Katrina Nannestad, Silver linings, HarperCollins Children’s Books, November 2023, RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780733342257
Silver Linings is set in rural Australia in the 1950’s offering a look back in time. Five year old Nettie Sweeney narrates the story. She is a great reader who creates imaginative journeys for herself and those around her. She lives with her father, three big sisters and a cat called Mittens on a cattle station. Her mother passed away at Nettie’s birth and has been replaced by Aunty Edith whose ‘nostrils flared.’ That sets the tone of Aunty Edith who has ‘slappy hands.’ Nettie and the girls’ greatest wishes are that Aunty Edith leaves to go back to Ballina.
Life is busy on the farm with milking the cows, tending the pigs, the garden, farm life, home cooking and school. Katrina Nannestad weaves the pointers for the 1950’s throughout the book. Sex education is not the hallmark of the 1950’s. Did you know? ‘The stork carries the babies in a sling that hangs from its beak. A blue sling is for boy babies. A pink sling for girl babies.’ In 1953, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visit Australia. There are great celebrations in homes and schools. In the Sweeney home the ‘Coronation Party is brilliant. Everyone’s dressed in their finest frocks and suits.’ A neighbour makes a speech. ‘We might half a world away, but we’re still part of the British Empire and as loyal as any other subject of the queen.’ However, there is a hint of discontent when the father of Nettie’s best friend, Mr Parkes leaves the room. Nettie has observed through newsreels at the pictures, that they ‘had arms in slings, missing legs, patches on their eyes.’ He suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome from the war. Nettie’s father quietly helps the Parkes family look after their farm. Mr Parkes is too proud to accept charity.
While there are no revelations of the underlying issues that beset the 1950’s from immigration to First Nations peoples, there is a great sweetness in the story. When Nettie’s father brings home the children’s new mother Alice, she becomes the long-awaited mother figure. Alice’s gift of a doll, called ‘Fancy Nancy’ to Nettie is her greatest treasure. Silver Linings is written with the laughter, affection, and love. Alice makes the family complete, especially after she gives birth to Billy. The father and girls love and adore him.
It is only towards the end of the book that trauma of baby Billy’s death destabilises a near perfect family life. The tragedy leads to the grief and the emotional withdrawal of Alice from family life. Nettie struggles to cope and gets into a disastrous situation when she tries to ‘kidnap’ baby Tom from her best friend’s family. She believes her own family needs a baby to replace Billy and is unable to understand that the Parkes’ family also needs their baby. The flood exacerbates the drama until all is resolved with families reunited, the flood forcing the Parkes family to resettle with Mr Parkes’ brother, and Daisy giving birth to a new baby called Dot. It ends with ‘Hello Dot, it’s me Nettie, your favourite sister.’
It is a very positive story, with appeal especially for girls.
Suitable for 11 and tweens.
Reviewed by Susanne Gervay
