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Girl Of The Southern Sea
by Michelle Kadarusman
Published by University of Queensland Press (UQP)
ISBN 9780702262937
For 12 - 15 year olds
An interesting story, about a gifted student, Nia, who dreams about being able to go to high school. Her family circumstances are meagre and there isn't enough money to pay for her school fees.
Although her days are busy looking after the family business, running a food cart and raising her young brother she has time to write stories in her notebooks about the mythological Dewi Kadita. Nia somehow escapes a bus accident and has more good luck, or perhaps it's magic. Everyone else seems to think it's magic. Suddenly is booming thanks to her, will there be enough money so she can go back to school and will this run of luck last?
It seems not, when she discovers a secret promise that threatens all she has wished and hoped for. Does she find a way to escape the family mould and create her own future. That's something we can't tell you, it would spoil the story. An easy read filled with intrigue.
The author, Michelle Kadarusman grew up in Melbourne and writes fiction for teens and middle-graders . She has also lived in Indonesia for any years and in Canada.
Her novels have been nominated for various awards and honours, including the Canadian Governor General's Awards, the Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Awards and an American Junior Library Guild gold star selection. Her books have been translated into Spanish and Turkish.
