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Look Me In The Eye
by Jane Godwin
Published by Hachette Australia
ISBN 9780734420794
Two best friends Bella and Connie live on the outskirts of the city on what was countryside with horses and nature but now thanks to the urban crawl they are losing the peace as new housing developments are constructed.
Set in Melbourne, during the time soon after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, the two friends agree to meet at Flinders Street station Connie's cousin Mish must now be included in their time out together. It seems that Mish isn't a good fit wit the girls, she just doesn't seem to be friendly or reliable which makes things a bit awkward.
Still on edge after the harsh and long lockdowns while Bella is waiting for her
her friend she's worried. Is it ok not be wearing a mask, even though the rules no longer apply.She's concerned and then she receives a confusing SMS, that reads:
running late
drop it off without me
I type drop what off? I don't know what Mish is talking about.
While I'm typing, another message appears. don't tell bella
But I am Bella.
So what's going on here? Who can she trust? It is an interesting look at life especially for teens after this long and restrictive time in our lives post-pandemic especially now that there are cameras tracking every move, apps tracking them too. Through the story the reader can feel this mistrust and concern over who is watching and why. This manifests into an issue of trust, unsure of who they can trust and parental concerns for their safety but It is also delves into their own privacy and the amount of parental control and their freedom.
It is a gripping, enjoyable reading about the life of these teens. A page turner as things progress and discovering who they are in a fascinating story.
The author
Jane Godwin is the highly acclaimed and internationally published author of many books for children and young people, across all styles and ages. Children's Publisher at Penguin Books Australia for many years, Jane was the co-creator with Davina Bell of the Our Australian Girl series of quality historical fiction for middle readers. Jane's books include her novels A Walk in the Dark (September 2022), Falling From Grace, As Happy as Here (a CBCA Notable Book) and When Rain Turns to Snow (shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards)
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you
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