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mrssbeaumont's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rachel_smyth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexism, and Drug use
melbsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: refugee story, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, physical violence towards teenage girls and pregnant women, death of a parent (in the past), racial slurs, self-harm, mental health.
I've been wanting to read this book ever since I heard about it over a year ago. I mean, the story of an Iranian teenage girl living in an Australian detention centre and the Vietnamese-Australian son of one of her guards who befriends her at school? Uh, WOW.
The story is split between Ana, Jono, and Jono's father. Ordinarily, I'd be totally against having a parent's perspective in a YA book, but here it worked perfectly as Kenny fills the gap between their two worlds. I don't think I've ever come across a book before that confronts Australia's bullshit attitude towards refugees and asylum seekers as effectively as this one does.
The ending was a little abrupt for my liking, but on the whole, this was wonderful from start to finish.
I've been wanting to read this book ever since I heard about it over a year ago. I mean, the story of an Iranian teenage girl living in an Australian detention centre and the Vietnamese-Australian son of one of her guards who befriends her at school? Uh, WOW.
The story is split between Ana, Jono, and Jono's father. Ordinarily, I'd be totally against having a parent's perspective in a YA book, but here it worked perfectly as Kenny fills the gap between their two worlds. I don't think I've ever come across a book before that confronts Australia's bullshit attitude towards refugees and asylum seekers as effectively as this one does.
The ending was a little abrupt for my liking, but on the whole, this was wonderful from start to finish.
strangelyfamiliar's review against another edition
5.0
This book will break your heart, as it should. I'll be recommending it to everyone.
susannahb3's review against another edition
5.0
Important Australian storytelling. A beautiful and heartbreaking story of friendship between Anahita, an Iranian asylum seeker in onshore detention, and Jono, a troubled teen dealing with his own personal challenges. Couldn't put it down!
Young adult fiction.
Young adult fiction.
alicesprings's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
andreaart16's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
i was in a bit of a reading alumo and this definitely took me out. i really enjoyed jono and anas characters. what i didnt like was kenny. je actions arent even justified what he chose to do was a choice of his character, not of what others had said. what he did to ana was immoral, and if couldnt think that for himself since the start then what kind of person is he? and jono isnt even a bad son, idk if that was the author's intent or she just didn't depict him bad enough. he acts out because he has no one telling him better. i usually stay away from books by australian authors because they’re cringe, and although this one slightly is, its pretty good. the whole time i was reading this book, i was on edge and had such an uneasy feeling, because i knew something bad was going to happen. and it did. while it sucks, im not necessarily sad, because its meant to be realistic. if everything turned out well, its a disgrace to the lives of refugees to seem as though things are easy. at least there was a sort of resolution in the end. i just hope ana and jono meet up when they grow up.
rosepegler's review against another edition
5.0
Through this breathtakingly real tale, I was reminded just how much I have - and how much I should be fighting to change. Jono and Ana's love was truly beautiful - their struggles the opposite. A story that needed to be told! Thank you, Clare Atkins.
kiani's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another beautifully crafted story by Claire Atkins. After reading Nona & Me in 2015 I waited for Atkins to write another novel and I was surely not disappointed. Between Us creates a story from the present situations of refugees coming to Australia. The use of three different perspectives; a refugee, a guard and an Australian student allows the emotions of each opinion to be highlighted. This story outlines the terror many refugees experience and the need to change Australian law to help them overcome such struggles.