Book review: The Lotterys Plus One

THE Lotterys are, to say the least, a very strange family.
There are four ­parents, seven children – both adopted and ­biological – and a ­menagerie of pets.
The humans in the family come from all corners of the world, and the parents even have unique nicknames like PapaDum, PopCorn, MaxiMum, and CardaMum to distinguish themselves from each other.
The children are all named after trees and together, they make a rather large and unruly family living in a huge house called Camelottery.
Apparently, the four adults (the parents) were all good friends, and when they struck the lottery, they decided to change their names, buy a sprawling house, fill it with lots of kids, and spend their lives doing interesting things and having adventures, instead of going to work.
Aged nine, and the fifth of the children, Sumac believes that she is the good girl of the family – that is, until the arrival of a grouchy, intolerable old man, the father of PopCorn.
Grumps, the grandfather Sumac has never met, had set fire to his own house, and has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Years ago, Grumps had a terrible falling out with PopCorn, and doesn’t want to live with his son’s weird family, but has nowhere else to go.
His presence is not exactly a picnic for Sumac either, especially when she has to give up her room for him, and is assigned to be his guide.
Sumac decides to get Grumps to agree to shift out of their house into a home more suitable to care for him, but it’s easier said than done. Along the way, she, and the rest of the family, learn a lesson in sensitivity.
Children will love the crazy antics the family get up to, and will even learn some lessons along with the Lotterys. All in, not a bad deal.
Author: Emma Donoghue
Publisher: Pan MacMillan
ISBN: 9781509851645