Reviews

Glimpse by Jane Higgins

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Glimpse is inspired by Higgins’ experience of the Christchurch earthquake in 2010: the collapsed buildings, the darkness, the rats, people traumatised, but also people helping each other. In her novel, there are people who can ‘see’ quakes before they happen, only minutes before they occur, but enough time to warn people to take to safety.

Two young friends, Jonah and Bas, are living in D-Zone, a zone that has been wrecked by earthquakes and is scheduled for demolition. It’s a place where there are many ‘illegals’ living, people without official papers, always in fear of Border Control.

Into this world comes PANN, People for a New Nation, ready to exploit people’s grief and take their money with false promises. And then there is Glimpse Corp, a reality TV show sensationalising the stories of ‘glimpsers’. Both companies move in, motivated by the opportunity to make a profit from the situation.

Bas falls for the con trick of PANN, and Jonah finds himself stepping into danger to try to save his friend. Luckily Jonah has a girlfriend, Evie, who keeps him grounded, and able to calmly analyse the best solution. And another young friend Shikha, has insight into the media world. Nevertheless, the danger ramps up, and it is a race against time for Jonah to try to save his friend, and his community.

In the end, survival and strength comes from the bonds of friends, and people uniting together against adversity. As Higgins says, ‘Glimpse is about the ways that, in the worst of times, people shine’. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes Dystopia, Earthquakes, Disaster, Premonitions, Grief, Exploitation, Reality TV, Friendship.

Helen Eddy

Havoc by Jane Higgins

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Text, 2015. ISBN: 9781922147295
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. This dystopian novel is the sequel to Bridge (winner of the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing in 2010) and has the reader urgently turning the page to see what happens next.
Nick Stais and Pathmaker Lanya, are skilfully drawn main characters who share their inner world with the reader as they grapple with betrayal and conflict. They are caught in a war between two cities, Cityside (rich and powerful) and Southside (portrayed as disadvantaged). A more sinister plan involving biological warfare is discovered. Nick and Lanya must find Nick's father (across the river in Cityside) in order to establish collaborations that will reveal the conspiracy of the governments involved. The writing that explains the actions and thoughts of the characters is intelligent. The reader is often held in suspense as the intrigue and power games threaten to overcome the main characters.
This novel provides opportunities to examine and discuss contemporary issues such as border security, asylum seekers, conflict, loyalty and trust in government.
Excellent teaching notes are available and these are aligned with the Australian Curriculum.
Linda Guthrie

The Bridge by Jane Higgins

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Text Publishing, 2012. ISBN 089 1 921758 33 1.
(Ages: 13+) Recommended. Dystopian. Nik and his fellow year 12 students are alert. ISIS representatives have entered the school hall, ready to take away the best of the best for acceptance and training for their elite guard. One by one, Nik's friends stand, their name called, but at the end of the ceremony, Nik is still there, seated. He and his friends are appalled, Nik is the top student and no one can give him a credible reason for his omission. Not being selected means he will be sent to the farms, or even worse, made to join the army, fighting those who live on the other side of the river, across the bridge, the Remnants, the Southsiders And he knows that those who join the army do not live long.
A dystopian story of the divided city where the chasm between those who have money and education and those on the southern reaches of the city, has meant that both sides have deteriorated into autocratic regimes, corrupt and self serving, spreading stories of the other side to keep control, scaring people into submission. Nik and Fy try to escape when their school is bombed, but in taking Fy's younger brother, Sol, with them, must abandon everything and search for him when he is kidnapped. The pair infiltrates the Southerners, Nik being able to speak the language and so get close to one of the commanders. Working with her, he sees a different side to the stories he has been brought up with and a moral dilemma develops, leading to his helping those he is with, the enemy.
There are comments about the divide between rich and poor, the haves and have nots, the lust for power, the greed and self serving nature of those in power. Many parallels to today's western society can be drawn, making this a more interesting read than some dystopian novels which are simply war novels set in a different space. The story is compelling and the character of Nik, particularly, one that held me intrigued, especially when the question of who his parents were, combined with the question of just why he was rejected by the ISIS in the fist place, is foreshadowed enticingly throughout the novel, colouring much of what happens. And the many twists will keep the reader guessing about what will happen to the end.
Fran Knight

The Bridge by Jane Higgins

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The Text Publishing Company, 2011. ISBN 9781921758331.
(Ages 13+) Nik has always wanted to join the ISIS, but the problem is that it's not that simple. You can't just join; they have to pick you. The ISIS are the brains behind the army on the Cityside, fighting the war against the Hostiles on the Southside on the other side of the river. When the day finally comes, the day Nik has waited for his whole life, they don't pick him. Nik is desperate for answers, the ISIS pick the smartest people in the school usually and Nik is one of the smartest people in his year. Then the school gets bombed and so much is lost in the attack. Nik losses his best friend Lou. Lou's sister Fyffe and brother Sol are devastated by the loss of their brother and Fyffe, Sol, Jono, Dash and Nik also lose their friend Bella. The city has become unsafe, the Hostiles have taken the bridges and now control who goes in and out of the city. As a group they decide to leave the city to take Fyffe and Sol home, but it all goes wrong when Sol is taken by the Hostiles so to save him Nik, along with Fyffe, leave Dash and Jono behind and go across the bridge.
This book is amazing. I just could not put it down. I had to keep reading. The book just pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading. I would highly recommend this book, it has adventure and danger and it truly shows you how far friends and family will go for each other.
Tahlia Kennewell (Student)