Bronwyn Blake

Set in rural Victoria and the rock known as the 'cornerstone' crosses the river at the meeting point of four farming properties. Three teenagers from these properties have grown up together as incredibly close friends, and it is practically taken for granted that one day Olivia will marry Andy. During her final year at school, while Olivia is fighting to save her beloved dying river, the son of the solitary owner of the fourth property turns up, and unearthed family secrets cause Olivia's life to fall apart.
It's a book about family secrets, friendship and grief. About the river. It's about the impact the actions of an older generation has on the younger. In terms of the river, and in terms of relationships.
It's sad and introspective, and it was good - not gripping but moving and interesting.… (plus d'informations)

Great book! Kes has an aboriginal father and a white mother and lives on one of two adjoining farmhouses with her white uncle and chinese aunt. This means the children on the farm are either aboriginal looking like Kes and her twin brothers, white looking like her sister Sarah and cousin Angie ( who is also deaf) or chinese looking like her closest cousin Finn. Throw in Angie's older friend from hospital visits Brian the product of two very rich unhappy parents and you have a wonderful eclectic mix of children on a mission to save their home. Set in the Mt. Baw Baw region at the height of a drought-ravaged summer, there is a terrible bushfire on Christmas Day which destroys all the feed for their animals. It looks like even with the two Mums taking part-time jobs and the Dad's working dusk to dawn that they will lose the farm. Coupled with all this is Kes's awareness of her father being a "stolen child" and her secret plan to reunite him with his family if she can find them. She has long talks with her cousin Finn over how he handles his "difference" and takes on more responsibilities looking after the clan. Enter the miracle - they discover a cave full of aboriginal art which was hidden in impenetrable forest until the bush burnt away, and this, in turn, leads to the discovery of an underground river (presumably melting snow from Baw Baw) that they can use to save the farm. As well as coming to terms with all this, Kes receives a letter telling her that her grandmother is still alive and she and other aunties and cousins finally visit at the end of the book. I know it's all corny and neat but it made me cry anyway and I think some kids books should be like this- happy endings after hardship![Chapter 9 - The bushfire hits on Xmas day]… (plus d'informations)

This is the story of three friends who are at the end of their high school life. They are called the Kelly gang because they all have the last name Kelly but they are not related – Dan (Danica) , Ned (Nick) and Julia (Kate). Then Julia is taken hostage in a bank hold up that goes terribly wrong and she is burned beyond recognition in the getaway car accident, their lives change forever. This is a story with a twist at the beginning – the first part of the book throws you for a loop – its a Fight Club moment. p.16 – p.18 to “eloquent eyes.” What happened to Julia… (plus d'informations)