Emma Cameron

Reviewed for the VPRC. Delightful book suitable for upper Primary readers tells the story of William who lives in a block of flats in Melbourne and spends his time looking out the window at his neighbours across the street in another block of flats. His curiosity gets the better of him and so one day he approaches a girl about his age he has seen and introduces himself . She has a disability and he wants to know why she wals the way she does. Soon he and Rebecca are firm friends and their friendship and the innocent guile of children causes them to help open up the closed in neighbors to each other. William's questions about the lady who keeps the curtain closed would seem off-limits for an adult as they would want to respect the person's privacy, but William and Rebecca just want everyone to be friends and share what they have. A lovely, feel-good story to pick you up when you are feeling down about the world.… (más)

It has been a long time since I’ve read a book written in verse.

I forgot how beautiful and elegant they are. So simple, yet so dynamic. Expertly crafted to convey the most emotion in so little. Especially in the case for Out of This Place, I couldn’t peel my eyes from my kindle.

I started reading around noon on a beautiful, sunny day. I could have been swimming, but instead I was perched on the swing outside, getting sunburned because I refused to stop reading. I finished the same day and immediately wished it never had to end.

So far, not a single Australian author has disappointed me. I’m not sure what is in the air over there, but it has some serious creative flavor.

Out of This Place drags you into each of these characters lives. Through the eyes of Luke, Casey, and Bongo, we see how hard it truly is for some people, and how to appreciate the life you were given.

I felt so hard for these three. Their lives are so different, yet so similar. But they each find someone worse off than they are.

I cried. I smiled. My heart grew every time a new line of verse would begin.

Gorgeous writing. Spectacular characters. This book is remarkable.… (más)