EXPLORING BOOKS
WHAT ARE THEY READING?
ROUSE HILL
Breakaway
by Kat Spears
Reviewed by
Mirelle O’Meara
ROUSE HILL
Hope in a
Ballet Shoe
by Michaela and
Elaine DePrince
Reviewed by
Kim Milton
For ages 11+
by Ann Grimwade
Reviewed By
Lynne Allister
For ages 15+
Moving Out
For Parents
This issue’s bag of books includes some great fiction and non-fiction finds for teens and
adults alike, as well as some great input from Dymocks stores and guest reviewers.
ROUSE HILL
A teenager, who has suddenly found
herself the main caregiver for herself and
her younger sister, tries to keep her new
situation a secret from the people around
her. The 17-year-old Lucille has been put
in this situation by her father who has had
a breakdown and her mother who has
left town. While brave, stubborn Lucille
struggles to pay bills and find enough to
eat, her life is complicated by her attraction
to her best friend's brother. The transition
depicted in this book tracks Lucille’s
transformation from careless teenager
to dependable caregiver, as the book
addresses the idea of responsibility.
Inbetween Days
by Vikki Wakefield
Reviewed by
Nicole Mangura
Jack is 17 and ready to be an adult, or
at least she thinks so when she drops
out of school and moves in with her
runaway older sister. However, with a
lack of job prospects in her dead-end
country town, Jack struggles to navigate
the unexpected choices that lead to
independence. The richly drawn and
multifaceted character relationships are a
great way to examine the shifting nature
of family dynamics, fiscal autonomy, and
what it means to enter the adult world.
Fans of Melina Marchetta will love the
lyricism and complexity of this novel.
Hold Me Like
A Breath
by Tiffany Schmidt
Reviewed by
Emily Booth
For ages 15+
by Estelle Laure
Reviewed by
Elspeth LaMorte
For ages 14+
This Raging Light
Hope in a Ballet Shoe is the harrowing
true story of one girl's journey from the
orphanages in war-torn Sierra Leone to
the prestigious ballet schools of America.
This book is not just about a ballerina, it is
about an incredibly brave girl who goes
from being a deeply fragile orphan to a
beloved member of the Dutch National
Ballet. Her deeply moving story is an
inspiration for any aspiring dancers, or
even just someone who feels like they
have lost their way. Beautifully written,
Hope in a Ballet Shoe, with its wonderfully
evocative imagery, is truly one of the most
uplifting stories.
For ages 15+
When Jason's younger sister passes away,
he is left to deal with his grieving mother.
He knows his three best friends will help
him through it all, but soon they start to drift
away. Then Jason meets Raine. How can
Jason maintain a relationship while trying
to deal with his grief and hold on to his
friends? This book is realistic, smart, funny
and brutal in its honesty and its themes,
with very real and relatable characters.
This gritty, contemporary novel is as much
about enduring friendships as it is about
new love and dealing with grief.
It is said that this generation of teenagers
is becoming less self-reliant, with many
teens not even moving out before their
30s.This terrific book covers every
practical skill and handy tip that children
finishing school or leaving home need
to know. You can also apply these tips if
your children are not moving out in the
near future, but you want to help them
become mature independent individuals.
According to Grimwade, the top five
moving-out skills required are:
1. Manage your money
2. Look after your health
3. Learn to cook something edible
4. Clean the house
5. Look after your clothes
Penelope has a rare blood disorder, but
as the member of an influential family
that controls the black market for organ
transplants, she has always been well
cared for. When her family are murdered
and she is left homeless and without
medical support, Penelope must discover
who betrayed them, before her illness
finishes her off. The novel balances a
realistic view of how a medical condition
like this drastically affects someone’s life,
with a thrilling crime narrative that traces
Penelope’s path to empowerment and
independence. A must-read for teens
and adults.
All book reviews are stored in the resources section of our website: http://www.exploringteens.com.au/#!resources/c1ir1
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