Whisper

by Chrissie Keighery

Hardie Grant Egmont. Australian, Young Adult. Paperback rrp $16.95

Reviewed by Barbara Brown

Demi is a normal teenage schoolgirl. She’s attractive, friendly and is struggling with schoolwork and family issues. But Demi’s circumstances have changed in the past two years and her and her friends and family have had to make a lot of adjustments. A lot of adjustments because of Demi.

At fourteen-and-a-half Demi contracts meningitis and ends up near death. She survives but she loses one sense. Her sense of sound. Her whole life has evolved around her hearing and talking and now everything is silent … totally silent.

After struggling for two years, Demi feels that no-one really understands her anymore and she ends up attending a school for the deaf. After one day Demi feels like she belongs. Everyone is open when they talk and they all know how she feels. And so Demi’s life starts to take an upward turn. Her grades are getting better, she has new friends and she also has the admiration of a hot looking guy from the hearing school next door. What could be worse?

Whisper is a wonderful tale that could be telling a story about racism and misunderstanding. Deaf people versus hearies. Speaking versus signing. Laughing with or laughing at. Couldn’t put it down!

The Reading Stack reviewed Chrissie Keighery’s outside IN in September 2009.

The Sky Dreamer

by Anne Morgan, illustrated by Celine Eimann

IP Kidz. Australian, Picture Book. Hardcover RRP $26.00

Reviewed by Sandy Fussell

Liam is struggling to come to terms with the death of his sister, Cassie. On the day before his birthday, late at night, he sees Cassie sailing a boat through the sky, ‘The Sky Dreamer’. While Cassie sews a birthday present, Liam must learn to sail the sky by himself – a touching metaphor for facing life without her.

When Cassie leaves, and Liam wakes in bed, he has his special birthday gift to help him feel warm and safe.

The Sky Dreamer is a story written to help children cope with grief.

Dr Anne Morgan writes heartfelt words from her own experience and Celine Eimann’s soft pastel images add a sense of comfort.

http://www.annemorgan.com.au/
http://www.celineeimann.com/

Ruby Blues

by Jessica Rudd

The Text Publishing Company. Australian, Adult Fiction. Paperback RRP $29.95

Ruby Stanhope is political advisor to the Australian Prime Minister, whom she helped get elected two years before. Ruby fell into the position whilst holidaying from England, knowing nothing about the Australian political system. She was perfect for the job. Efficient, effective and with an eye for detail.

But now Ruby’s life is falling apart. The never-ending fights with her partner, Luke, who got her her job in the first place, have escalated to the point where she never seems to have time for him, only for her job. Her long-distance sister, her gay aunt and pregnant partner are all trying to pin her down for her birthday. Then there is her new assistant who is over enthusiastic, super-capable and way too perky for Ruby’s frame of mind. Ruby is turning 30. A disaster slowly building up from the inside and waiting to explode.

With Ruby’s hectic schedule everything that could go wrong does and with the Prime Minister facing a losing battle with published leaks and bad press, Ruby’s job gets harder and harder.

With the complications of past male friend, present boyfriend and cute, single vet being served up on her platter, it’s a wonder Ruby has time to sleep. But Bettina, her new assistant, helps her in that department … accidentally.

Ruby Blues is a funny but could be a very real story of a woman who has it all except for the hidden obstacles that seem to ensure she doesn’t keep it. Ruby Blues is the sequel to Campaign Ruby, both of which I loved and would recommend to read separately or together.

The Reading Stack reviewed Campaign Ruby in January 2011.

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship

by Lisa Verge Higgins

Allen and Unwin. Adult Other. Paperback RRP $27.99

Reviewer - Barbara Brown

Four girls, friends since high school. All now comfortable in their own worlds. They meet up when they can. But then Rachel Braun dies. The daredevil of the group, her death is a surprise but not completely unexpected. After all, she did spend her life travelling the world for the next thrill – jumping out of planes, off mountains and buildings.

The three that are left behind each receive a letter from the grave asking them each to do one small favour. The stay-at-home busy housewife/mum Kate is asked to jump out of a plane. Easier said than done, since Kate has a fear of heights. But when Kate lands on terra firma in front of the two remaining friends her life takes a big jump as well.

Sarah is an international relief worker/nurse living in a backwater town in Africa helping the locals survive against disease, bandits, starvation and the government. Her task seems simple and something she has longed to do. She is requested to search the world for her one true love. With the help of her friends, Sarah confronts the past which will allow her to continue with the future.

Jo, the advertising mogul, once voted ‘least likely to breed’, is given a request that she is positive has been a mistake. Not only is it wrong but how could Jo, the girl who grew up in foster homes and was never really loved by anyone, care for and rear Rachel’s seven-year-old daughter?

Rachel, it seems, really didn’t know what she was thinking when she wrote these three friends’ their letters… or could Rachel see past what Kate, Sarah and Jo are too blind to acknowledge?

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship has been put on the top of one of my favourite stories to read. A wonderful story that I did not want to end.

http://www.lisavergehiggins.com/