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My next review, The Spying Game by PAT MOON, is another cracker.
This junior novel explores the hurt and confusion of a young teen at the death of his father in a motor accident. Anger at the the other driver, and feelings of self guilt, combine to create the state of mind that triggers a campaign to constantly remind the other driver of the death. Complications arise though, as events at school get out of hand, and Joe eventually learns the truth of the accident. Accepting this, he gradually allows the truth of his actions to emerge, and begins the healing process. Immensely valuable ideas for young people to explore, and dare I suggest it, many older ones also. A cathartic reading experience that many will be grateful for.
The Spying Game, Pat Moon’s second novel, was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Writer’s Guild Award. It was also broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
More information about the author here.
A first novel “The Outcast” by Sadie Jones is the subject of my next review.
This book has been the subject of much excitement having reached the Orange Prize for Fiction shortlist. Having just completed it during a weeks reading I can understand the acclaim and interest. The plot is essentially a vehicle to explore the alienation and damage wrecked on the human spirit and psychological health of young people starved of love and subjected to abuse. It achieves this goal through a story that will haunt you beyond the reading. To make the story more palatable perhaps, it is set in 1950’s England at a time before strict codes of family and personal conduct were loosened and society became more transparent. It is, nonethelesss, a chilling and disturbing story, and while I was also gripped in fascinated anticipation of each new revelation, I had to put the book down almost at each chapter – to reflect on, and to assimilate, the pain and damage that was being unveiled on the main characters, Lewis Aldridge and Kit Carmichael. The character of Lewis is almost lovingly drawn, while in comparison, that of Kit is rather sketched – but I suspect this was inevitable and takes nothing away from a first novel of real distinction.
The Independent has a useful further review here. An excellent video trailer has been produced by the National Film & Television School.
