Description
What does a teenage boy do when he has no friends? When he is laughed at to his face? The answer is simple. That boy chooses his own path. That boy makes his own way in life. That boy grows stronger. He finds his secret place and there alone, in the dark he grows even stronger. Ben Gardner is such a boy.
Review
Thirteen-year-old Ben Gardner lives with a constant reminder of “the accident” that happened on the day that his Mum was booted out – his damaged leg and subsequent limp.That was eight years ago, and Ben still struggles to deal with the most important thing he lost that night - his little sister, Carrie.
Ben keeps to himself, has no friends and is bullied at school. He has a love of nature and wild things, so when a fox crosses his path and disappears Ben needs to find out where it went. This leads him to uncover a hidden cave that has clearly not been entered by humans since forever...
Spending time in his secret place, the warmth of his sleeping body attracts a huge python and Ben finds it draped over him when he wakes. He has an instant connection with this wild animal.
Sonya is the school library monitor and a swimming champion. She spends some lunch times under the huge tree reading, while Ben is under there to hide, and they slowly form a friendship. This is strengthened when Simon, one of the group of six boys who bully him, starts talking to Ben too. He is a neighbour and close friend of Sonya, and when Ben learns that Simon also has his secret demons they ultimately bond.
Ben is growing up and finding his place in the world, but will it ever lead to him being reunited with his sister?
This is a tremendous story about growing up and finding your true identity. With many themes including a connection with animals, the importance of families, bullying and finding friends to help you face life and its challenges, this will be best suited to lower and middle secondary readers.
Reviewed by Rob
