Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Reading Time
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Highly Recommended
      • CBCA Short Listed
      • Early Childhood Books
      • Younger Readers
      • Intermediate Readers
      • Older Readers
      • Great Read Alouds
      • Information Books
      • Picture Books
      • Professional Development
    • Interviews
    • Suggestions
    • News
    • Meet The Review Team
    • Contact Us
    Reading Time
    You are at:Home»Reviews»Highly Recommended»Crossing

    Crossing

    2
    By Admin on August 6, 2014 Highly Recommended, Older Readers, Younger Readers

    Crossing

    NORTON, Catherine Crossing Omnibus, 2014 181pp $16.99 pbk ISBN 9781742990286 SCIS 1660584

    Set in an unspecified time and place, Crossing reveals a world of perpetual food shortages, decaying living conditions and a repressive government with spies everywhere, including within families.  Living behind a high wall with watchtowers that separate them from the rest of the world, the population are constantly urged to live by the principles of ‘equality’ and ‘comradeship’ and to report any ‘suspicious acts’.  Twelve year old Cara’s parents are government officials and when they are away on secret business she has the chance to escape over the wall to the unknown world beyond.  Reared on propaganda and government dogma, Cara must make a life-changing choice – escape with her friend Leon or stay with her family and the life she knows.

    The story is told in the first person creating a sense of immediacy, while Cara’s introspection and reflective nature make her a sensitive and appealing character.  A non-linear structure gradually unfolds the intricacies of the plot and slowly reveals the complexity of the characters, holding the reader’s attention until the final page.

    There are unavoidable echoes of Orwell’s 1984 in this tale of an authoritarian regime and the individuals who question and challenge its power.  However, its similarity to East Germany during the time of the Berlin Wall and closed societies such as North Korea, ground this novel in the real world and make it suitable for readers in lower secondary levels.

    Crossing explores many themes including loyalty, family, trust and freedom.  It is a thought-provoking novel with a simmering tension that builds to dramatic climax, but its real substance is found in the potent warning of Ava, Leon’s rebellious sister, when she tells Cara, ‘Don’t ever let them wall up your mind’.

    reviewed by John Nolan

    • Read an interview with Catherine Norton
    Dystopian

    Related Posts

    Spotlight Please…It’s Stevie Louise

    Moth in a Fancy Cardigan

    How to Make a Monster

    2 Comments

    1. Jay on August 11, 2014 10:43 pm

      A really good example of intelligent fiction for older children!

      Reply
      • jacob on September 1, 2014 6:23 pm

        is it this book good for 8 year olds

        Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    • Themes
    • Curriculum
    Action adventure Airplanes Alphabet Anxiety autism Bullying CBCA Awards Coming of age Dystopian emotions family fantasy friendship grief Historical humour magic Mystery Post apocalyptic Readers Cup reluctant readers school Sci-Fi series of books siblings Sport Starting school Teacher Notes
    ANZAC Australian animals Australian history Biography Culture & Diversity Disabilities First Nations Geography health Humanities mental health Poetry Reconciliation resilience Science STEM Stolen Generation sustainability Wordless books



    Recent Comments
    • Barbara on The Secret of Sapling Green
    • Cherie on Elephant Island
    • Patricia Tilton on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Jilanne Hoffmann on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Penelope Pratley on The Secret of Sapling Green
    Recent Posts
    • The Bush Birds
    • Star of Anise
    • Spotlight Please…It’s Stevie Louise
    • Moth in a Fancy Cardigan
    • How to Make a Monster
    Recent Comments
    • Barbara on The Secret of Sapling Green
    • Cherie on Elephant Island
    • Patricia Tilton on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Jilanne Hoffmann on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Penelope Pratley on The Secret of Sapling Green
    © Copyright 2021 The Children’s Book Council of Australia - All rights reserved

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.