Reviewed by
Karen Hendriks
Tye spends summer holidays with her
grandparents, in Tasmania, in the pristine wilderness of Clancy’s Point. Her
relationship with her Mum, is up and down, and the time away in Tasmania offers
her stability. Tye’s best friend Lily lives next door, and they share a love of
the land and nature. Tye longs to take part in conservation projects and to learn
more about taking care of the environment. This thrilling novel is about
Tyenna’s experience of the terrifying 2019 Tasmanian bushfires.
Julie Hunt and Terry Whitebeach have
developed a suspenseful and engaging text. The threat of a dangerous bushfire
and a runaway boy keeps the reader on edge and wondering if they will survive.
The characters are strong, and their voices are gripping. Each character is
distinct and well developed. A range of character age groups are included,
along with a wombat called Myrtle who creates havoc. This story builds empathy
and understanding on many topics including – the elderly, bushfires,
conservation, Aboriginal perspectives, education, friendships, family dynamics,
LGBT and foster children are a few.
Tye is raw and honest with a believable
teenage voice. ‘Why didn’t you tell her
where you really are?’ Bailey looks down. ‘She might send me away.’ ‘Your
auntie wouldn’t do that!’ Tye says. The text is educational and layered
with lots of information about bushfire preparation and firefighting. Scientific
names for flora and historical facts are included. Immediately a text comes in
from Lukas. Hey, RUOK Just seen
footage of burnt World heritage areas down your way. Ecological disaster. Are
they going to wait till all the Gondwanian species are wiped out before they act?
Or is it up to us? The text is a mix of short and long sentences that pace
the story beautifully. What I particularly like about this text is that the
reader is encouraged to think and question and be curious.
Tyenna: Through
My Eyes is a wonderful story about family, friendship and
community all working together during a bushfire emergency. I can see this book
being used in schools because it’s a multilayered text that raises discussion
about bush conservation and climate change. It is a book that will be a
gripping read for children aged 11 – 14 years.
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