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93rd out of 154 books
—
230 voters
Crow Country
From the author of the Chanters of Tremaris series comesa contemporary time travel fantasy, grounded in the landscape of AustraliaBeginning and ending, always the same, always now. The game, the story, the riddle, hiding and seeking. Crow comes from this place; this place comes from Crow. And Crow has work for you.
Sadie isn't thrilled when her mother drags her from the ci...more
Sadie isn't thrilled when her mother drags her from the ci...more
Paperback, 252 pages
Published
May 1st 2012
by Allen & Unwin
(first published August 24th 2011)
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I absolutely loved this book. I've only read Kate Constable's Tremaris series which is one of my absolute favourite fantasy series of all times - right up there with Le Guin, Nix, Pullman - so I shouldn't be at all surprised that I loved this book.
The story weaves together three stories from 3 generations and spans indigenous and non-indigenous themes. When Sadie's mother Ellie decides to move from the city to Boort, a small country town in northern Victoria, Sadie is not impressed. Boort is 'pa...more
The story weaves together three stories from 3 generations and spans indigenous and non-indigenous themes. When Sadie's mother Ellie decides to move from the city to Boort, a small country town in northern Victoria, Sadie is not impressed. Boort is 'pa...more
Originally posted on The Book Smugglers
So today I was supposed to be reviewing The Stillness of Time Travel a self-published novel by A.J. Maddicott. I learnt about the book at Foyles (The Best Indie Bookstore in the UK), which is one of the few bricks and mortar bookstores to sell the book because they love it so much. I had to buy it there and then and the book had been sitting on my TBR for a while until I decided it was about time to read it. And the premise is pretty cool: young boy learns...more
So today I was supposed to be reviewing The Stillness of Time Travel a self-published novel by A.J. Maddicott. I learnt about the book at Foyles (The Best Indie Bookstore in the UK), which is one of the few bricks and mortar bookstores to sell the book because they love it so much. I had to buy it there and then and the book had been sitting on my TBR for a while until I decided it was about time to read it. And the premise is pretty cool: young boy learns...more
6 likes · like · see review
Sadie's father is no longer around, and her mother Ellie moves the two of them back to the town she grew up in. Ellie immediately reunites with her controversial old flame, David, an Indigenous man who has been the subject of racism for many years.
The story is about injustice and racism, woven into a powerful Indigenous mythology that has the ability to inflict punishment for wrongs committed. The Crows - because this is Crow country - speak to Sadie and urge her to right the wrongs of her ances...more
The story is about injustice and racism, woven into a powerful Indigenous mythology that has the ability to inflict punishment for wrongs committed. The Crows - because this is Crow country - speak to Sadie and urge her to right the wrongs of her ances...more
This has received very mixed reviews on Goodreads; some people love it and give it five stars, other people hate it and give it one. I don't quite understand the people who have described it as 'boring' (I felt like doing that irritating adult thing and saying "only boring people get bored"). I loved the descriptions of Boort and its surrounds, but maybe that's because I spent time up there after the 2011 floods and can picture the area. I found this a good teen time-slip novel, comparable to 'C...more
Sadie and her mother Ellie have recently moved back to Ellie’s home town of Boort, and Sadie hates it. Then Sadie is drawn into the Indigenous history of the area by the mysterious Crow, who tells her that this I his land, and she must right the wrongs of the past, committed by her own ancestors.
This is a time-slip novel, and Sadie often finds herself passing out at strange moments and transported back into the past. I didn’t really like this novel. I found the depiction of Indigenous cultures...more
This is a time-slip novel, and Sadie often finds herself passing out at strange moments and transported back into the past. I didn’t really like this novel. I found the depiction of Indigenous cultures...more
I can not describe how much I loved this book and could not put it down. I read it in a few hours which is rare for me. I loved the language used throughout that I would use every day, great to see book continue with common language and slang rather than to smarten itself up (in a way). The text is easy to read and I must comment Kate's description of indigenous culture that has been written with such respect.
This text should be studied in schools as it brings forward the importance of the past...more
This text should be studied in schools as it brings forward the importance of the past...more
1 like · like · see review
this is the worst book I have ever read!
I had to read it for school and I know I was not the only one who found it boring and confusing
the story is weird and in some parts she says quite a few rude things about peoples races
I love books I do but this was not existing at all. the way Sadie traveled back in time as someone else but knew she was from present day but still thought like someone else was hard to read and had not much of a story line.
so many people complained about this book that aft...more
I had to read it for school and I know I was not the only one who found it boring and confusing
the story is weird and in some parts she says quite a few rude things about peoples races
I love books I do but this was not existing at all. the way Sadie traveled back in time as someone else but knew she was from present day but still thought like someone else was hard to read and had not much of a story line.
so many people complained about this book that aft...more
I believe that Kate Constable is the current Queen of the time-slip novel. I think this one is even better than Cicada Summer (itself a terrific read) as she has tackled a complex and contentious topic and handled it with a deftness that will be enjoyed by a casual reader but will be long considered by a thoughtful one. Writers seem to have shied away from Indigenous themes since Philip Gwynne had his fingers burned some years ago, but Crow Country approaches past and present white / Indigenous...more
1 like · like · see review
Apr 30, 2013
Dianne McKenzie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
australia,
crime-thriller,
family,
friendship,
historic_fiction,
identity,
relationships,
young-person,
teen-female
This is a short read set in a small Australian town with a female protagonist. It delves into the concepts of racial discrimination, indigenous culture, beliefs and family as the lead character learns to settle in a new town with her mother. It is a mixture of the Dreaming with contemporary issues, reinforcing that everything that happens has an affect on everything to come. It is a story I will think about for a long while.
When Sadie's mum returns to her roots in a small country town in Victoria, Sadie is initially unimpressed. When strange things beginning happening to her she is drawn into the dark history of the town and the ramifications that echo through to the present day. A mystery with connections to the Dreamtime, this story for young teens is an engaging read.
Shortlisted for 2012 CBC Australia book awards (Younger Readers)
Shortlisted for 2012 CBC Australia book awards (Younger Readers)
This is a nice Aussie tale, very respectful of the Aboriginal tradition and culture. I read this to assess its suitability for 8-9 year olds as it's on the Children's Book council shortlist for YOUNGER readers. Well, it is, thankfully, but there were a few swears in there (dickhead, crap). Ah well. The time travel element is nice, and the MC nicely resilient.
Very enjoyable Saturday morning read. Loved the exploration of indigenous culture, beliefs, relations with whites in Australia from a youth fiction/time travel genre perspective. Will definitely look out for more by Kate. Sadie was lovely, and a good reminder of what 13 year olds think of their Mums. I should probably re read in 7 years time.
What a great story. Kate has told it simply with the use of some visually sharp sentences that transport the reader into the story alongside the characters. Thanks to this book, I feel a greater connection to & understanding of aboriginals and their connection to this beautiful land.
Where crows own the land and people can understand what the crows say. Crow Country is a fascinating look into Aboriginal spirituality. Our Australian indigenous culture is complex and incredibly interesting. This is a compelling read with a theme of wrongs can being made right.
Very good. A bit scary a times. Very good morel. At times I wondered why the librarians put this book in middle fiction rather than teenage fiction. I LOVED IT!!! :) 5 stars for me
*****
*****
The main character is now being helped by an Aboriginal boy to solve the mystery of the crows. Something is missing, but even the main character doesn't know what it is.
Finally Sadie finds out what the missing item is, but you will have to read the book yourself if you want to know.
Finally Sadie finds out what the missing item is, but you will have to read the book yourself if you want to know.
Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Lyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
I picked it up, I put it down. I read something else. Rinse, repeat. I'm aware I should really love this because so far it really feels like the first true Australian book, but I don't. I just can't engage with it at all. I gave it high marks for its originality and its world...more
I picked it up, I put it down. I read something else. Rinse, repeat. I'm aware I should really love this because so far it really feels like the first true Australian book, but I don't. I just can't engage with it at all. I gave it high marks for its originality and its world...more
Best Australian kids book I've read in a long while. Mixes small town community stories together with Aboriginal dreaming.
Well written time slip novel, plenty of excitement and intrigue with an understanding of the Dreaming.
Really enjoyed this book, haven't read this author before but will definitely read some more.
it was a good read...captivating; although end was not realistic..sound too simple!
Original storyline that kept me interested throughout.
great book! Go check my blog for my review.
Very interesting and related to areas around where I live. I think the ending might have been a bit rushed - the fact that within 2 chapters they pushed one of the characters off the bike in a big fight and then in the last chapter they are all friends again seemed to be pushing the boundaries of common sense, but apart from that it was really a great read, and connected well with the Indigenous folk of our area. Definitely a candidate for a class reader :)
Great story
Meh. This book should have been in the children's section, not the Young Adult. Can't really think of what else to say about it, it took me about 5 months to read, so I obviously didn't like it that much.
The author of the wonderful Singer of All Songs trilogy wrote this new fantasy set in her own contemporary Australia. It includes talking crows, time travel and aboriginal magic, and that's all I'm going to say. The book even looks beautiful; each chapter heading has a crow perched on top of the numbers. It starts a bit slowly but heats up.
I really enjoyed this and found I wanted more, I didn't want it to end. The Time Slips were done really well and without confusion. I also felt its very topical in year of the 20th anniversary for Mabo. Looking forward to introducing it in my school library.
This was a distinctly Australian story, well worth reading, though if you're not an Aussie, you may have some difficulty with the Aboriginal aspect of the book.
I am really looking forward to this book as it has had some great reviews and it is a mystery novel...my favourite!
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Kate Constable was born in Sangringham, Melborne (Victoria, Australia). When she was six-years-old, her family moved to Papua New Guinea where her father worked as a pilot.
Constable got her Arts/Law degree at Melborne University, then got a job at Warner Music. She started writing during these years.
She wrote several short-stories before becoming an author and after her first attempt at writing...more
More about Kate Constable...
Constable got her Arts/Law degree at Melborne University, then got a job at Warner Music. She started writing during these years.
She wrote several short-stories before becoming an author and after her first attempt at writing...more
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“The Dreaming is always; forever... it's always happening, and us mob, we're part of it, all the time, everywhere, and every-when too.”
—
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Nov 01, 2011 07:44pm
Nov 01, 2011 08:10pm