Writing Clementine (Kate Gordon, A&U)

Level-headed Clementine is perplexed by the shifting social dynamics of Year 9. Prompted by her English teacher’s daily writing exercises, she records her experiences in a series of letters, which compose Writing Clementine. Like the protagonists of other recent realistic Australian YA books (think Simmone Howell’s Girl Defective or Fiona Wood’s Wildlife), Clementine is a keen and sensitive observer of those around her, but has a less sophisticated world view. Writing Clementine touches on dark themes: Clementine’s depressed older brother has not left his room in six months, while her older sister struggles with disordered eating. But the book’s short length prevents it from effectively exploring these complex issues. When an older boy offers Clementine a lift home from school, then drives her to a secluded location and kisses her against her will, the fallout from the incident is dealt with quickly and not altogether convincingly. Where Writing Clementine succeeds is by conveying a sense of the extraordinary in the everyday. Clem’s life in small-town Tasmania is transformed by her involvement with a local steampunk role-playing society, and by her burgeoning relationship with old-fashioned Fred, who courts her earnestly. Much like Fred, Writing Clementine is sweet, charming and unthreatening. It’s perfect for sensitive or slightly naïve readers aged 13 and up.

Veronica Sullivan is a bookseller and deputy online editor of Kill Your Darlings