Six

Six by Karen Tayleur (black dog books)
PB RRP $18.95
ISBN 9781742031552
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton
www.buzzwordsmagazine.com 

Karen Tayleur and black dog books continue to produce high quality YA fiction with this latest release, Six. 


Six follows the story of six very different HSC students linked by the discovery of a body in The Woods. In signature black dog style, the story is told from multiple view points, some in first person, others in third person. Six covers the normal, albeit often tumultuous issues, of young adults - burgeoning romances, career and study expectations, socialising, alcohol and gaining licences. The main protagonist is Sarah, an academic girl who struggles with her family's expectations of her becoming a doctor. Sarah, and all Tayleur's characters, have a clearly young adult voice, and each are drawn distinctly.

Suspense is deftly maintained throughout the story. The book begins with a car accident but it is not revealed who has died and who has survived. As I read and got to know and like (or dislike) each character I was continually wondering, 'do you die?'.

The undercurrent of their gruesome discovery is maintained throughout as the story hurtles towards the inevitable disaster and it is not until the very end, and with an extra final twist, that all is revealed.