Olive and the Willow Tree was Irini Savvides’ first literary effort in 2001 and is a beautifully fragmented story of 17 year old Olive and her painful journey of self discovery and healing. With repressed memories of a childhood incident springing into her dreams and waking consciousness, Olive finds cracks beginning to appear in her life as these memories try to consume her.
The sick and believed dying willow tree that Olive discovers while in Greece becomes a metaphor for her own life; as she recognizes the need for inner healing if she is going to overcome the memories of her childhood. Olive and the Willow Tree, expresses this profound truth of healing in forgiveness through rich characterization in narrative prose, interspersed with beautiful poetry to deliver a message of recovery and hope. Because the topic of abuse is explored in the novel, I would recommend readers from 14 years and beyond. It also might be cause for conversation and realisation for those who may have personal experiences similar to Olive's circumstances.
If this book triggers something for you, talk to a trusted adult or visit Kidshelp.com http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/
by Rebecca Keshwar
Although Now is the third book in Gleitzman's series Once, Then, Now and After, I've classified it as realistic fiction because it is set in country Australia and draws on the February 2009 Victorian bushes fires within its narrative. There are many parallels and references back to the first two books in the series, but it is not necessary to have read them to appreciate the story.
Now explores the very real experience of children growing up with grandparents who survived the Holocaust and the shadow that it casts not only over the lives of the survivors, but also the generations after them. The story also explores bullying and how to have courage in the face of disaster.
Although fiction, you can also learn much about fire plans and how to survive a fire in extreme conditions. This story will also become a historical fiction record for future generations as they will not know about the Victorian bush fires in years to come or have an awareness of the number people who died and the way in which these disastrous bush fires have cast a shadow over the lives of survivors and the generations after them.
If you visit the Moriss Gleitzman Website http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/fst_contents.html you can read the first chapter or listen on audio version.
By Rebecca Keshwar
Now explores the very real experience of children growing up with grandparents who survived the Holocaust and the shadow that it casts not only over the lives of the survivors, but also the generations after them. The story also explores bullying and how to have courage in the face of disaster.
Although fiction, you can also learn much about fire plans and how to survive a fire in extreme conditions. This story will also become a historical fiction record for future generations as they will not know about the Victorian bush fires in years to come or have an awareness of the number people who died and the way in which these disastrous bush fires have cast a shadow over the lives of survivors and the generations after them.
If you visit the Moriss Gleitzman Website http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/fst_contents.html you can read the first chapter or listen on audio version.
By Rebecca Keshwar
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Why is realistic fiction so heavy? Anyway here goes another... Sold is a tragically confronting story of child sex trafficking. The story is told in first person narration through Lakshmi, a 13 year old girl from the hill country of Nepal. If this topic is confronting for you, don't be put off because it does end well, even if you wonder while reading. The reality is that sex trafficking, particularly among girls and women, is common in developing parts of this world and we need to at least be aware of what's going on and a book like Sold can help us move beyond awareness into caring.
I wouldn't recommend you read it if you're under 13 as sexual references in the book are necessary to convey the reality of the pain and trauma of having one's body abused through sex trafficking. There are also mentions of violence, as this is the means of punishing the girls disobedience to Mumtaz, the brothel owner. The value of reading such a book is to give you insight and empathy for those in our society who are vulnerable to exploitation and perhaps greater support for those organisation that try to rescue women and child from these horrendous circumstances. The story is also one of survival and resilience - Lakshmi is a survivor and conducted herself with dignity despite her situation.
For more books by Patrica McCormick visit http://patriciamccormick.com/
If our library collect doesn't have a copy available to borrow. Drop a request on the main library page and we will purchase a e copy for you.
By Rebecca Keshwar
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Following in the tradition of “Olive and the Willow Tree”, Irini Savvides has completed her second work of fiction that contains vivid descriptions, intertwined with beautifully constructed poetry. “Sky Legs” explores the experiences of a 16 year old Speek girl (Spanish and Greek), Eleni Cano – Katsas and her struggle to find and embrace who she is, to accept the circumstances of her life and in some instances, overcome them.
“Sky Legs” enfolds elements of the mystic and heavenly creating a story that is based in reality, but reaches into the beyond. The overt and somewhat clichéd references to angels seem slightly in the ridiculous when considered in isolation, however, when viewed in combination with echoes of ghosts long past and the mystically breathtaking descriptions of Sydney’s Blue Mountains, a narrative of deeply divine hope begins to unfold. |
SKy LegsAuthor: Irini Savvides
Publication Details: Hodder Headline Australian Children's Books; 2003 Rating: 5 out of 5 The novel is written in first person, with the narration sporadically changing between Eleni and her ally in life, Pete. The narration also includes snippets from Eleni’s mother and conversations and lessons of angels. Sky Legs embraces the notion of divine guidance and inspiration and it is through this slant that Savvides develops and explores Eleni’s struggle and ultimate triumph over other’s petty and small minded antics. Students of Drama would very much enjoy the detail Savvides gives to the discovery of self through the centredness required to successfully perform and find its vivid description of the art of clowning insightful. Overall I would rate Sky Legs well in its development of character, use of narrative structure and its dealings with such issues as loss, conformity versus individuality and finding inner strength to overcome life’s challenges. [A] big fat black moustache on the inside no amount of bleach will lighten it no hot sweet wax rip it from you you hide it and cling to yours as I wear mine but I wonder does yours tickle when you kiss? (Savvides, 2003, p. 268) by Rebecca Keshwar |
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