ALL THE TRUTH THAT’S IN ME BY JULIE BERRY

I chose this book because when I read the blurb all it said was “I am forbidden from telling” which I found very intriguing.

All the truth that’s in me is about a girl named Judith , Judith had been kept hostage for two years but before returning home her tongue was cut off in a savage attack to prevent her from telling who the kidnappers were. When Judith does return home she is considered as an improper lady or a monster, so pretty much an outcast. Judith doesn’t have many friends but she is in love with a boy named Lucas although Lucas is getting married to another woman. Throughout the book Judith starts to realise that it is her silence protecting her fromthe evil doers that wish to remain hidden. 

“There’s a curious comfort in letting go. After the agony, letting go brings numbness, and after the numbness, clarity. As if I can see the world for the first time, and my place in it, independent of you, a whole vista of what may be. Even if it’s not grand or inspiring, it is real and solid, unlike the fantasy I’ve built around you. I will do this I will triumph over you.” 

This part of the book shows that Judith is becoming more strong and independent, starting to take over the situation.

I recommend this to anyone above 12 years old, as some parts of it are quite gruesome although there is romance in the book so I would recommend it more towards girls.

Rachael Hayden Year 9

LIFE IN OUTER SPACE

Life In Outer Space – Melissa Keil

Review by Stephanie Tarn

I decided I’d write my review of the novel as a letter to Melissa. And so it begins:

Dear Ms Keil, or if you don’t mind breaking with formalities, dear Melissa. Nah, still too formal, dear Mel.

I read your debut novel Life In Outer Space  with a view to presenting a review for the children’s book council breakfast. Reading it was a joy! In this age of doom and gloom, apocalyptic contexts, abandonment, fear and depression, your novel stands as a beacon of hope. Thank you for having the courage to dream big dreams and fan the flame of romance. Yes, the ‘R’ word gets a bad rap these days – there’s more cheese out there than the original Bega factory. None the less, you have done a mighty job and thousands of young adults will be exposed to the real deal through your writing.

I must admit, for the first 50 pages I felt alone… like when the teens play the high pitched note on their phones that only they can hear. I sensed a lot of that – as I am out of touch with such elements as computer speak and horror movies.  Yeah yeah, I’m getting old, but I pushed on to see what the youngsters would get up to. It was mostly your brilliant sense of wry humour that folded me in its arm’s embrace. How clever you are!

You describe the protagonist, Sam Kinnison, as a geek. I beg to differ, Mel. He’s too social and he demonstrates throughout the novel that he is highly in tune with his feelings – granted he hasn’t got a clue what to do with his feelings until the 11^th hour, but still, he acknowledges them.

I love that you set the novel in a school, or more particularly, in a high school social group. I love the colourful bunch of misfits – Sam included – who form a lifelong bond due to their differentness. I love how you pay out on the bullies, although I don’t know how I’d go reading aloud in class when you give the bullies such titles as ‘Assorted Vessels of Wank’ and ‘High School Arsehat Hall of Fame’. Having said that, I do like a challenge!

Mel, it was also a great idea to have one of the group members ‘come out’ in the story. Mike is a beautiful young man. Thank you for making him an attractive and humble guy who just happens to be drop dead gorgeous and a black belt in karate (as an aside, the scene at the dojo where Sam gets willingly beaten up is absa-freakin-lutely hilarious – reminiscent of Janet Evanovich.) Thank you for your sensitivity in dispelling homophobia by how the group care for Mike, how they love and accept him. Readers will glean a lot of wisdom here.

I’m saving the best til last, Mel. What about Camilla. Camilla, Camilla. She is the bomb. How amazing was she when Sam’s parents were in crisis? I love the fact that you had her overseas visiting her mum when it all unfolded. She had to be incredibly astute in her support of Sam. I can still remember the clear instruction she gave to him as she was boarding the plane to leave: hire the 80s feel-good movie Say Anything -  she knew would uplift him. From thereon in Camilla assigns him little tasks to help him function every day until she returns, including the basics such as getting out of his pjs and actually showering! Getting Sam to learn the guitar at this point was also really clever.

The burgeoning friendship between Camilla and Sam is, in my mind, the backbone of Life In Outer Space. Mel, you are deeply in touch with teenage themes (including developing resilience, family dysfunction, peer pressure, bullying, sexuality, conflict resolution and peer support) -and you handle each with sensitivity and humour. Any author who can make me laugh out loud, and later reduce me to tears, is a winner. Congratulations on your debut novel and let me know when your next one is published.

Kind regards,

stephanie

Gazing At the Stars

I will keep this post short, sharp and shiny. It is the powerful memoir of Eva Slonim, a holocaust survivor who was a child of eleven when she was taken to the death camp at Auschwitz. I really don't mind which of the holocaust novels you read but you MUST read one!
I teared up more than once during this 'uncorrected proof' edition due to its raw yet intricately detailed recount of the inhumane and insane treatment of the Jews during WWII. My teenage son quipped whilst walking past me, 'Yeah, and it wasn't that long ago.' Everyone needs to know about the holocaust; no excuses.

   'My name is Shmuel,' he cried. 'I am nine years old and my time has come. Promise me that you will say kaddish for me. Remember this day, this date. Remember my name. My name is Shmuel!'
   I felt a cold wave of panic pass through my spine. I did not know what the date was, nor the day. I would forget Shmuel, his memory, his suffering, his eyes, his life, lost and anonymous among the bodies piled in that room by the hospital.
   I looked down and saw the numbers tattooed on my arm: A27201. The number transfixed me, startled me with the starkness of its sudden permanence. 'A27201,' I said, 'this will be your kaddish.'
   Shmuel was content, relieved that his God and his people would not forget him. He walked towards the exit of the barracks. (pp.118-9)

Due for release May 2014.

Miss ^__^

The Ink Bridge

 I found this book to be a heavy but necessary read.
In this current political climate of demonising asylum seekers I am heartened that The Truth on the issue can be found if you are really searching for it. This is one text that sets the truth to right without hyperbole. In fact, author Neil Grant even vocalises common myths such as, "You just don't know what they're hiding behind those burqas. I heard they use them for terrorist attacks back home,'(p.149) I feel this is a risk  given that a skim reader might walk away from the novel wrongly believing it validates perverse unsubstantiated popular opinion.

When the moon began its climb over the stone niches where the Buddhas once stood, Omed and Wasim crept out of their bunker, throwing long shadows against the cracked walls. There were only rats and dogs on the streets; no one felt safe when the Taliban were out for revenge. If they didn't find the right man, any would do.
... Omed knew it was too dangerous for his brother to go any further with him. He pulled him by the sleeve and shook his head. Wasim's eyes filled with tears. 'It is not fair, Omed. I am small without you. What can I do against the Talib? I cannot protect our family.'
Omed spun him around and pushed him in the small of his back. Wasim shouted after Omed as he ran. 'I hate you, Omed. It is all your fault! Do you hear that, I HATE you!'
But as Wasim's voice faded he heard a last desperate sob, 'I love you, my brother. Don't leave us.'
(p.15)


The protagonist, Omed, can't reply to his brother; his tongue has been cut off by the Talib. This young adolescent escapes Afghanistan fearing for his life, leaving behind all that is familiar to him. With some American currency his widowed mother has stashed away for a time such as this, Omed decides to head for Australia given he has heard good reports about Australia's treatment of asylum seekers. Ultimately he hopes to be a free man in this alleged 'welcoming' country. As the story transpires he discovers what really happens behind the razor wire in one of Australia's detention centres.

The Children's Book Council of Australia awarded honours to this novel in 2013. It is well worth the read.

Miss ^__^

FRIDAY BROWN

I've been trying to work my way through the youth fiction which was short listed (or successful) for The Children's Book Council Awards this year. Hence, this title! I'm two thirds in and I'm finding the story captivating.

From the opening pages tension is created by finding out that the protagonist, Friday Brown, comes from a long line of women who have died by drowning. From here we journey with this young misfit as she tries to find her place in the world once her mum is dead. She eventually falls in with a band of street-wise young people who take her under their wings...
The 'gang' have just taken a road trip and ended up in a derelict town. Lord knows what's going to become of them! There's not even drinking water! I'm seriously worried.
Somehow I don't think I'm doing justice to the excellent story line. All I can say is, this is a great read and it's really well written.

Miss ^__^

    A leaf floated up and landed in my hair. It was perfect, still green, fallen too soon.
    Darcy came through the trapdoor about ten minutes later. She sashayed off on high heels, swinging a strappy handbag as if she was on her way to a garden party and I wasn't even there. Suddenly she stopped side-on and looked back. There were several bald patches on her scalp the size of dollar coins.
    'You don't belong here with us,' she said.
    'Don't I know it.' Under my breath.
    'Just go, why don't you.'
    'Am I such a threat to you, Darcy?' I stood up and brushed dead leaves off my backside. I tried to keep my cool and not look like I was completely without gumption at the same time. What I really wanted to do was rip some more of her hair out.   (pp.121-2) 
 

Dying To Know You

I'm half way through, but decided a mid point post was in order.
Boys, this one's not for you. It is a romance and it highlights the fundamental difference between the sexes - girls 'emote'; boys 'act'.
I found the premise to be implausible. In spite of that I have 'willingly suspended my disbelief' to work with the author as he painstakingly unearths the layers involved in 'falling hopelessly in love'.
Girls, I think you will enjoy this one, and I'd be keen to find out if you think the author gets it right.

     We slept that night better than any before.
     I was woken by Karl at dawn. There was just enough light filtering into the tent for me to see him. I have to explain that he had woken me each day at that time to make love, because he liked it best then. Afterwards we'd go to sleep again. I won't say I didn't like it because I did, but for Karl it was a special time and he was always urgent then... (pp.114-5)

TMI???

Cheers,
Miss ^__^

The Shiny Guys

Reminiscent of Cormier's 'I Am The Cheese', author Doug MacLeod takes the reader inside a psychiatric ward for teens. The protagonist, Colin, was traumatised when three years earlier his younger sister Briony was abducted from a national park while in his care.
A lovable and often witty boy, Colin is deeply depressed, highly medicated, and undergoing therapy whilst trying to recover from his guilt and grief. One of his symptoms is that he sees life-size cockroaches (see cover) with whom he begins to converse. By colluding with two in particular - Maximew and Vendra - Colin believes he will be able to get his sister back. Compelling to the end, 'The Shiny Guys' is a thrilling novel.
 I try an experiment. 'What if I told you that the shiny guys are real and not hallucinations? There really are beings from a parallel world and they are abducting humans. If I told you that, would you think I'm a liar?'
(p.128)

Miss Tarn ^__^