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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
All Subhi has ever known is the inside of the immigration detention centre, that is until he meets Jimmie who lives on the other side of the fence. In their own ways they open up the world to each other with Subhi reading the stories that Jimmie’s mother gave her and Jimmie introducing Subhi to a whole manner of things he’s never experienced; hot chocolate and strawberries. I’m not sure I would describe this book as an enjoyable read but I definitely think it’s necessary. Fraillon writes emotively about the horrors and sadness of displacement life in immigration centres. For older than KS2 on account of violent content and swears.
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is not an easy book by any means, but it is an important book especially as the plight of refugees and asylum seekers dominates national and international politics. I want to put a copy of this in the hands of every adult because even though it's fictional, the setting it depicts is all too real. That we are still capable of doing this to each other in 2017 is kind of mind-boggling.
For all that there is an agenda in the book - educating readers about the Rohingya - The Bone Sparrow does not read like a book with an agenda. Instead, it is the story of the unlikely friendship between Subhi, a refugee born in an Australian detention center, and Jimmie, an Australian girl who struggles with the loss of her mother. The two bond over hot chocolate and the stories Jimmie's mother wrote in her notebook (Jimmie can't read and Subhi can, so Subhi becomes the de facto storyteller).
The book is also about the power of stories. Not just the fictional stories from Jimmie's mother and the stories the other members of the camp tell Subhi about life back home, or about his father, but also the real life existence of these refugees living in these conditions in detention centers around the globe. There is a powerful message here that should be told and retold, to our friends and family as well as our politicians and lawmakers.
For all that there is an agenda in the book - educating readers about the Rohingya - The Bone Sparrow does not read like a book with an agenda. Instead, it is the story of the unlikely friendship between Subhi, a refugee born in an Australian detention center, and Jimmie, an Australian girl who struggles with the loss of her mother. The two bond over hot chocolate and the stories Jimmie's mother wrote in her notebook (Jimmie can't read and Subhi can, so Subhi becomes the de facto storyteller).
Spoiler
There is also a side plot involving Subhi's friend Eli, who gets moved to a different part of the center, leads a hunger strike and may also have set fire to the camp, inciting a riot. Subhi isn't very clear on who began the fire that destroys almost all of the center, so I'm making an assumption here based on the clues the book gave. If I'm wrong just let me know!The book is also about the power of stories. Not just the fictional stories from Jimmie's mother and the stories the other members of the camp tell Subhi about life back home, or about his father, but also the real life existence of these refugees living in these conditions in detention centers around the globe.
Spoiler
Ultimately, Subhi is able to tell his story to the fictional world, while Zana Fraillon tells the story to us.
dark
emotional
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:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was required reading for my Year 8 English class and I honestly found myself enjoying this book. Zana Fraillon has done an excellent job in doing what she aimed to - spread awareness about the refugees. She certainly managed to evoke the emotions that Subhi was feeling in me and I was able to empathise with Subhi, rather simply feel sorry for him. I also love the character development that Subhi goes through. From being a hopeful, innocent child, he begins to realise the gravity of the situations around him and grows up.
There was also excellent foreshadowing and Queeny being the one to give Subhi and her Ba's treasures to Subhi was a lovely twist to bring in the end, as it showed the bond between two siblings - something which a lot of entertainment is starting to overlook.
Jimmie's character is rather well done too, for she helps Subhi in a way that the other refugees couldn't. I also must admit that I absolutely adore the bond that Jimmie and Subhi share.
The novel is also extremely well-paced, neither going too fast nor too slow, as there isn't too much going on in most chapters but not too little either, for each chapter holds a meaning. I would argue that every single sentence means something important and is something that provides the reader with a greater understanding of the characters and events.
The one thing that novel failed to do, for me, was give me a satisfying ending. Though, I do love a good cliffhanger - only if I know that there will be a sequel. Though 'The Bone Sparrow' does not end on a cliffhanger, I feel that so much more could be explored. So many questions are left unanswered at the end, and I can not help but feel the need to know more about what happens to Subhi, Jimmie and the other refugees afterwards.
Despite this ending not completely pleasing me, it did leave a huge impact and certainly ended on a strong note. I would definitely recommend this book.
emotional
informative
inspiring
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