Everyday we hear of horrific circumstances, of victims of crime, of natural diaster, but do we hear later how those victims are coping or not coping with their lives?

Bronwyn Blake, a local author has explored just this issue - how a victim copes and looks to the future.  Julia, my sister is a Young adult novel set here in Victoria, between the locations of  Melbourne, Central Victoria and Gippsland.  The plot involves three students in their first year of VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education - Year 12), Julia, Ned and Dan (Danica)

Julia is involved in a horrific accident, becomes a victim of someone else’s crime.  How Julia copes with the physical and emotional changes in her life and those of her family and closest friends becomes the central theme for the book.

Bronwyn also skilfully weaves the life of Danica and her incredible talent for Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry into the story as well.  It is not only the story of coping with traumatic circumstances but coping with extraordinary talent and pursuing it with hope for the future.  These teenagers know where they are going and are gifted with definite talents.  As my own son grapples with VCE, I just wish the fervour of study would suddenly visit our household as it has the three lives of the main characters.

What I particularly enjoyed about the novel was a second layer of narrative, that of a song cycle interspersed through the text.  This added an extra dimension to the tension and trauma of the victim, Julia.  I also admired the pacey way Bronwyn captured the idioms and feelings of these three characters, particularly Danica who seemed to have the truest voice.

The contrast between a city lifestyle and the wonderful true to life microcosm of a tiny rural town, is one of the literary gifts in this book.

Bronwyn is a writer to watch as her talent fires up more and more with every novel.

A recommended read for young adults.

Review by Lorraine Marwood

© 2003 Lorraine Marwood