Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf is a 1999 young adult novel by Sonya Hartnett. It is about a young man, Satchel, living in a declining Tasmanian town and his encounter with a wild animal that may be a Thylacine.
 | |
| Author | Sonya Hartnett |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Published | 1999 (Viking) |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 191 |
| ISBN | 9780670885077 |
| OCLC | 45772538 |
Thylacines – once native to mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea – make many appearances in Australian literature despite being extinct since 1936.
Reception
editThe Sunday Times, in its review, wrote: "Teenagers whose developing intellect is above the gossipy pap and illiterate dialogue that "young adult" writing sometimes embraces will find in Hartnett's latest novel exact and thoughtful writing that gives localised events general resonance...This book not only exercises the mind, but also stirs the heart."[1] Booktrust wrote that "Hartnett’s precise, graceful writing explores the tantalising potential of suspended lives. A hugely-absorbing book that repays slow reading, in which even small events are momentous".[2]
Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf has also been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews,[3] Publishers Weekly,[4] Booklist (starred review),[5] Horn Book Guide Reviews,[5] Voice of Youth Advocates,[5] School Library Journal,[5] and The Daily Telegraph.[6]
It was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year for Older Readers.[7] It was also named in the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2006 list of Best Books for Young Adults,[8] and the Co-operative Children's Book Center's 2007 list of Books for Curious Kids and Teens.[9]
References
edit
- ^ Nicolette Jones (18 January 2004). "Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf by Sonya Hartnett: Children's book of the week". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ "Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf". booktrust.org.uk. Booktrust. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ "Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
It's a quiet, complex work, whose themes of sacrifice and redemption work their way throughout; if some characters are little more than symbols, readers will nevertheless find it a memorable, haunting experience.
- ^ "Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 10 January 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
Hartnett's novel is challenging and may be ultimately less rewarding for readers than the ones that followed. Yet the book is characterized by the same graceful prose, unusual protagonist (though somewhat older than is typical for young adult audiences) and keen sense of place that carry the story to its hopeful conclusion.
- ^ a b c d "Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf". fvrl.bibliocommons.com. Fraser Valley Regional Library. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ Judith Hawley (14 March 2004). "Hunting the Tasmanian tiger". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
Although aimed specifically at teenagers, the novel speaks of matters which are urgent for people of all ages - social and ecological change, personal survival and evolution. ... Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf is a finely poised, deeply engaging book.
- ^ "The Children's Book Council of Australia Annual Awards 2000". bmcc.nsw.gov.au. Children's Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ "Best Books for Young Adults 2006". ala.org. American Library Association. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ Merri V. Lindgren; Megan Schliesman (2007). "It's a Mystery! Books for Curious Kids and Teens". ccbc.education.wisc.edu. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved 9 January 2018.