Thursday's Child

A YA story set during the depression years, narrated by the youngest daughter of a family struggling, and often failing, to hold themselves together. The 'Thursday's Child' of the title is the family's mysterious son Tin, who from the age of 4, spends his life underground burrowing/ tunnelling initially under the family home before travelling much further afield. It's a lovely read, simply told, but very visual and with complexity and real character development. The story reveals great weaknesses and strengths in nearly all of the central characters (aside from Tin) as they grow up and adapt to what life deals them. Once I commenced the book, which I was able to get through in a few sittings, I lost any awareness that I was reading YA. show more What I liked about the book was that there was some ambiguity with the characters and their circumstances not being painted as black and white. show less

This one follows the story of a young girl and her family in Australia during the Depression, living in a rough shack and barely getting by. The writing is good, but there issues for me with the plot: one of her brothers lives almost exclusively in the system of tunnels that he digs (starting when is only something like 5 years old) under their house and spreading for what seems like must be miles. I can't quite put my finger on what didn't work for me; the story seems a little directionless and I just couldn't quite be okay with that tunneling brother or his part in the story. However, the suspense of the thing kept me reading despite my quibbles.

This book is an abundantly fascinating coming of age novel, with excellent character development and riveting narration from a nine year old girl. It is beautifully written and very imaginative; I really got into this book, and enjoyed it.

A veritable page-turner.

It's a bumpy but exhilarating ride as the fortunes of the young female narrator's family alternately soar and plumb the depths.

This was my second Sonya Hartnett. My first, Surrender was let down, to my mind, by a mind-bogglingly strange/ludicrous ending. Even then the overall quality of writing made it a 4-star read.

This time I found myself wondering where exactly on the roller-coaster of fortunes we were going to end, and was pleased with the way it was managed. An appropriately satisfying ending to a very good read indeed.

Lady Wombat says:

I loved Sleeping Dogs when I read it for a class in my MA program, but haven't read any Harnett since. Decided to read her oeuvre, at least those books available in the U.S.

Beautifully written, but achingly sad, rather than tragic like Sleeping Dogs. Given the Depression-era setting, not surprising that it is so bleak. Made me think about what makes a YA book -- is this really a YA?

(I don’t think there is any way I can explain this amazing story. I will try, but I will fail.)

Harper Flute and her family struggle during Depression times in rural Australia. Her little brother Tin takes to tunneling as life for the family gets more and more desperate. As Tin spends more and more of his time tunneling, the family begins to let Tim go.

How would you classify this story? Historical fiction? Maybe. Science fiction? Maybe a little of that, too.

In any case, it’s truly a story like no other that I have read.

A strange and moving story of a family struggling to keep body and soul together through abject poverty and personal tragedy between the World Wars.

Excellent (on occasion, lyrical) writing, superb characterization, very engaging protagonist, but unremitting progression of unfortunate events may be too depressing for some.

Read the Full Review here: http://www.epinions.com/content_218783256196