Kara Sorti, Tripping Back Blue, Walker Books Australia, 1 May 2016, $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781512403084
Whoa. This is not a story for the prudish. Or for kids under the age of 15. Riddled with drug references, addiction, family abuse, and casual sex, this book explores many dark areas through the experiences of Finn Walt, a 17 year old drug addict and dealer.
At first I found the story hard to get into, it felt almost forced, but then it eased into itself and I began to feel comfortable and invested, until it kinda imploded towards the end. Yes, there was a climax and a resolution of sorts, but not the resolution I was looking, or hoping, for. But hey, that’s exactly like life right? And this book is all about trying to represent a slice of a teen life with honesty.
Despite the dark topics, Kara Storti also manages to eject enough light into the narrative to stop the reader drowning in the hopelessness of Finn’s situation or turning away in complete aversion. She does this through Finn himself, who despite his obvious issues is upbeat, passionate and often hilarious. The fictional drug ‘indigo’, which introduces an element of speculative fiction, also helps add some much needed light.
Set in the fictional town of Dammertown, New York, a town teeming with drugs and bathed in despair, this book does well exploring what it’s like to be an addict – the relentless need to get high, the inability to resist despite pleading from friends and family, and the inevitable downward spiral. It doesn’t hold back and is also in no way preachy. Which is another strength. It tells it like it is, makes no excuses, and by doing so allows teens to glean their own meanings and ah-ha moments. Which I suspect is often a lot more more useful than well-meant directives to ‘just stop using drugs’ or declarations that ‘drugs are bad’.
What I also liked about this book is that it’s rich with poignant messages, and Storti uses Finn’s love and extensive knowledge of birds to bring a lot of these messages home. Which is another example of the book’s subtly in delivering meaning. But subtly aside, what is this book really about? You could argue it’s about addiction or family abuse, but actually I believe it’s about guilt and redemption. In particular, how to deal with the inevitable guilt that life serves up to us all.
One thing I did find lacking however, was the relationships between the characters. They didn’t seem to be well developed, and felt rushed, especially the critical relationship between Orah and Finn. This may have been intentional, can an addict really form strong bonds? I suspect not. I also sometimes found it hard to believe that Finn was a 17 year old boy. For instance, in one scene we find him marvelling over a state-of-the art oven and granite countertops. Really?
This book is written in a punchy, contemporary style, uses slang in interesting ways and yes, there are quite a lot of swear words. But the subject matter warrants it, so I don’t feel like the swearing is unnecessary or overused.
Tripping Back Blue is a contemporary coming-of-age story that deals with real, gritty issues without reducing them or coming up with a perfect solution. Could it do this with a little more finesse and fewer pages? Yes it could, but there is so much depth in this book waiting to be plucked out that these flaws seem minor.
A great story with a lot to offer an older-teen audience.
Reviewed by Renee Mihulka
