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hellbent's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
4.75
2019 short-listed for older readers Australian Children's Book of the Year. This book reinforced why I often enjoy Children's books more than adult's. It tackles difficult themes delicately, demonstrating the author's respect for youth readers ability to lean in to difficult content. Loved it as I always love Steven Herrick's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Minor: Cancer, Violence, and Alcoholism
bourgeois_biscuit's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Animal death
Moderate: Cancer
missusb21's review
5.0
Typical Herrick - evocative, lyrical, concise, authentic.
Longer review
Steven Herrick’s teenage male protagonists have been excellent representations of how boys should view and treat girls, right back to The Simple Gift (and before probably). Luke continues this tradition, at a time when mutual respect needs to be a stronger conversation among us all. His dislike of school means he spends much time wandering around his local Blue Mountains small town photographing important moments, and remembering his deceased father. His grief is still strong after two years, which leaves him vulnerable to the appearance of the enigmatic and attractive Charlotte.
It’s the detail in Herrick’s writing that enriches readers’ experience. His acute observations of the everyday interactions between Luke and his neighbours and teachers are witty and affectionate. Another constant thread is the appalling divide between rich and poor. Herrick’s insights sometimes include a sly reference: Luke’s whinging about verse novels, for example, ‘Why didn’t the poet just tell the story in the normal way?’ and Charlotte’s constant refrain, ‘there are worse things than school’, challenging us to consider the idea in our own context. The balance between light-hearted banter and poignant wishful thinking becomes especially welcome when Herrick deals with the serious issue of domestic violence. Luke is a generous, thoughtful and active character. While the resolution leaves us satisfied, there’s no doubt that Herrick recognises ignored threats and unjustified brutality within homes are rife through our community, and need to be confronted immediately.
Longer review
Steven Herrick’s teenage male protagonists have been excellent representations of how boys should view and treat girls, right back to The Simple Gift (and before probably). Luke continues this tradition, at a time when mutual respect needs to be a stronger conversation among us all. His dislike of school means he spends much time wandering around his local Blue Mountains small town photographing important moments, and remembering his deceased father. His grief is still strong after two years, which leaves him vulnerable to the appearance of the enigmatic and attractive Charlotte.
It’s the detail in Herrick’s writing that enriches readers’ experience. His acute observations of the everyday interactions between Luke and his neighbours and teachers are witty and affectionate. Another constant thread is the appalling divide between rich and poor. Herrick’s insights sometimes include a sly reference: Luke’s whinging about verse novels, for example, ‘Why didn’t the poet just tell the story in the normal way?’ and Charlotte’s constant refrain, ‘there are worse things than school’, challenging us to consider the idea in our own context. The balance between light-hearted banter and poignant wishful thinking becomes especially welcome when Herrick deals with the serious issue of domestic violence. Luke is a generous, thoughtful and active character. While the resolution leaves us satisfied, there’s no doubt that Herrick recognises ignored threats and unjustified brutality within homes are rife through our community, and need to be confronted immediately.
elvis_waugh's review
4.0
Steven Herrick captures teen voices so well. Like all my favouitre character driven novels this one is written with much empathy and hope. May the Charlottes of the world meet a Luke sometime in their lives. People like Luke have an innate ability to see through the superficial and get to the substance.
emkoshka's review
3.0
This is a gentle exploration of two teenagers in Katoomba dealing with family violence and first love. The protagonist, Luke, is a sensitive soul who wanders around the bush taking photos and mourning his smoking gambler of a father. So much fiction depicts young men as aggressive dickheads or aimless bums, so Luke's decency was refreshing. The story doesn't break new ground and the tropes are all there (including a rich girl, poor boy and friendly ethnically diverse neighbours), but that cover — inspired by the artist Piet Mondrian — is one of the loveliest I've seen.
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