‘When things are alive, they hum. You can hear it if you put your ear to the chest of an animal or if you lean close close close to a plant. My own hum goes dum dum da da dum da dum. This is the sound of my heart talking to me …’  

Sisters Marlowe and Harper share an intangible connection, deepened by the loss of their mother and strengthened by the challenges they have faced together. For years, it has been the two of them against the world, each fiercely protective of the other.  

When Marlowe, now living in London to complete her PhD, is urgently called back to the family home in Hong Kong, the life she has carefully cultivated begins to unravel. Harper, born with what she refers to as the Up syndrome, also lives with a congenital heart condition that has kept her in and out of hospital since she was baby. Her health has deteriorated rapidly, yet, due to her disability, she is deemed not to be a viable candidate for the heart and lung transplant she needs to survive.  

Faced with the possibility of losing yet another person dear to her, desperation tests Marlowe’s limits, stretching the lengths she will go to in order to keep Harper alive, and her ability to separate her own pain from her sister’s wishes.  

When Things Are Alive They Hum is an exploration of grief, joy, love and loss, raising important questions about cultural perceptions of Down’s syndrome, and attitides towards disability in general, both in Hong Kong and across the world.  

While this novel prompted me to consider social issues I never previously had, and I enjoyed the sisters’ relationship, areas of the plot felt disjointed and there was an abrupt stalling of pace in the Shanghai section. Ideally, I would have liked to see further character development for James and Irene, and the butterfly thread running throughout did not always complement the story, giving the impression of having been tacked on.  

Nevertheless, I would recommend this for any fans of My Sister’s Keeper or Me Before You – though please save for a day when you’re feeling emotionally robust!  

When Things Are Alive They Hum by Hannah Bent, Ultimo Press, 2022