronistic. But I'm a bit nerdy like this. I had thought it was set in the past for the first few pages. For example, there was a mention of 'third years' rather than 'year 9s' and talk of a 'remedial class' which was very 1970s. Similarly some of the expressions such as 'fussbag' and 'swottybot' all seemed a bit Enid Blyton. Maybe as it was written as a children's book there were certain language restrictions. I also felt the dodgy man in the park was a bit stereotyped, rather than being more nuanced as is usually the case.

But other than that it had a timeless feel and the book could be enjoyed by children of any age including this sixty-something one! This was definitely my kind of book and I shall look forward to reading other work by this author. 5 stars from me.