Stealing Stacey
by Lynne Reid Banks
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A compelling and touching coming-of-age story set in the magnificent Australian outback.Tags
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Member Reviews
There's nothing worse than picking up a book about your country and seeing how wrong someone can get it. Lynne Reid Banks doesn't get it Simpsons-wrong here, but she doesn't get it right either.
Stacey is a London school girl - bored with school and constantly in trouble. Her mother's been trying to hold it together since her father left. Then one day her Australian grandmother (speaking in a way that would put Alf Stewart to shame) turns up, her mother leaves, and her grandmother 'steals' Stacey, taking to outback Australia.
Here's where it seems a little off. Stacey refers to Perth as a 'big city', which I'm sure no London-er would ever do. She measures distance in miles, but doesn't understand inches. Her grandmother constantly refers show more to the local Aboriginals as a mob, and they are described as angry and vengeful - and threatening when they are drinking.
The overall picture is disturbing. Lynne Reid Banks has a reputation as a decent children's writer, and this book may be received better than it deserves to be. show less
Stacey is a London school girl - bored with school and constantly in trouble. Her mother's been trying to hold it together since her father left. Then one day her Australian grandmother (speaking in a way that would put Alf Stewart to shame) turns up, her mother leaves, and her grandmother 'steals' Stacey, taking to outback Australia.
Here's where it seems a little off. Stacey refers to Perth as a 'big city', which I'm sure no London-er would ever do. She measures distance in miles, but doesn't understand inches. Her grandmother constantly refers show more to the local Aboriginals as a mob, and they are described as angry and vengeful - and threatening when they are drinking.
The overall picture is disturbing. Lynne Reid Banks has a reputation as a decent children's writer, and this book may be received better than it deserves to be. show less
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Author Information
60+ Works 29,113 Members
Lynne Reid Banks was born in London, England on July I929. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she acted and wrote for the repertory stage.Eventually, she turned to journalism, becoming one of Britain's first female television news reporters. Banks was fired from her job as a reporter, and while working a different job, she wrote show more her first novel, which went on to become a best seller. show less
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Stealing Stacey
- Original publication date
- 2004
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Statistics
- Members
- 22
- Popularity
- 1,186,047
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.33)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
