Reviews
Fleur Beale
Author of I Am Not Esther
I Am Not Esther by New Zealand author Fleur Beale is an engrossing story about a modern girl, Kirby, whose mother leaves her in the care of her strict and pious brother, Caleb, who along with his wife and children are members of a Religious Sect called Children of the Faith. This faith is rigidly traditional. Kirby is immediately renamed Esther and forced to wear her hair tied back in a braid. Her clothes are replaced by long skirts, she is forbidden to use slang or take lord’s name in vain. Failure to follow the rules means immediate punishment, which included long hours on her knees and the whole family praying over her. Women were considered to be the property of the men and early marriages were arranged.
Although terribly confused and angry at her mother for leaving her with these people, she does grow very fond of her cousins, and eventually helps the eldest boy, Daniel, make a break with the community. Although her mother was to have gone to Africa to work as a nurse, it is show more discovered that she never left New Zealand. Kirby needs to find her mother and discover her reasons for leaving and for abandoning her daughter in this way. Kirby also realizes that she needs to get away as she is in danger of losing her own identity.
Well written and mostly believable, I Am Not Esther was an enjoyable YA read. The story flowed easily and although the Children of the Faith are fictional, the ideas and life style they supported seemed real and gave the reader a good idea of how restrictive a cult like this can be. show less
Although terribly confused and angry at her mother for leaving her with these people, she does grow very fond of her cousins, and eventually helps the eldest boy, Daniel, make a break with the community. Although her mother was to have gone to Africa to work as a nurse, it is show more discovered that she never left New Zealand. Kirby needs to find her mother and discover her reasons for leaving and for abandoning her daughter in this way. Kirby also realizes that she needs to get away as she is in danger of losing her own identity.
Well written and mostly believable, I Am Not Esther was an enjoyable YA read. The story flowed easily and although the Children of the Faith are fictional, the ideas and life style they supported seemed real and gave the reader a good idea of how restrictive a cult like this can be. show less
When Ellen, Kirby’s mother, suddenly reveals she’s been accepted to work for a refugee programme, Kirby is stunned. But her world falls apart when she’s told she’ll be going to live with her uncle and his family, who she never even knew existed.
But Ellen has been keeping another secret. She grew up as a member of a Christian sect called the Fellowship of The Children of the Faith. Kirby’s Uncle Caleb is an Elder of the group, and it to his family that Kirby is sent to live.
Almost as soon as Kirby arrives, Caleb and Aunt Naomi calmly begin their attempt to indoctrinate Kirby to their way of life. Her name is changed to Esther (because all members of the group have biblical names), there are no mirrors and very limited technology. The clothes are modest and old fashioned; she must speak ‘properly’ without using slang or contracted words. There is no TV, newspaper or books other than the Bible, so that the family’s thoughts may always be directed toward God. Discipline show more is either being shut up in the under stairs closet to learn Psalms or having the whole family forced to kneel, perhaps for an hour or more, to pray for you.
Under the weight of her mother’s abandonment and the strict life within The Fellowship, Kirby struggles to maintain some sense of herself and her identity. She takes comfort in caring for her young cousin Maggie (Magdalene) who is traumatised from the sudden ‘death’ of her older sister Miriam, and in her frank conversations with her cousin Daniel, who also struggles with the groups dictates.
I found I Am Not Esther very realistic. The use of language was an effective and believable way to distinguish those who are a part of The Fellowship, and those who aren’t. Kirby is a strong, compelling character, as is Daniel, in his own quiet way.
This is a psychological book and explores the effects of abandonment, the importance of an environment that allows questions, and the importance of having your own identity - even when it's something as simple as being called by your own name. It is also about having the inner strength to be who you are, even when the consequences may be far reaching, and potentially lifelong, not just for Kirby but also for her mother and their relatives.
Beale clearly portrays the potential harm to young people living in such circumstances. But in questioning the lifestyle, she doesn’t condemn the people. She portrays the friendships and bonds that develop, even though there are fundamental differences in opinions and beliefs.
This is a wonderful book. It is powerful, heartbreaking, but also has moments of simple joy. I easily read I Am Not Esther in one sitting, and was completely captivated from the first page until the last.
From the back cover: Fleur Beale is a former teacher who was inspired to write I Am Not Esther when one of her students was beaten and expelled from his family for going against their religious beliefs. show less
But Ellen has been keeping another secret. She grew up as a member of a Christian sect called the Fellowship of The Children of the Faith. Kirby’s Uncle Caleb is an Elder of the group, and it to his family that Kirby is sent to live.
Almost as soon as Kirby arrives, Caleb and Aunt Naomi calmly begin their attempt to indoctrinate Kirby to their way of life. Her name is changed to Esther (because all members of the group have biblical names), there are no mirrors and very limited technology. The clothes are modest and old fashioned; she must speak ‘properly’ without using slang or contracted words. There is no TV, newspaper or books other than the Bible, so that the family’s thoughts may always be directed toward God. Discipline show more is either being shut up in the under stairs closet to learn Psalms or having the whole family forced to kneel, perhaps for an hour or more, to pray for you.
Under the weight of her mother’s abandonment and the strict life within The Fellowship, Kirby struggles to maintain some sense of herself and her identity. She takes comfort in caring for her young cousin Maggie (Magdalene) who is traumatised from the sudden ‘death’ of her older sister Miriam, and in her frank conversations with her cousin Daniel, who also struggles with the groups dictates.
I found I Am Not Esther very realistic. The use of language was an effective and believable way to distinguish those who are a part of The Fellowship, and those who aren’t. Kirby is a strong, compelling character, as is Daniel, in his own quiet way.
This is a psychological book and explores the effects of abandonment, the importance of an environment that allows questions, and the importance of having your own identity - even when it's something as simple as being called by your own name. It is also about having the inner strength to be who you are, even when the consequences may be far reaching, and potentially lifelong, not just for Kirby but also for her mother and their relatives.
Beale clearly portrays the potential harm to young people living in such circumstances. But in questioning the lifestyle, she doesn’t condemn the people. She portrays the friendships and bonds that develop, even though there are fundamental differences in opinions and beliefs.
This is a wonderful book. It is powerful, heartbreaking, but also has moments of simple joy. I easily read I Am Not Esther in one sitting, and was completely captivated from the first page until the last.
From the back cover: Fleur Beale is a former teacher who was inspired to write I Am Not Esther when one of her students was beaten and expelled from his family for going against their religious beliefs. show less
Opening Sentence: ‘…On Taris, we shave our heads …’
Juno is a young girl who is living in an isolated island society of 500 people that fled the chaos of the 21st century. A group of pioneer scientists volunteered to start the new civilisation on an island “somewhere in the southern ocean,” there they developed an enclosed dome where the atmosphere; water; rain and temperatures are all regulated by computers and it is designed to survive even if the rest of humanity perished. Not long after the colony is set up they lose contact with “the Outside”.
JUNO OF TARIS commences when Juno is 12, and she has already started to openly question the rules of Taris. Questions such as why must they all shave their heads every week? Why must they all wear the same clothes and why are her grandparents teaching her to read and not allow her to tell anyone – even her parents? To publicly question the established way brings about the punishment of withdrawing, where everyone has to show more turn their back on you as you walk by – a very isolating and distressing experience!!! Gradually Juno learns that she is not alone in wanting questions answered, and as it becomes obvious that someone is willing to kill Juno to stop her perceived rebellion she finds she has a loyal band of friends who stand with her and seek the hidden truths as the dome’s technology starts to fail.
The plot the story is built on is powerful and looks at societies, those who control societies, and how they are able to do so. Author Fleur Beale wrote this book with tremendous detail, yet the scientific component was written simply. As a whole JUNO OF TARIS was a pleasure to read and a great story.
All of the characters, both good and bad, were very realistic. The plot was easy to follow and I really liked how each of the chapters ended with three or four snippets from conversations regarding island gossip. It helped expand on information already gained, and set up what was going to happen next; giving the reader an insight into the networking and information sharing of the community.
JUNO OF TARIS won the Esther Glen Award in New Zealand in 2009 – the award is presented to the author whose work is considered a distinguished contribution to fiction for children. Well deserved in my opinion. show less
Juno is a young girl who is living in an isolated island society of 500 people that fled the chaos of the 21st century. A group of pioneer scientists volunteered to start the new civilisation on an island “somewhere in the southern ocean,” there they developed an enclosed dome where the atmosphere; water; rain and temperatures are all regulated by computers and it is designed to survive even if the rest of humanity perished. Not long after the colony is set up they lose contact with “the Outside”.
JUNO OF TARIS commences when Juno is 12, and she has already started to openly question the rules of Taris. Questions such as why must they all shave their heads every week? Why must they all wear the same clothes and why are her grandparents teaching her to read and not allow her to tell anyone – even her parents? To publicly question the established way brings about the punishment of withdrawing, where everyone has to show more turn their back on you as you walk by – a very isolating and distressing experience!!! Gradually Juno learns that she is not alone in wanting questions answered, and as it becomes obvious that someone is willing to kill Juno to stop her perceived rebellion she finds she has a loyal band of friends who stand with her and seek the hidden truths as the dome’s technology starts to fail.
The plot the story is built on is powerful and looks at societies, those who control societies, and how they are able to do so. Author Fleur Beale wrote this book with tremendous detail, yet the scientific component was written simply. As a whole JUNO OF TARIS was a pleasure to read and a great story.
All of the characters, both good and bad, were very realistic. The plot was easy to follow and I really liked how each of the chapters ended with three or four snippets from conversations regarding island gossip. It helped expand on information already gained, and set up what was going to happen next; giving the reader an insight into the networking and information sharing of the community.
JUNO OF TARIS won the Esther Glen Award in New Zealand in 2009 – the award is presented to the author whose work is considered a distinguished contribution to fiction for children. Well deserved in my opinion. show less
Kirby and her mother have always lived by themselves, and it’s never bothered Kirby that her mother never talks about her childhood or her relations. But Kirby is intensely bothered when her mother decides to go to Africa, leaving Kirby with a religious Uncle she’s never met before. With The Children of the Faith, Kirby must learn to behave in a Godly manner, wear “seemly” clothes, guard her tongue, and accept the Biblical name they have chosen for her.
The standard approach to problem-solving in this new environment is through prayer. In times of crisis (such as Kirby’s disobedience to the Rule) the whole family must kneel in Uncle Caleb’s study while he seeks the Lord’s will and asks for forgiveness on their behalf. In addition Kirby spends some time in the separate “discipline room” learning verses of the Bible by heart.
The picture Kirby paints of the life of the Children of the Faith certainly seems an alarming one: people in this community are not allowed to show more use contractions (that’s aren’t, for example) in their speech, technology is severely limited, and the girls have no idea about the changes puberty will bring to their bodies.
Still, the author does not totally condemn such communities: there are characters in this story who rejoice in the security that their way of life provides for them. Although Kirby is totally anti the lifestyle, she does come to respect many of the people who live that way, and develops affectionate relationships with her aunt and cousins.
In many ways this is a story about family relationships, and perhaps the common tendency to completely trust those we love. Kirby feels so betrayed when her mother leaves her, but after a while in the Faith community Kirby begins to understand how her mother may have been equally betrayed by her own loved ones. There is also the matter of Miriam, apparently deceased just before Kirby becomes part of the Pilgrim family. But they are not above trying to restore broken relationships: indeed, Kirby is horrified to discover that she is a sort of “experiment” to see whether people who have not grown up in the Fellowship can be integrated.
Much of the appeal of this story comes from its realism: the reader feels certain that "that could never really happen", but then again, so did Kirby. Everything that happens to Kirby is just plausible enough to be worrisome for the comfortable reader: what would you do if you had to call an ambulance, but there was no phone in the house? What if you didn’t actually know which part of the country you were living in? And how important is it really for people to call you by the right name? show less
The standard approach to problem-solving in this new environment is through prayer. In times of crisis (such as Kirby’s disobedience to the Rule) the whole family must kneel in Uncle Caleb’s study while he seeks the Lord’s will and asks for forgiveness on their behalf. In addition Kirby spends some time in the separate “discipline room” learning verses of the Bible by heart.
The picture Kirby paints of the life of the Children of the Faith certainly seems an alarming one: people in this community are not allowed to show more use contractions (that’s aren’t, for example) in their speech, technology is severely limited, and the girls have no idea about the changes puberty will bring to their bodies.
Still, the author does not totally condemn such communities: there are characters in this story who rejoice in the security that their way of life provides for them. Although Kirby is totally anti the lifestyle, she does come to respect many of the people who live that way, and develops affectionate relationships with her aunt and cousins.
In many ways this is a story about family relationships, and perhaps the common tendency to completely trust those we love. Kirby feels so betrayed when her mother leaves her, but after a while in the Faith community Kirby begins to understand how her mother may have been equally betrayed by her own loved ones. There is also the matter of Miriam, apparently deceased just before Kirby becomes part of the Pilgrim family. But they are not above trying to restore broken relationships: indeed, Kirby is horrified to discover that she is a sort of “experiment” to see whether people who have not grown up in the Fellowship can be integrated.
Much of the appeal of this story comes from its realism: the reader feels certain that "that could never really happen", but then again, so did Kirby. Everything that happens to Kirby is just plausible enough to be worrisome for the comfortable reader: what would you do if you had to call an ambulance, but there was no phone in the house? What if you didn’t actually know which part of the country you were living in? And how important is it really for people to call you by the right name? show less
Kirby has always taken care of her mother more than her mother has taken care of her: she does all the bill paying and grocery shopping, and keeps her mom on a budget as best she can. But just before Christmas her mom starts acting strange and nervous, and then suddenly they're packing their belongings and leaving town, with no real explanation. Her mother leaves Kirby with the family she's never met and who belong to a strict Christian cult the lives by The Rule. She's renamed Esther, forced to live by the cult's oppressive ways, and finds herself slowly losing her identity even as she fights to maintain it. Will she be able to escape and find her mother? Will she ever be Kirby again?
A good story that keeps the tension without getting too dark, and gives a good look into how harmful such sects can be both physically and mentally. Nicely drawn characters and good pacing.
A good story that keeps the tension without getting too dark, and gives a good look into how harmful such sects can be both physically and mentally. Nicely drawn characters and good pacing.
Opening Sentence: “…’if there is a choice, Juno, you must know – we are going to stay,’ my father said…”
The previous novel, Juno of Taris, ended with the arrival of outsiders and the small community realising that domed island of Taris was in big trouble due to cracks appearing in the protective cover that makes their island airtight, and the support systems failing one by one. Initially leaving was going to be an option with the inhabitants able to choose to either leave the island or stay, now the leaving option has escalated to leave now or die. A huge storm is scheduled to hit the island in a few hours and their rescuers think the whole dome will break. This proves true, and as they travel through the fierce September storm on a ship the 500 Taris inhabitants watch the dome disintegrate and carry away all the buildings on the island.
On arrival in Wellington the people of Taris discover that the world is very different from when their elders were first sealed away. show more The world’s population has been reduced to around a million by a series of pandemics that have ravaged the world; global warming has left whole cities empty. A bomb attack welcomes the Tarians, and when they are housed in a refugee centre they realise they need to quickly familiarise themselves with the new society they are to be a part of, the money, food, technologies, clothes and work.
Willem is the person who rescued the Tarians and soon it is apparent that there is a subversive element within New Zealand that is conducting a hate campaign via the internet, against Willem and as a flow on, the Tarians. Shortly after their arrival a new pandemic breaks out and the Tarians are accused of bringing it to New Zealand. Who hates the Tarians so much that they want to destroy them?
In Juno of Taris, each chapter is ended with a few sentences of different gossipy information recording the Tarians passing information on to each other. FIERCE SEPTEMBER does the same but with an added bonus at the end of each chapter there is the web address of a blog posting which actually exists. If they have access to the internet, readers can access and read the two opposing blog postings. One is someone from the boat who is for the group and the other blog is one of the subversive agitators who are whipping up anti-refugee hysteria, along with comments to both blogs. Such a clever idea – but nothing is revealed that is not in the book, so people without internet access won’t miss out on crucial information.
It doesn’t take Juno and her friends long to realise that things will not be the same outside and if they can stop the pandemic and clear their names then they will leave their temporary refuge and be absorbed into the New Zealand community as individual and small family groups.
I really enjoyed this second book in the trilogy, was well written and narrated from the point of view of Juno. I cannot wait for the final book to come out, but that is not looking like it will happen before 2012 show less
The previous novel, Juno of Taris, ended with the arrival of outsiders and the small community realising that domed island of Taris was in big trouble due to cracks appearing in the protective cover that makes their island airtight, and the support systems failing one by one. Initially leaving was going to be an option with the inhabitants able to choose to either leave the island or stay, now the leaving option has escalated to leave now or die. A huge storm is scheduled to hit the island in a few hours and their rescuers think the whole dome will break. This proves true, and as they travel through the fierce September storm on a ship the 500 Taris inhabitants watch the dome disintegrate and carry away all the buildings on the island.
On arrival in Wellington the people of Taris discover that the world is very different from when their elders were first sealed away. show more The world’s population has been reduced to around a million by a series of pandemics that have ravaged the world; global warming has left whole cities empty. A bomb attack welcomes the Tarians, and when they are housed in a refugee centre they realise they need to quickly familiarise themselves with the new society they are to be a part of, the money, food, technologies, clothes and work.
Willem is the person who rescued the Tarians and soon it is apparent that there is a subversive element within New Zealand that is conducting a hate campaign via the internet, against Willem and as a flow on, the Tarians. Shortly after their arrival a new pandemic breaks out and the Tarians are accused of bringing it to New Zealand. Who hates the Tarians so much that they want to destroy them?
In Juno of Taris, each chapter is ended with a few sentences of different gossipy information recording the Tarians passing information on to each other. FIERCE SEPTEMBER does the same but with an added bonus at the end of each chapter there is the web address of a blog posting which actually exists. If they have access to the internet, readers can access and read the two opposing blog postings. One is someone from the boat who is for the group and the other blog is one of the subversive agitators who are whipping up anti-refugee hysteria, along with comments to both blogs. Such a clever idea – but nothing is revealed that is not in the book, so people without internet access won’t miss out on crucial information.
It doesn’t take Juno and her friends long to realise that things will not be the same outside and if they can stop the pandemic and clear their names then they will leave their temporary refuge and be absorbed into the New Zealand community as individual and small family groups.
I really enjoyed this second book in the trilogy, was well written and narrated from the point of view of Juno. I cannot wait for the final book to come out, but that is not looking like it will happen before 2012 show less
Opening Sentence: ‘…On Taris, we shave our heads …’
Juno is a young girl who is living in an isolated island society of 500 people that fled the chaos of the 21st century. A group of pioneer scientists volunteered to start the new civilisation on an island “somewhere in the southern ocean,” there they developed an enclosed dome where the atmosphere; water; rain and temperatures are all regulated by computers and it is designed to survive even if the rest of humanity perished. Not long after the colony is set up they lose contact with “the Outside”.
JUNO OF TARIS commences when Juno is 12, and she has already started to openly question the rules of Taris. Questions such as why must they all shave their heads every week? Why must they all wear the same clothes and why are her grandparents teaching her to read and not allow her to tell anyone – even her parents? To publicly question the established way brings about the punishment of withdrawing, where everyone has to show more turn their back on you as you walk by – a very isolating and distressing experience!!! Gradually Juno learns that she is not alone in wanting questions answered, and as it becomes obvious that someone is willing to kill Juno to stop her perceived rebellion she finds she has a loyal band of friends who stand with her and seek the hidden truths as the dome’s technology starts to fail.
The plot the story is built on is powerful and looks at societies, those who control societies, and how they are able to do so. Author Fleur Beale wrote this book with tremendous detail, yet the scientific component was written simply. As a whole JUNO OF TARIS was a pleasure to read and a great story.
All of the characters, both good and bad, were very realistic. The plot was easy to follow and I really liked how each of the chapters ended with three or four snippets from conversations regarding island gossip. It helped expand on information already gained, and set up what was going to happen next; giving the reader an insight into the networking and information sharing of the community.
JUNO OF TARIS won the Esther Glen Award in New Zealand in 2009 – the award is presented to the author whose work is considered a distinguished contribution to fiction for children. Well deserved in my opinion. show less
Juno is a young girl who is living in an isolated island society of 500 people that fled the chaos of the 21st century. A group of pioneer scientists volunteered to start the new civilisation on an island “somewhere in the southern ocean,” there they developed an enclosed dome where the atmosphere; water; rain and temperatures are all regulated by computers and it is designed to survive even if the rest of humanity perished. Not long after the colony is set up they lose contact with “the Outside”.
JUNO OF TARIS commences when Juno is 12, and she has already started to openly question the rules of Taris. Questions such as why must they all shave their heads every week? Why must they all wear the same clothes and why are her grandparents teaching her to read and not allow her to tell anyone – even her parents? To publicly question the established way brings about the punishment of withdrawing, where everyone has to show more turn their back on you as you walk by – a very isolating and distressing experience!!! Gradually Juno learns that she is not alone in wanting questions answered, and as it becomes obvious that someone is willing to kill Juno to stop her perceived rebellion she finds she has a loyal band of friends who stand with her and seek the hidden truths as the dome’s technology starts to fail.
The plot the story is built on is powerful and looks at societies, those who control societies, and how they are able to do so. Author Fleur Beale wrote this book with tremendous detail, yet the scientific component was written simply. As a whole JUNO OF TARIS was a pleasure to read and a great story.
All of the characters, both good and bad, were very realistic. The plot was easy to follow and I really liked how each of the chapters ended with three or four snippets from conversations regarding island gossip. It helped expand on information already gained, and set up what was going to happen next; giving the reader an insight into the networking and information sharing of the community.
JUNO OF TARIS won the Esther Glen Award in New Zealand in 2009 – the award is presented to the author whose work is considered a distinguished contribution to fiction for children. Well deserved in my opinion. show less
do you ever feel like the only person on goodreads who Didn't Get It
this was so short and left me somewhere in the realm of "eh, okay," so i'm not even gonna pretend to format this like a proper review. enjoy jotnotes...
the good
- kirby herself. a goddamn fireball who i found pretty funny, wild, reckless, and for all her big talk, still had a heart and kindness to give to her 'siblings' and some of the church kids who she was initially a snot about
- loved loved loved how kirby became a big sister to Maggie, and how important Maggie was. I felt like she was dropped in the ending and we all forgot about her, but for someone who expected ONLY kirby and daniel to be the pair of rebellious awesome break-away teens while everyone else were god-fearing pests, i liked how close kirby got to the kids and how caring she became - in her own wild way.
- i appreciate kirby's conflicted feelings towards her mom. i feel like the proper emotional beats got scrambled and a little lost in the show more delivery, but all the pieces were there and they GENERALLY locked together nicely, so...yeah
- writing style. bugged me at first because it took me by surprise, but once i realized i was essentially reading a novella (my ereader calculated the pages as being hardly over 100 so it at least FELT shorter) i appreciated it more. while the story isn't packed with events, the style races us through at warp-speed. kirby's colourful commentary and humour were also really nice
the bad
- the Big One: the theme/thread that was apparently supposed to be so important that it became the title. man, this...was a let-down. kirby didn't change AT ALL. while the relationship with her mother swung a bit wildly, every other arc between her and the characters were predictable and tepid at best, and her relationship with the "persona" of Esther was wooorrrse. Kirby from start to finish was loud about her hatred of the rules, unwilling to budge, self-righteous, and cranky. It tried to sneak in some lines that held NO weight and NO evidence in her actual actions about how she was feeling herself drifting to their side or something, but they were so out of place and so ridiculously obvious that they felt like they were cut-pasted in after the novel was done as a second thought. they had no consequences beyond some throwaway lines about "o no i am esther" "no you aren't" "oh okay it's cool now." was i supposed to think that her saving Naomi FROM DEATH was a big sign of how she was changing and warming up to them? idk man I would call the police for some rando on the street, this doesn't prove anything.
- the "villains" were caricatures. like, i get the point, but kirby's biased narration left me feeling like i was missing something. i mean, they weren't completely irredeemable/void of any human qualities besides "pray", right?
- repetitive with things that were supposed to make me uncomfortable. they did initially - damn this uncle locking her away and praying like a maniac! but kirby was so bullheaded and dismissive that i stopped caring, and yet it still kept hammering the same punishments for the same boring bad behaviour. her cutting off her hair was really satisfying for a reason, and broke the monotony that kirby was apathetic about so i was too. that scene alone should put this point on a "ehhh okay" list but we have none.
- idk that about summarizes it show less
this was so short and left me somewhere in the realm of "eh, okay," so i'm not even gonna pretend to format this like a proper review. enjoy jotnotes...
the good
- kirby herself. a goddamn fireball who i found pretty funny, wild, reckless, and for all her big talk, still had a heart and kindness to give to her 'siblings' and some of the church kids who she was initially a snot about
- loved loved loved how kirby became a big sister to Maggie, and how important Maggie was. I felt like she was dropped in the ending and we all forgot about her, but for someone who expected ONLY kirby and daniel to be the pair of rebellious awesome break-away teens while everyone else were god-fearing pests, i liked how close kirby got to the kids and how caring she became - in her own wild way.
- i appreciate kirby's conflicted feelings towards her mom. i feel like the proper emotional beats got scrambled and a little lost in the show more delivery, but all the pieces were there and they GENERALLY locked together nicely, so...yeah
- writing style. bugged me at first because it took me by surprise, but once i realized i was essentially reading a novella (my ereader calculated the pages as being hardly over 100 so it at least FELT shorter) i appreciated it more. while the story isn't packed with events, the style races us through at warp-speed. kirby's colourful commentary and humour were also really nice
the bad
- the Big One: the theme/thread that was apparently supposed to be so important that it became the title. man, this...was a let-down. kirby didn't change AT ALL. while the relationship with her mother swung a bit wildly, every other arc between her and the characters were predictable and tepid at best, and her relationship with the "persona" of Esther was wooorrrse. Kirby from start to finish was loud about her hatred of the rules, unwilling to budge, self-righteous, and cranky. It tried to sneak in some lines that held NO weight and NO evidence in her actual actions about how she was feeling herself drifting to their side or something, but they were so out of place and so ridiculously obvious that they felt like they were cut-pasted in after the novel was done as a second thought. they had no consequences beyond some throwaway lines about "o no i am esther" "no you aren't" "oh okay it's cool now." was i supposed to think that her saving Naomi FROM DEATH was a big sign of how she was changing and warming up to them? idk man I would call the police for some rando on the street, this doesn't prove anything.
- the "villains" were caricatures. like, i get the point, but kirby's biased narration left me feeling like i was missing something. i mean, they weren't completely irredeemable/void of any human qualities besides "pray", right?
- repetitive with things that were supposed to make me uncomfortable. they did initially - damn this uncle locking her away and praying like a maniac! but kirby was so bullheaded and dismissive that i stopped caring, and yet it still kept hammering the same punishments for the same boring bad behaviour. her cutting off her hair was really satisfying for a reason, and broke the monotony that kirby was apathetic about so i was too. that scene alone should put this point on a "ehhh okay" list but we have none.
- idk that about summarizes it show less
I was truly happy for her - for both of them.
I'd never felt so alone.
My review to I Am Not Esther wasn't exactly glowing. Hell, the entire time I read it, I wasn't exactly having the time of my life either - but there was something in it that kept me interested and reading, and to I Am Rebecca's credit, I think it tapped into whatever that was with more strength and more confidence. I enjoyed this one a ton more, although I've got my gripes on some pretty obvious things.
The subtlety of the writing style suited the banality, the routine, the lack of autonomy that Rebecca experiences in her faith, and despite that, I found myself really liking Rebecca. I thoroughly enjoyed following her around on this montage of curious events and quiet take on oddities and the small special things in her life. Things like the patterned petticoats and the worldly market really stuck out as precious, no matter how simple they were, without parading it in the narrative.
And this is gonna be the most show more obvious thing to say, but in stark contrast to Esther, I just really enjoyed the...events? I don't know? I found it interesting and fast-paced (although the synopsis calling it a thriller is such a ridiculous joke, call it a bloodbath horror why don't you), with a gentle touch of drama and emotion.
But on the flipside, that gentleness, that banality, was also to blame for its biggest failings for me. It felt one-note and emotioness even though it had plenty of tense, frightening moments; it all read the same, and it seemed to greatly struggle at breaking past its surface of tedium to actually get into some real emotions. Don't get me wrong, I cared for Rebecca's fate, and was appropriately scared, disgusted, and angry for her, but it all felt so passive and shallow.
Next up is the religion deal. This book is about religion, but it's not a religious book - and ok, if it decides that it's not its goal to preach to me, then fine. But you can't write a character in a deeply religious community, where religion is all she knows, and be afraid to talk about God. God was ever-present for sure, but in a way where it felt like they were talking about a piece of furniture instead of a being of some sort that mattered SO MUCH to everyone. All thoughts about God were at arm's length, as if Beale was afraid of making her character wonder something about God in case someone would get mad at her (like, I read a lot of 'I prayed to the Lord' but none of 'I hope the Lord listened', 'Why would the Lord speak to Stephen if Stephen is such a major douche', 'what does the Lord think?'). Whether Beale wanted it or not, Rebecca's faith begged for God to be a character, even a distant abstract one. To Esther, God was some weird imaginary thing. To Rebecca, God is a very important person in her life, and I bought absolutely none of it when we couldn't break the surface of her faith into any real feeling or any real connection or perceived connection.
Near the end, it touched briefly on some real solid lines about her doubt ("the Lord got mixed up with Elder Stephen. I didn't have a scrap of belief in Elder Stephen"), and it found the foothold it had been scrambling for the whole rest of the book - but having Rebecca doubt these enormous claims ("or hell in eternity when I died. Unless that wasn't true either") felt flimsy when all I had about her faith before was "well I guess she believes because she lives there." It's just frustrating to have the book try and make me feel and doubt and tip off the edge into a new character arc when there was nothing before it. This is my big hang-up with I Am Not Esther all over again. Ughhhhhh.
Whatever. Despite that, forget about God, forget about religion - forget about all of that and I really liked it. The characters were really lovely, the simple ideas and simple situations were pleasant and their drama & stakes were weighed with a careful hand. I really loved Rebecca herself, and I'm even in a space where I wanted a more conclusive ending not because I'm being a gremlin about the technical aspect, but because I wanted to know she was okay. Just again, it only scratched the surface with its emotion and its themes. show less
I'd never felt so alone.
My review to I Am Not Esther wasn't exactly glowing. Hell, the entire time I read it, I wasn't exactly having the time of my life either - but there was something in it that kept me interested and reading, and to I Am Rebecca's credit, I think it tapped into whatever that was with more strength and more confidence. I enjoyed this one a ton more, although I've got my gripes on some pretty obvious things.
The subtlety of the writing style suited the banality, the routine, the lack of autonomy that Rebecca experiences in her faith, and despite that, I found myself really liking Rebecca. I thoroughly enjoyed following her around on this montage of curious events and quiet take on oddities and the small special things in her life. Things like the patterned petticoats and the worldly market really stuck out as precious, no matter how simple they were, without parading it in the narrative.
And this is gonna be the most show more obvious thing to say, but in stark contrast to Esther, I just really enjoyed the...events? I don't know? I found it interesting and fast-paced (although the synopsis calling it a thriller is such a ridiculous joke, call it a bloodbath horror why don't you), with a gentle touch of drama and emotion.
But on the flipside, that gentleness, that banality, was also to blame for its biggest failings for me. It felt one-note and emotioness even though it had plenty of tense, frightening moments; it all read the same, and it seemed to greatly struggle at breaking past its surface of tedium to actually get into some real emotions. Don't get me wrong, I cared for Rebecca's fate, and was appropriately scared, disgusted, and angry for her, but it all felt so passive and shallow.
Next up is the religion deal. This book is about religion, but it's not a religious book - and ok, if it decides that it's not its goal to preach to me, then fine. But you can't write a character in a deeply religious community, where religion is all she knows, and be afraid to talk about God. God was ever-present for sure, but in a way where it felt like they were talking about a piece of furniture instead of a being of some sort that mattered SO MUCH to everyone. All thoughts about God were at arm's length, as if Beale was afraid of making her character wonder something about God in case someone would get mad at her (like, I read a lot of 'I prayed to the Lord' but none of 'I hope the Lord listened', 'Why would the Lord speak to Stephen if Stephen is such a major douche', 'what does the Lord think?'). Whether Beale wanted it or not, Rebecca's faith begged for God to be a character, even a distant abstract one. To Esther, God was some weird imaginary thing. To Rebecca, God is a very important person in her life, and I bought absolutely none of it when we couldn't break the surface of her faith into any real feeling or any real connection or perceived connection.
Near the end, it touched briefly on some real solid lines about her doubt ("the Lord got mixed up with Elder Stephen. I didn't have a scrap of belief in Elder Stephen"), and it found the foothold it had been scrambling for the whole rest of the book - but having Rebecca doubt these enormous claims ("or hell in eternity when I died. Unless that wasn't true either") felt flimsy when all I had about her faith before was "well I guess she believes because she lives there." It's just frustrating to have the book try and make me feel and doubt and tip off the edge into a new character arc when there was nothing before it. This is my big hang-up with I Am Not Esther all over again. Ughhhhhh.
Whatever. Despite that, forget about God, forget about religion - forget about all of that and I really liked it. The characters were really lovely, the simple ideas and simple situations were pleasant and their drama & stakes were weighed with a careful hand. I really loved Rebecca herself, and I'm even in a space where I wanted a more conclusive ending not because I'm being a gremlin about the technical aspect, but because I wanted to know she was okay. Just again, it only scratched the surface with its emotion and its themes. show less
Set in Christchurch just before the shallow earthquake of 2011 that destroyed the city and killed nearly 200 people because it occurred at lunchtime. Lyla and her mates have a day off school and are shopping in the city when the quake strikes. Her mother and father are also in the city when it happens and her first concerns are for their welfare. As she starts to walk home Lyla sees her Doctor mother helping with a rescue and then Lyla herself becomes caught up in the rescue of a man bleeding profusely from a head wound.
This book is all about the days afterwards - how Lyla's house becomes a sort of refuge for the neighbors who can't stay in their unstable houses. She rescues a nasty bully from up the street and he turns out to be quite nice. Her brother works in the student volunteer army delivering food to people and all the while she is worried about her doctor father who she hasn't heard from in 2 days!
Very gripping book by Beale who has experienced earthquakes in New Zealand show more herself and the school that Lyla attends in the book is real and a lot like St Margarets. There were a few words that are kiwi slang that I had to look up and I found the preparedness of the New Zealand people - earthquake drills for preppies, every house has a landline and a supply of emergency water, etc. show less
This book is all about the days afterwards - how Lyla's house becomes a sort of refuge for the neighbors who can't stay in their unstable houses. She rescues a nasty bully from up the street and he turns out to be quite nice. Her brother works in the student volunteer army delivering food to people and all the while she is worried about her doctor father who she hasn't heard from in 2 days!
Very gripping book by Beale who has experienced earthquakes in New Zealand show more herself and the school that Lyla attends in the book is real and a lot like St Margarets. There were a few words that are kiwi slang that I had to look up and I found the preparedness of the New Zealand people - earthquake drills for preppies, every house has a landline and a supply of emergency water, etc. show less
Not only does Ruby Yarrow have to put up with her annoyingly brainy twin brother Max, sharing room with her two little brothers but she ends up doing all the cooking, cleaning and babysitting. Until one day Ruby finally gets a backbone and all hell breaks lose.
Ruby has a learning difficulty and finds life a struggle most days. But with a simple comment she overcomes her demons and learns to live life without being a doormat. This decision has wonderful consequences.
Fleur Beale has again written another enjoyable teenage novel which relates to family life her in New Zealand. It is written using easy to understand English and demonstrates that even if you have a learning difficulty you don’t need to feel lowly and worthless. Well suited to teens 13 years and over
Ruby has a learning difficulty and finds life a struggle most days. But with a simple comment she overcomes her demons and learns to live life without being a doormat. This decision has wonderful consequences.
Fleur Beale has again written another enjoyable teenage novel which relates to family life her in New Zealand. It is written using easy to understand English and demonstrates that even if you have a learning difficulty you don’t need to feel lowly and worthless. Well suited to teens 13 years and over
My step-sister told me that it was one of her comfort re-reads growing up and I can see why. The main character is very real and it is easy to identify with her. It’s a story about being an outsider, and one who doesn’t understand the society she is thrust into – something that many teenagers identify with whole-heartedly. It’s also a novel that has an unusual society within recognisable NZ and one that is absorbing and magnetic because of its difference and the rumours and mistrust that abound about that style of cult.The handling of language in I am not Esther is one of the things I really liked about it. I thought it was a beautiful way to delineate between communities. The religious sect do not use contractions, speak in a manner of rigid grammatical correctness, and talk in an old fashioned way that uses biblical quote and words not in common parlance today. Their language is very prosaic and concrete – there are few similes or metaphors. Kirby on the other hand uses show more words and phrases that conjure up flights of the imagination and place her firmly in the ordinary NZ teenager bracket (although one from ten years ago!). Her language is far more relaxed and casual.The conflict of their communication styles is an echo of their intellectual and emotional conflict.I am not Esther is an entertaining, easy read, but possibly a little too pat and spelling-out-of-the-ending-ish. Took me about 45 minutes and I feel like I gulped it down. show less
My step-sister told me that it was one of her comfort re-reads growing up and I can see why. The main character is very real and it is easy to identify with her. It’s a story about being an outsider, and one who doesn’t understand the society she is thrust into – something that many teenagers identify with whole-heartedly. It’s also a novel that has an unusual society within recognisable NZ and one that is absorbing and magnetic because of its difference and the rumours and mistrust that abound about that style of cult.The handling of language in I am not Esther is one of the things I really liked about it. I thought it was a beautiful way to delineate between communities. The religious sect do not use contractions, speak in a manner of rigid grammatical correctness, and talk in an old fashioned way that uses biblical quote and words not in common parlance today. Their language is very prosaic and concrete – there are few similes or metaphors. Kirby on the other hand uses show more words and phrases that conjure up flights of the imagination and place her firmly in the ordinary NZ teenager bracket (although one from ten years ago!). Her language is far more relaxed and casual.The conflict of their communication styles is an echo of their intellectual and emotional conflict.I am not Esther is an entertaining, easy read, but possibly a little too pat and spelling-out-of-the-ending-ish. Took me about 45 minutes and I feel like I gulped it down. show less
A New Song in the Land (alternate title: 'Mission Girl') is about a 14-year-old Maori girl called Atapo, a chief's daughter. Many of her whanau are killed during a battle, and she is captured and kept as a slave by a rival iwi. When sickness threatens the iwi, her grandmother has a vision and tells her to run. She escapes under cover of darkness and makes her way to the the Waimate mission station in the Bay of Islands run by William Williams. Here she starts to learn new ways, but when a man comes asking about her she must move again, this time to the Paihia Mission Station run by Henry Williams. She learns to read and write in the English language and also to write in Maori. Events unfold around the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and Atapo is baptised. However her grandmother, Marama, haunts her dreams and she must try to return to her people and share her new knowledge.
A really well written historical fiction book that can deepen understanding of this time in the show more history of Aotearoa. show less
A really well written historical fiction book that can deepen understanding of this time in the show more history of Aotearoa. show less
The previous novel, Juno of Taris, ended with the arrival of outsiders and the small community realising that domed island of Taris was in big trouble due to cracks appearing in the protective cover that makes their island airtight, and the support systems failing one by one. Initially leaving was going to be an option with the inhabitants able to choose to either leave the island or stay, now the leaving option has escalated to leave now or die. A huge storm is scheduled to hit the island in a few hours and their rescuers think the whole dome will break. This proves true, and as they travel through the fierce September storm on a ship the 500 Taris inhabitants watch the dome disintegrate and carry away all the buildings on the island.
On arrival in Wellington the people of Taris discover that the world is very different from when their elders were first sealed away. The world’s population has been reduced to around a million by a series of pandemics that have ravaged the world; show more global warming has left whole cities empty. A bomb attack welcomes the Tarians, and when they are housed in a refugee centre they realise they need to quickly familiarise themselves with the new society they are to be a part of, the money, food, technologies, clothes and work.
Willem is the person who rescued the Tarians and soon it is apparent that there is a subversive element within New Zealand that is conducting a hate campaign via the internet, against Willem and as a flow on, the Tarians. Shortly after their arrival a new pandemic breaks out and the Tarians are accused of bringing it to New Zealand. Who hates the Tarians so much that they want to destroy them?
In Juno of Taris, each chapter is ended with a few sentences of different gossipy information recording the Tarians passing information on to each other. FIERCE SEPTEMBER does the same but with an added bonus at the end of each chapter there is the web address of a blog posting which actually exists. If they have access to the internet, readers can access and read the two opposing blog postings. One is someone from the boat who is for the group and the other blog is one of the subversive agitators who are whipping up anti-refugee hysteria, along with comments to both blogs. Such a clever idea – but nothing is revealed that is not in the book, so people without internet access won’t miss out on crucial information.
It doesn’t take Juno and her friends long to realise that things will not be the same outside and if they can stop the pandemic and clear their names then they will leave their temporary refuge and be absorbed into the New Zealand community as individual and small family groups.
I really enjoyed this second book in the trilogy, was well written and narrated from the point of view of Juno. I cannot wait for the final book to come out, but that is not looking like it will happen before 2012 show less
On arrival in Wellington the people of Taris discover that the world is very different from when their elders were first sealed away. The world’s population has been reduced to around a million by a series of pandemics that have ravaged the world; show more global warming has left whole cities empty. A bomb attack welcomes the Tarians, and when they are housed in a refugee centre they realise they need to quickly familiarise themselves with the new society they are to be a part of, the money, food, technologies, clothes and work.
Willem is the person who rescued the Tarians and soon it is apparent that there is a subversive element within New Zealand that is conducting a hate campaign via the internet, against Willem and as a flow on, the Tarians. Shortly after their arrival a new pandemic breaks out and the Tarians are accused of bringing it to New Zealand. Who hates the Tarians so much that they want to destroy them?
In Juno of Taris, each chapter is ended with a few sentences of different gossipy information recording the Tarians passing information on to each other. FIERCE SEPTEMBER does the same but with an added bonus at the end of each chapter there is the web address of a blog posting which actually exists. If they have access to the internet, readers can access and read the two opposing blog postings. One is someone from the boat who is for the group and the other blog is one of the subversive agitators who are whipping up anti-refugee hysteria, along with comments to both blogs. Such a clever idea – but nothing is revealed that is not in the book, so people without internet access won’t miss out on crucial information.
It doesn’t take Juno and her friends long to realise that things will not be the same outside and if they can stop the pandemic and clear their names then they will leave their temporary refuge and be absorbed into the New Zealand community as individual and small family groups.
I really enjoyed this second book in the trilogy, was well written and narrated from the point of view of Juno. I cannot wait for the final book to come out, but that is not looking like it will happen before 2012 show less
I got this book out because I like Fleur Beale, and because I'm interested in the Cooperites (I mean, a cult? In New Zealand? Wowsers). As far as I know, this is the only book written about them. This isn't really a book about the Gloriavale Community, however, but a family who left. I personally didn't find them that interesting - the book's hero, Phil Cooper really irritated me. I mean, he took his 37 children (or so it felt like) out of the supportive Hutterite community in which they settled, to live in relative poverty in Australia... because he had to "prove that he could make it on his own", ie because he had daddy issues. Ugh, spare me. AND WHY DID HE HAVE TO SHOOT THE DOG? Anyway. The stuff that actually dealt with the community was interesting, and this might be worth a look if you're interested in how cults affect families, but I got bored with the Coopers pretty quickly.
On the way home from the beach teenage friends Jake, Buzz and Robbie find an abandoned car in a ditch and Robbie comes up with an awesome plan; a paddock basher. The three mates decided to split the repairs three-ways or not at all. Not a problem if you have an income to pay for it. But Jake doesn’t and is not keen on getting a job, but why should he keep sponging off the others to pay for the car parts and gas.
As the weeks go by with the help of his Grandad, Jake finally comes around to the idea of getting a job, but what sort? Buzz talks him into helping out do some relief milking. A light goes on in Jakes head… good money, enough to pay off a fine and to pay for the car parts and gas, maybe he could save to get his learners license too.
I just loved the kiwi language, the subtle teen boy jokes and the description that was used in the story. I could smell and hear the NZ countryside and imagine the faces of these boys as it story went along. A fabulous read for teenage boys show more 12 years and over, they won’t be able to put this down. Dirt Bomb bought back many childhood memories for me, to me a priceless piece of kiwiana in a book. show less
As the weeks go by with the help of his Grandad, Jake finally comes around to the idea of getting a job, but what sort? Buzz talks him into helping out do some relief milking. A light goes on in Jakes head… good money, enough to pay off a fine and to pay for the car parts and gas, maybe he could save to get his learners license too.
I just loved the kiwi language, the subtle teen boy jokes and the description that was used in the story. I could smell and hear the NZ countryside and imagine the faces of these boys as it story went along. A fabulous read for teenage boys show more 12 years and over, they won’t be able to put this down. Dirt Bomb bought back many childhood memories for me, to me a priceless piece of kiwiana in a book. show less
Fleur Beale is a superb writer, and this is no exception. Juno lives in a closed community, set up on a remote island in the Southern Ocean as civilization crumbled. To maintain the community's standards and to promote unity, everyone has their hair shaved off weekly, wears plain clothing, and accepts the decisions of the Governance Companions. Juno, at 11, is chafing under the strictures placed upon her. Why can't she grow her hair? Why can't she dance the way she wants to? Why aren't her parents allowed to have another child? Juno's questioning of authority has far reaching consequences.....
Is she Esther? Her new family tells her she is. Or is she Kirby? That’s the name and the identity she has grown up with. Who is she, really?
Kirby’s mother disappears and Kirby is sent to live with her uncle and his family. The family is part of a dogmatic fundamentalist religious group. Men make all decisions. There are no tvs, no movies, and no books. Women must marry at sixteen and must dress in clothing that conceals. Rules, rules, rules. But there are also the consolations of strong, supportive family ties and of prayer.
Kirby is confused. She desperately wants to leave; at the same time, she desperately loves this new family. And where is her mother?
A well-written, thoughtful book with a serious look at the difficulties and strengths of following the dictates of a group.
Kirby’s mother disappears and Kirby is sent to live with her uncle and his family. The family is part of a dogmatic fundamentalist religious group. Men make all decisions. There are no tvs, no movies, and no books. Women must marry at sixteen and must dress in clothing that conceals. Rules, rules, rules. But there are also the consolations of strong, supportive family ties and of prayer.
Kirby is confused. She desperately wants to leave; at the same time, she desperately loves this new family. And where is her mother?
A well-written, thoughtful book with a serious look at the difficulties and strengths of following the dictates of a group.
I could not help but feel let down by this book. I have read a number of fleur Beale books, and I really enjoy the way she writes about real world girls in real world situations. For the most part I enjoyed reading about Bess's determination and her struggles to help her father and especially about the negative relationship between her and her mother. What disappointed me the most in this book, was the whole "past life" thing. It may be the purpose of the book, but it was a pretty lame plotting device! The fact that in a past life she had been male and married to her now-step mother's previous self, and been responsible for her death seemed pretty wacko, but it was made even worse when she "recognised" the boy in the Olive Grove. Now... I despise with a passion any teenage book that essentially has a "true love at first sight and it is reciprocated" part to it. Relationships don't start with so much spontaneity and passion - at least not those that last. About two thirds of the way show more through, Bess switched from this smart, go-ahead, kick-arse teenage and turned into a lovesick puppy. And when it was reciprocated, well... I almost tossed the book then and there! After that the actual interesting part of the plot seemed to dwindle down to nothing and we were treated to a very rushed ending that essentially left me feeling unsatisfied and annoyed.
In conclusion - if this book had just been about how Bess, after being almost-expelled from her boarding school due to a drunken bout (brought on by who-cares-what but the hallucination did not even seem a convincing inducement) and forced to live in a small town with her control-freak, self-obsessed mother whilst assisting her father to save his business and maybe striking up a friendship (and eventual romantic relationship) with a boy she knew from her youth (who had teased her and bullied her mercilessly, but now "grown up") and had her mother hijack the relationship - it would have been an excellent teenage drama, filled with personality clashes and bittersweet angst, worhty of four or five stars. But no, Beale had to ruin it by trying to toss in a half-pie supernatural edge that turned it into instead a saccharine mess. It's only getting three stars because I loved the way Bess interacted with the factory workers and because of her spiteful mother. show less
In conclusion - if this book had just been about how Bess, after being almost-expelled from her boarding school due to a drunken bout (brought on by who-cares-what but the hallucination did not even seem a convincing inducement) and forced to live in a small town with her control-freak, self-obsessed mother whilst assisting her father to save his business and maybe striking up a friendship (and eventual romantic relationship) with a boy she knew from her youth (who had teased her and bullied her mercilessly, but now "grown up") and had her mother hijack the relationship - it would have been an excellent teenage drama, filled with personality clashes and bittersweet angst, worhty of four or five stars. But no, Beale had to ruin it by trying to toss in a half-pie supernatural edge that turned it into instead a saccharine mess. It's only getting three stars because I loved the way Bess interacted with the factory workers and because of her spiteful mother. show less
This is a compelling story of a girl, Kirby, who is suddenly left with her very religious relatives while her mother goes to Africa to be an aid worker. She is given a new name, new, modest clothes and a set of new, very restrictive rules to obey. Terrified, she tries to contact her mother without success. Although she forms bonds with some of the other children she begins to find her identity drifting away from her.
I always enjoy reading Fleur Beale’s works as they are relative to New Zealand. This title was an excellent follow on from I am not Esther as it links Esther’s new life to those of her relatives still living within the commune. Life inside a religious cult becomes too much for 16-year-old Rebecca when she finds out who she is to marry. When she turns 14, Rebecca will find out who she is to marry. All the girls in her strict religious sect must be married just after their 16th birthday. Her twin sister Rachel is delighted when Saul, the boy she loves, asks to marry her. Malachi asks for Rebecca. She believes him to be a good and godly man. But will Rebecca find there is a dark side to the rules which have kept her safe? What does the future hold? Can the way ahead be so simple when the community is driven by secrets and hidden desires?
This book deals with a lot of family issues e.g breakdown of nucleus family, step father, step brothers, favouritism, small house large blended family. All these issues are fraught with the frustration of individuals feeling undervalued and not part of the family, 'End of the Alphabet' looks at this in a diluted way. Ruby Yarrow is a 14 year old who lives in a busy, loving, chaotic family with her mum, stepdad, brother and two little stepbrothers. Ruby's surname Yarrow is at the end of the alphabet and when the roll gets called out she's always at the end and she hates it. Ruby feels a bit like a doormat - she has to help out in the family a lot while her brother Max doesn't. He wins lots of prizes at school and she has a learning difficulty and needs a reader/writer to help her in exams. She has great friends and loves clothes, fashion magazines and sewing and she's got a real knack for it. She's very keen to go on the school trip to Brazil and so gets a job to earn the money to show more go - works in a supermarket for an old grump, learns a bit of Portuguese, meets exchange students, doesn't get to go on the trip but stands up to her parents (gets some backbone) and starts to see herself in a much better light. There's even a bit of romance thrown in. It's about having a dream and aiming for it. But it's not sentimental, it's a great read, very real and it has a lovely upbeat tone. show less
The third and final in the I am not Esther series. Four years have passed since Rebecca ran away from her family and the closed religious community, The Children of the Faith. Increasingly unstable leader, Elder Stephen, who Rebecca was to marry, never misses an opportunity to take his revenge out on Rebecca's family. Rebecca's younger sister, Magdalene, is now twelve years old and looking out for her strong-minded little sister, Zillah, as well as coping with an increasingly stressful situation. Their father seems to only be able to pray whilst their mother's mental health has taken a turn for the worse as she constantly finds fault, preaches at them and takes to her bed. The tension within the community is growing as some are discontented and want to split. How can Magdalene protect her little sister, and can they find their older siblings if they do make it out into the world? Another wonderful book from Fleur Beale and a fitting end to this though-provoking series that I highly show more recommend for teens. show less
A coming of age novel about a 16 year old boy with academically successful siblings who learns to stand up for himself. He realizes that he will never win his parents approval by trying to be the person they want him to be and fulfill their dreams for him, and has the courage to go against their wishes and be himself. This eventually leads to their change of heart and appreciation of his talents.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am not into cars or rallying, so those tags are misleading. This book is well written and grabbed me from the beginning. I was angry at the stupidity of the so-called intelligent parents who wanted their child to be just like them. They change as Greg's siblings join with him in pointing out that he is not them, but a unique individual with his own unique talents. An excellent read for all ages, not just teens.
Suggested reading age: intermediate, junior secondary.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am not into cars or rallying, so those tags are misleading. This book is well written and grabbed me from the beginning. I was angry at the stupidity of the so-called intelligent parents who wanted their child to be just like them. They change as Greg's siblings join with him in pointing out that he is not them, but a unique individual with his own unique talents. An excellent read for all ages, not just teens.
Suggested reading age: intermediate, junior secondary.
Riley's mother goes away, leaving her with an uncle and his family - family that she has never heard of before. Suddenly she is a member of a strict religious cult living by 'the rule'. She has her name changed and a severe set of social rules imposed on her. There is no TV, radio, newspapers or mirrors and she now has to wear the cult's unusual clothing. A really good insight into the fanatical and downright scary world of cults.
Loved it, Fleur Beale's writing style had me reading from page 1. Although I was unsure I would like the genre / storyline it was a encapsulating read. The story is all about a young girl, Kirby, who is left by her mother with relatives she's never met who are members of a strict religious cult. Her name is changed to the biblical Esther, and she is forced to follow the severe set of social codes of the order. Soon, Esther begins to lose her own identity.
Looking forward to reading the sequel “I am Rebecca”
Looking forward to reading the sequel “I am Rebecca”
Sequel to 'I Am Not Esther' which was published in 1998. When Rebecca and her twin sister turn 14, they will find out who they are to marry. All the girls in their strict religious sect, The Children of the Faith, must be married just after their 16th birthdays. Whilst the girls are initially happy with the choices made for them, Rebecca's intended is forced out of the sect because of decisions made by the seventy-seven year old leader whose wife has recently died. It is only later that Rebecca finds out why - when the leader chooses her to be his new wife! Rebecca's older brother, sister, and cousin have all previously escaped from the Children of the Faith and as the wedding date draws closer, Rebecca is caught between her family and her future. A fitting sequel to Beale's first book in this series, well written and engaging.
Blurb: "Charismatic, driven and self-righteous Neville Cooper set up his own brand of Christian utopia on earth: a reclusive community on the West Coast of New Zealand. For the 400 inhabitants [also known as Cooperites] of Gloriavale, his word is law - despite his 1995 conviction for sexual abuse. Phil Cooper, as headstrong as his father, had to escape. But Phil's wife Sandy was bound to the will of Neville and his brand of eternal salvation. And so began the monumental tug-of-war between father and son: a son who wanted to give his children a chance in the world".
Fleur Beale has undertaken an extraordinary journey working with Phil Cooper and his son Israel to tell the story of this New Zealand cult and give others an insight into how they work. Extremely disturbing, this is a book that should be widely read.
Fleur Beale has undertaken an extraordinary journey working with Phil Cooper and his son Israel to tell the story of this New Zealand cult and give others an insight into how they work. Extremely disturbing, this is a book that should be widely read.
This is a story about a 16 year old boy growing and finding his independence.
Well told and well worth reading, Greg Mannering is a believable and courageous protagonist. In this wonderful coming of age story, Greg figures out what he really want to do - become a mechanic and participate in rallies - and goes after it.
Realising that no matter how hard he tries he isn't smart enough (or interested) in academic learning to please his parents, he knows that he's never going to be what they want from him. So he sets out to be his own man, with some help from a friendly mechanic/rally driver, his wife, Greg's Car Maintenance teacher, and schoolmates Chris and Megan. Who knows, maybe he'll even get the girl...
Well told and well worth reading, Greg Mannering is a believable and courageous protagonist. In this wonderful coming of age story, Greg figures out what he really want to do - become a mechanic and participate in rallies - and goes after it.
Realising that no matter how hard he tries he isn't smart enough (or interested) in academic learning to please his parents, he knows that he's never going to be what they want from him. So he sets out to be his own man, with some help from a friendly mechanic/rally driver, his wife, Greg's Car Maintenance teacher, and schoolmates Chris and Megan. Who knows, maybe he'll even get the girl...
Hana is a delightful heroine, and life in the remote New Zealand township is fascinating. I did find Hana's modern sensibility a bit jarring in the historical context, but I enjoyed her personality.
Arriving at a new school in Year 12, Denny Logan doesn’t find it easy to fit in. He is painfully keen to make friends but faces conflict with Todd. He finds satisfaction in football and his strong relationship with his mother and his little twin sisters. As he juggles learning, work in a video store, rugby training, keeping his car running and his other obligations, he also becomes interested in Alice. Alice, however, has deep concerns about rugby, alcohol and car accidents and Denny slowly comes to appreciate her personal tragedy. He has his goals and he has to decide what he values
disappointing, this story did not grab me until the last few chapters as it was in these chapters that the title matched the story line. Prior to this it was all about an over protective depressed mother and her son who was trying to get even with the bullies next door. The characters in the story portrayed a blended NZ family and as I read I kept thinking, ' Is this what NZ family life has become? or ‘For goodness sake is there no safe place in NZ’ or ‘Are you going to get punched and kicked in your street, mall or beach? “This weak story is about a submissive father and confident daughter from his first marriage living with an over protective, manic depressed partner and her molly coddled son, Anthony. Anthony wants to earn money and due to his naivety he believes he can catch a paua poaching ring and hold them to ransom.
Another superb book by Fleur Beale. Ruby is 14, and taken for granted by her mother and family. She cares for her two younger half brothers, does the cooking, dishes, washing and cleaning, and has been moved into a smaller room which she has to share with the younger boys, so her brother Max can have his own room, supposedly so he can study. Ruby feels like a doormat, and has had enough. She goes on strike, refusing to do extra until Max, her 13 year old brother, also does the jobs he is expected to do, but constantly evades. Although the storyline seems simple, the characters are developed fully and the plot twists engage the reader's interest to the end. The ending is left open, and I do hope there is a sequel. I cannot praise this book too highly.
This was a lovely, if predictable story of a city girl moving to the country, and learning to adapt. Not only does Lacey have to adjust to moving away from her friends to a run down farmhouse, but there are no girls near her age in the local two room school house.
This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.
Again, I am fascinated by cults, and this Australian novel was a well-crafted examination of a very unique group. It's a shame that books like this are so hard to come by in the states.
Juno and the Taris inhabitants must leave their dying island. The young people look forward to a wider life Outside, but Outside too has its problems. It is two-year-old Hera, with her uncanny ability to foresee events, who saves the Taris people from the injury and death prepared for them by an underground group of protestors.
The people of Taris, though, have no choice but to try to live in this seemingly hostile place. The young people are entranced despite the hate campaign against them: there are the fashions, the technologies and best of all for Juno, the freedom from extreme control. Only days after the group arrives, a pandemic hits the country - this has drastic consequences for Juno and her people.
Once the pandemic is over, life settles down and the question now for Juno is to find her way among the choices open to her, some of which cause her parents to fear she is abandoning the values they hold so dear.
Juno was relieved to put Taris behind her. But Taris doesn't give up show more its hold so easily - she is shocked to find the island held more secrets than any of them knew. She wants to bury her head, ignore what she's discovered and forge ahead to find her own place in this new world. She falls for Ivan, a young man who seems to understand her, but love is a fey thing. What will become of her? i now know that the 3rd book Heart of Danger is here, yes it will be read show less
The people of Taris, though, have no choice but to try to live in this seemingly hostile place. The young people are entranced despite the hate campaign against them: there are the fashions, the technologies and best of all for Juno, the freedom from extreme control. Only days after the group arrives, a pandemic hits the country - this has drastic consequences for Juno and her people.
Once the pandemic is over, life settles down and the question now for Juno is to find her way among the choices open to her, some of which cause her parents to fear she is abandoning the values they hold so dear.
Juno was relieved to put Taris behind her. But Taris doesn't give up show more its hold so easily - she is shocked to find the island held more secrets than any of them knew. She wants to bury her head, ignore what she's discovered and forge ahead to find her own place in this new world. She falls for Ivan, a young man who seems to understand her, but love is a fey thing. What will become of her? i now know that the 3rd book Heart of Danger is here, yes it will be read show less
Kirby is used to taking care of her immature and flighty mother. One day, she simply runs away to become a nurse overseas and these strangers take her into their home. They are part of some odd Christian cult (turned out to be a fictional cult, when I checked it out) They seem to be somewhat like the Mennonites but are forbidden to have any sort of fun or use contractions when they speak. She was forcet go go by "Esther" a biblical name and live as they do. She spends most of the book adjusting to the odd lifestyle and solving the mystery of her mother.
It was an OK read. I thought the religious order was a bit over the top.
It was an OK read. I thought the religious order was a bit over the top.
A very well written novel with strongly realistic characters and powerful situations. Primarily aimed at teenagers but suitable for adults too. Highly recommended.
Three boys adopt an old car after paying $100 each to the council. They do it up as a paddock basher as they haven't got their licences yet.
Story about growing up and getting a part time job so you can have money and not rely on handouts from your divorced father.
Boy takes a job at a dairy farm - responsibility when owner has a heart attack.
Relationship with nagging grandfather and eventually gets his licence.
Also meets some girls on the beach.
Story about growing up and getting a part time job so you can have money and not rely on handouts from your divorced father.
Boy takes a job at a dairy farm - responsibility when owner has a heart attack.
Relationship with nagging grandfather and eventually gets his licence.
Also meets some girls on the beach.
This is a sequel to the 2008 novel, 'Juno of Taris', a New Zealand Post Award finalist. The community of Taris have had to be evacuated from their isolated island when the protective dome which protects it begins to disintegrate. When they finally reach Wellington, they find that they are not welcomed by some New Zealanders. Shortly after their arrival, disease breaks out and the new arrivals are blamed for this. Taris Islanders also have to deal with getting used to new customs, dress codes, technology and the break up and dispersal of their tight knit community. A dramatic and hard hitting story that refers to the way new arrivals to a country. A story aimed at teens.
This book has a stunning story line. The plot is insanely unique, and the language is beautiful
read it in one sitting - quite easy to read as well as involving. Described as a best selling New Zealand classic - young adult.
Jake's life changed when Robbie thought the friends should "do-up" an old bomb and thrash it around the paddocks. Buzz, the only friend with work said they all had to put money into the joint venture. A good teen read but there is cussing and swearing which will exclude this book from a few school libraries.
Thoroughly enjoyed. Recommend for senior primary level, would probably appeal to girls rather than boys. Some minor language and sexual references.
Lucky for some is a book about a passionate girl -Lacey- who is forced to leave her city home, friends, dancing lessons and school to live in a ramshackle house in the country. At first everything seems to be against her but after she loosens up a little she actually might like the country...
Extract from my review for cmis: Ruby Yarrow, the girl least likely to succeed, is a naïve fourteen year old New Zealander struggling to find her place in a blended family
Kirby's mother suddenly leaves her to live with relatives, members of a fanatical Christian cult. They call her Esther, and try to force her into living a life by their values, while she tries to maintain her identity.
Lacey Turner Move to country in a do-up house, leaving city life and friends. Relationship building with family, old neighbour and others in a small school - has to play rugby with the boys, but also teaches them to dance. A lot of the realilties of farming life and coming to terms with compromise and life stages.
this book is really interesting and i couldnt put it down!!
its about a city girl who is forced to move to the country and about how she misses dance and her old friends.
its about a city girl who is forced to move to the country and about how she misses dance and her old friends.
