Scan barcode
lou_robertson's review against another edition
3.0
I remember reading this book while at primary school and really enjoyed it. So I was pleased when I read it as an adult that I still got something out of it. Its a great little YA novel bringing together two very unlikely characters while confronting some very adult issues.
ninj's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic children's book - didn't realise it was award winning till afterward, but I can see why.
12yo kid in a new area, from a broken family, lumped with a older woman he doesn't know, ends up meeting a 20yo girl with problems both financial and health-related. Their relationship and those around them was very well done.
The blurb, which I actually skipped, gives away core plotlines which you can kinda deduce but which aren't revealed until fairly late in the book.
12yo kid in a new area, from a broken family, lumped with a older woman he doesn't know, ends up meeting a 20yo girl with problems both financial and health-related. Their relationship and those around them was very well done.
The blurb, which I actually skipped, gives away core plotlines which you can kinda deduce but which aren't revealed until fairly late in the book.
samvdp's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
aaron_j136's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book for school. I enjoyed it but felt as if the characters and story was a bit under developed
chapterkat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
petrel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, Medical content, Car accident, and Vomit
textpublishing's review against another edition
5.0
‘It’s been more than 25 years since Robin Klein’s poignant story of the friendship between lonely, timid 13-year-old Seymour and affectionate, effervescent, but seriously troubled 20-year-old Angie won the CBCA Book of the Year (Older Readers), a Human Rights Award and a White Raven commendation at the Bologna book fair but the novel has, remarkably, retained all its freshness and is surely no less relevant in this era of ice addiction than it was in 1989.’
Adelaide Advertiser
‘This coming-of-age story of finding yourself, helping others and the power of friendship is timeless.’
ReadPlus
‘Angie remains one of the best female characters I’ve ever encountered in YA, because Klein wrote her with so many cracks and complexities. She’s imperfect, but the compassion you feel for her is the most invaluable take-away from the book.’
Danielle Binks
‘The novel was groundbreaking when it was first published in 1989, and it remains fresh and urgent…Perhaps Klein’s greatest achievement is showing Angie through different characters’ eyes and perspectives. With her flamboyant dresses and tattoo of a flying horse on her shoulder, she is a beautiful goddess to Seymour, but her family disproves of her revealing clothes and tawdry earrings. Even though we perceive her flightiness and the recklessness of her choices, we align ourselves with Seymour’s optimistic, but unrealistic, view.’
Australian
‘It is more than 25 years since Robin Klein’s poignant story of the friendship between lonely, timid 13-year-old Seymour and affectionate, effervescent, but seriously troubled Angie, 20, won awards but the novel has, remarkably, retained all its freshness and it no less relevant in this era of ice addiction the it was in 1989.’
Daily Telegraph
Adelaide Advertiser
‘This coming-of-age story of finding yourself, helping others and the power of friendship is timeless.’
ReadPlus
‘Angie remains one of the best female characters I’ve ever encountered in YA, because Klein wrote her with so many cracks and complexities. She’s imperfect, but the compassion you feel for her is the most invaluable take-away from the book.’
Danielle Binks
‘The novel was groundbreaking when it was first published in 1989, and it remains fresh and urgent…Perhaps Klein’s greatest achievement is showing Angie through different characters’ eyes and perspectives. With her flamboyant dresses and tattoo of a flying horse on her shoulder, she is a beautiful goddess to Seymour, but her family disproves of her revealing clothes and tawdry earrings. Even though we perceive her flightiness and the recklessness of her choices, we align ourselves with Seymour’s optimistic, but unrealistic, view.’
Australian
‘It is more than 25 years since Robin Klein’s poignant story of the friendship between lonely, timid 13-year-old Seymour and affectionate, effervescent, but seriously troubled Angie, 20, won awards but the novel has, remarkably, retained all its freshness and it no less relevant in this era of ice addiction the it was in 1989.’
Daily Telegraph
booksnakeaaron's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book for school. I enjoyed it but felt as if the characters and story was a bit under developed
holmesstorybooks's review
3.0
I was trying to think of the author of this book the other day and I saw it in my school's library!
So glad. I've been wanting to review this book. I really liked this book when I read it in high school. I thought it was a pretty important book. It discussed drug use (without explicit examples, only references) in an age-appropriate way. I was a little bit older than I needed to be to read it, so I didn't enjoy it as much, but I thought it was really accessible.
I liked the characters, I liked the narrative voice despite the young age of the narrator. I thought this novel was well-structured and provides kids with an accessible book to read about and discuss drugs, drug use and its effects in a safe, contained environment.
I think this is one of Robin Klein's earlier books, and you can tell that her writing style is not as evolved. I enjoyed this, though, and think it's a solid effort for a novel. 3.5 stars from me. c:
So glad. I've been wanting to review this book. I really liked this book when I read it in high school. I thought it was a pretty important book. It discussed drug use (without explicit examples, only references) in an age-appropriate way. I was a little bit older than I needed to be to read it, so I didn't enjoy it as much, but I thought it was really accessible.
I liked the characters, I liked the narrative voice despite the young age of the narrator. I thought this novel was well-structured and provides kids with an accessible book to read about and discuss drugs, drug use and its effects in a safe, contained environment.
I think this is one of Robin Klein's earlier books, and you can tell that her writing style is not as evolved. I enjoyed this, though, and think it's a solid effort for a novel. 3.5 stars from me. c:
More...