Description
Winner of the inaugural Walker Books Manuscript Prize. With themes including coercive control, coming of age, and finding yourself, this debut authentically deals with timely issues with insight, sympathy and well crafted humour.
Astrid is about to start her last year at high school. And her first.
When her dad loses his job, Astrid’s homeschooling comes to an end. Until now, she has lived within the confines of a tightly controlled, contracted world where there's no room for anything … except following her father’s rules and pretending that everything is normal.
As Astrid, and her mum, tentatively expand their world, they struggle to break free of their ingrained wariness and self-doubt. But with hope, new friends, and the strength of a promise, Astrid has a chance to find out what she wants, who she loves, and who she really is.
Winner of the inaugural Walker Books Manuscript Prize, this is a brilliantly written YA debut that deftly explores timely issues with insight, humour and pathos.
Review
Astrid has been home schooled for many years, but finally she is going to high school to start Year 12, and her mum is going back to work.
All Astrid wants is to be normal - but given Astrid and her mum walk on eggshells at home, she is not sure if she even knows how. Her dad is very controlling, and everything has to be exactly as he likes it or else...
Astrid and her mum are close, especially since her brother Nick left home to escape their dad’s control. As they both discover a world outside their house and begin to make new friends, they realise that they need to escape. But Astrid has trouble trusting her friends with her true situation. Will she find the courage to leave, and begin to discover who she really is?
This is a beautifully written story tackling some difficult subject matter. Astrid is a great character who at17-turning-18 is really trying to figure out who she is, and what she actually wants to do with her life. She cherishes her friendship with Cathy, and is trying to figure out her feelings for Leila. But will their friendship survive her leaving? It’s a story about growing up fast, believing in yourself and your friends, and learning that you can trust people to help you. Sure to be a favourite with senior secondary students.
