PB RRP $19.99
ISBN 9781921922749
Reviewed by Nean McKenzie
Fire in the Sea was
the 2011 winner of the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing. Set
during a hot Perth Summer, it is the story of Sadie Miller, a teenage girl who
wants to be anywhere but where she is. The first chapter begins with menacing
shadows in the water, then gets straight into the action as a mystery man is
attacked. Sadie and her friend Tom go to the hospital and Sadie finds herself
the recipient of a dead man's will. Suddenly, it seems, her life has changed.
Sadie inherits a big old house at 1 Ocean Street. Here she
meets Jake, 'the most gorgeous boy she had ever seen'. He says he is the reincarnation
of the old man at the beach and an envoy from the gods. Sadie doesn't believe a
word of it, but eventually she must as she is drawn into his world of
Minotaurs, Drowners and Demons. Since her parents were killed in a car
accident, she has had problems facing the idea of death. Now she can no longer
escape it as she fights for her own life against creatures she never knew
existed.
An ancient box goes missing, which contains a demon. If the
demon is released the future of the world is at stake. Sadie, Tom and Jake must
find the box and give it to the Drowners under the sea before the whole city of
Perth is engulfed by water. But when the box is opened it is up to Sadie to
make a choice. Will she make the right one?
Sadie is a strong character, skeptical at first, then
courageous. Apart from a couple of sections from Tom's point of view, the
majority of the book is from Sadie's perspective, which is more effective. The story is grounded in Aussie suburbia, a
nice contrast to the fantastical events that unfold. This action packed tale is
suitable for young adults from early secondary school onwards.
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