I thought about writing a blog about time management, but I haven't had the time yet! In the meantime, I have reviews to catch up on for my 2015 Australian Author challenge. Here are two, with two more to come in the next few days.
Wildlife by Fiona Wood
What’s it about?
A Melbourne private school sends their year 10 students to an outdoor education camp for a term. Ordinary lessons are interspersed with group and solo hikes, various practical duties, and living in a bunk bed in a cabin full-time with a small group of peers. For recently-famous Sybilla, it’s a term where friendships are tested and broken, new relationships are formed, and new “selves” are tried on. For the new girl Lou, it’s a term where grief begins to heal and she takes the first courageous steps towards opening herself up again.
Who’s it for?
Upper YA readers, 15+. Although I hate labelling literature as "for boys" or "for girls" I do think this book skews towards a female audience.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, it’s well-written and the teenagers are realistic characters whose ordinary, relatable problems are complicated in their own way. One thing I like about Australian YA is that it seems to be generally more progressive than its US equivalent, so things like periods and sex are mentioned in a very matter of fact way. Send an entire co-ed class group away for a term? Why yes, the girls will, at some point, need to buy tampons. This book in particular doesn’t pretend that teenage life is always PG. Sex is very much a feature and a fascination of one of the main characters. Female masturbation is referenced more than once. Boys and dating are complicated messy things that involve people who don’t always respect you. Wood gives a very honest picture of what adolescent life is like.
Would I teach it?
I would consider it, but probably not. Possibly with an all-girl’s class. I think this is a good book that I’d encourage interested young people to read, and I would recommend it to a teacher librarian or put it in a wide reading book box, but it’s not something I would get a class set of. It’s quite female-centric, and the themes of friendship, sex, love and grief are also explored in other novels that I think I would choose first (see some earlier reviews here). I’d encourage you to read it and make that judgment for yourself, though, and if you are interested, there are teacher’s notes available here.
Final Thoughts
Apparently this is a sequel to Six Impossible Things which I haven’t read, and didn’t need to in order to follow what was happening and enjoy the story. It’s set in Victoria, at a mountain camp on the outskirts of Melbourne.
What’s it about?
A Melbourne private school sends their year 10 students to an outdoor education camp for a term. Ordinary lessons are interspersed with group and solo hikes, various practical duties, and living in a bunk bed in a cabin full-time with a small group of peers. For recently-famous Sybilla, it’s a term where friendships are tested and broken, new relationships are formed, and new “selves” are tried on. For the new girl Lou, it’s a term where grief begins to heal and she takes the first courageous steps towards opening herself up again.
Who’s it for?
Upper YA readers, 15+. Although I hate labelling literature as "for boys" or "for girls" I do think this book skews towards a female audience.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, it’s well-written and the teenagers are realistic characters whose ordinary, relatable problems are complicated in their own way. One thing I like about Australian YA is that it seems to be generally more progressive than its US equivalent, so things like periods and sex are mentioned in a very matter of fact way. Send an entire co-ed class group away for a term? Why yes, the girls will, at some point, need to buy tampons. This book in particular doesn’t pretend that teenage life is always PG. Sex is very much a feature and a fascination of one of the main characters. Female masturbation is referenced more than once. Boys and dating are complicated messy things that involve people who don’t always respect you. Wood gives a very honest picture of what adolescent life is like.
Would I teach it?
I would consider it, but probably not. Possibly with an all-girl’s class. I think this is a good book that I’d encourage interested young people to read, and I would recommend it to a teacher librarian or put it in a wide reading book box, but it’s not something I would get a class set of. It’s quite female-centric, and the themes of friendship, sex, love and grief are also explored in other novels that I think I would choose first (see some earlier reviews here). I’d encourage you to read it and make that judgment for yourself, though, and if you are interested, there are teacher’s notes available here.
Final Thoughts
Apparently this is a sequel to Six Impossible Things which I haven’t read, and didn’t need to in order to follow what was happening and enjoy the story. It’s set in Victoria, at a mountain camp on the outskirts of Melbourne.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simpson
What’s it about?
Don Tillman is a socially awkward (possibly undiagnosed Asperger’s) genetics professor who embarks on a “project” to find himself a wife. He develops a questionnaire to ensure that he doesn’t waste time dating unsuitable candidates, but this proves unsuccessful. Meanwhile, he is introduced to a bartender, Rosie, by his womanizing best friend, Gene. Don takes on a side “project” of helping Rosie to find her biological father, and as they work together, his connection to Rosie grows.
Who’s it for?
It’s marketed towards adults – any age or gender, which in itself is interesting given that at its heart, this is essentially a romance novel that stretches a few conventions of genre.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! This received a lot of positive reviews for good reason – it’s funny, smart and the characterisation is great. Serious issues are dealt with gently and despite Don’s differences, he’s easy to relate to.
Would I teach it?
Probably not, unless to a senior Standard English class. The voice is fantastic and there’s plenty that could be said about humour or as part of a genre study (how this love story is similar and different to classic romance novels). It actually deals with “adult themes” like sex and drinking in a reasonably healthy and humorous way, with less detail than several of the young adult novels I’ve read recently. However, in terms of length, style and plot I still think there are better choices for younger grades.
Final Thoughts
The sequel, The Rosie Effect, was released last year, and is on my “to-read” list for somewhere in the future. There’s also a film adaptation coming.
What’s it about?
Don Tillman is a socially awkward (possibly undiagnosed Asperger’s) genetics professor who embarks on a “project” to find himself a wife. He develops a questionnaire to ensure that he doesn’t waste time dating unsuitable candidates, but this proves unsuccessful. Meanwhile, he is introduced to a bartender, Rosie, by his womanizing best friend, Gene. Don takes on a side “project” of helping Rosie to find her biological father, and as they work together, his connection to Rosie grows.
Who’s it for?
It’s marketed towards adults – any age or gender, which in itself is interesting given that at its heart, this is essentially a romance novel that stretches a few conventions of genre.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! This received a lot of positive reviews for good reason – it’s funny, smart and the characterisation is great. Serious issues are dealt with gently and despite Don’s differences, he’s easy to relate to.
Would I teach it?
Probably not, unless to a senior Standard English class. The voice is fantastic and there’s plenty that could be said about humour or as part of a genre study (how this love story is similar and different to classic romance novels). It actually deals with “adult themes” like sex and drinking in a reasonably healthy and humorous way, with less detail than several of the young adult novels I’ve read recently. However, in terms of length, style and plot I still think there are better choices for younger grades.
Final Thoughts
The sequel, The Rosie Effect, was released last year, and is on my “to-read” list for somewhere in the future. There’s also a film adaptation coming.
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