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Through the Cracks
A leafy street. A quiet neighbour. The darkest of crimes. Adam Vander has grown tall enough and strong enough to escape his abusive and controlling father. Emerging from behind the locked door of their rambling suburban home, Adam steps into a world he's been kept isolated from. In the days that follow, with the charismatic and streetwise Billy as his guide, Adam begins to experience all that he's missed out on. As the bond between the boys grows, questions begin to surface. Who is Adam really? Why did his father keep him so hidden? Was it just luck that Billy found him, or an unsettling kind of fate? And how dangerous is revealing the shocking truth of Adam's identity? It's a treacherous climb from the darkness. For one boy to make it, the other might have to fall through the cracks. 'A force to be reckoned with.' Sydney Morning Herald 'Brown keeps the pages turning and the pulse racing.' Weekend West Australian 'A clever and inventive storyteller.' The Australian 'Honey Brown's latest book is a slow-burning drama about child abduction. With strong characterisation and a plot that drip-feeds its secrets, it's a winning formula.' The Sunday Age 'Dealing with some heavy-duty exploitation issues, Brown has again come up with the goods in an emotionally confronting novel.' The Australian Way 'After the first chapter or two I was . . . unwilling if not unable . . . to put it down . . . [a] compelling, confronting and worryingly credible story. Without dwelling on sensationalist details the book conveys some of the myriad ways in which abuse and neglect can manifest themselves and depicts the surprising array of responses human beings can have to such circumstances . . . the ending is as satisfying as they come.' Fair Dinkum Crime 'Bravo Honey Brown for being brave enough to tackle such a disquieting subject and presenting it such an engaging way that it will get the attention it deserves. This novel is a well-crafted, complex and powerful snap shot of the ugly side of modern society.' Reading, Writing and Riesling 'For every scintilla of discomfort that a reader may feel, there is some explanation, understanding and an unexpected sense of hope and kindness. For all the darkness, and the sheer difficulty of reading this book . . . . there is something that compels us to return to it. The pace of the storytelling in this book is pitch perfect. Through the Cracks is a tough, tearing, bruising experience, but it fulfils all the requirements of excellent psychological thrillers . . . it explores, it explains and it casts some light on some very dark corners of humanity, without ever having to resort to voyeurism or exploitation itself.' Newtown Review of Books 'An exceptional psychological thriller.' Manly Daily 'Australia's answer to Jodi Picoult . . . [a] grim fable for the modern age.' Weekend Australian 'Powerful storytelling skills are at work here.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2014
5 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Honey Brown
8 books76 followersHoney Brown lives in country Victoria with her husband and two children. She is the author of four books: Red Queen, The Good Daughter, After the Darkness and Dark Horse. Red Queen was published to critical acclaim in 2009 and won an Aurealis Award, and The Good Daughter was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and shortlisted for the Barbara Jefferis Award in 2011. After the Darkness was selected for the Women's Weekly Great Read and for Get Reading 2012's 50 Books You Can't Put Down campaign. Her fifth novel, Through the Cracks, will be published in 2014.
Also writes under H.M. Brown.
Also writes under H.M. Brown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 19, 2014
Growing up Adam Vander never knew what it was like to have a happy childhood. His father treated him like a prisoner where he received mental and physical abuse regularly. The tables turn when Adam stands up to his father and begins to give his father a taste of what he'd been going through.
Billy drops by the house for a visit and quickly discovers what is going on with Adam and his father. Having had a rough life himself, Billy knows he must do all he can to help Adam and getting him away from the house is the first step. Billy will then show and teach Adam how to become streetwise which will be a lot for, Adam to take in after being locked away from the world for so many years.
In time will Adam discover the truth about why he was locked away? Could knowing the truth bring more pain? And who really was Adam?
I really enjoyed this book although the subject matter may have been disturbing to read at times I still wanted to keep turning the pages to find out how it was going to end. Highly recommended.
With thanks to The reading Room and the publisher for my ARC copy.
Billy drops by the house for a visit and quickly discovers what is going on with Adam and his father. Having had a rough life himself, Billy knows he must do all he can to help Adam and getting him away from the house is the first step. Billy will then show and teach Adam how to become streetwise which will be a lot for, Adam to take in after being locked away from the world for so many years.
In time will Adam discover the truth about why he was locked away? Could knowing the truth bring more pain? And who really was Adam?
I really enjoyed this book although the subject matter may have been disturbing to read at times I still wanted to keep turning the pages to find out how it was going to end. Highly recommended.
With thanks to The reading Room and the publisher for my ARC copy.
September 27, 2015
This is not a book for the faint-hearted, or those who want a nice, easy-peasy read. In this novel Honey Brown tackles one of the toughest and most distressing social issues in our community - systemic child abuse.
The novel begins with our introduction to Adam, a teenage boy whose story gradually unfolds for us. We discover, over several pages, that he lives in an isolated compound, and has been held captive for long periods, locked in a windowless room, by his abusive father Joe. He has no contact with the outside world and his limited understanding of society comes solely from watching TV.
A day comes when Adam realises his strength matches that of his elderly father, and he lashes out for the first time - and defeats the old man. Joe’s dodgy heart begins to fail. Although Adam now has freedom, he has no concept of how to leave his familiar environment.
Into this fraught situation slips Billy, an older teenager, full of street smarts. Billy has been visiting Joe’s compound over many years, but was genuinely surprised to find Adam there - the younger boy had always been hidden away in the back room. When Joe succumbs to heart failure, Billy encourages Adam to accompany him outside. The younger boy, secluded in complete isolation for so many years, has no idea how to behave and react when he encounters the realities of modern society.
We follow Billy and Adam as they make their way through an underworld most of us would never dream exists. As Billy’s background is slowly revealed by the author, we realise that he too is a victim of abuse. Unlike Adam, his senses have been honed to a razor sharp level, as he ducks and weaves his way through the sleazy underbelly of Melbourne society circa 1984.
As the journey of Adam and Billy proceeds, Honey Brown gives us little glimpses of the awful histories that created their personal circumstances. The revelations come slowly and in small instalments, as Brown builds up a level of suspense and intrigue. I was drawn into the mystery of who Adam really was, which is disclosed following a rather disturbing admission from Billy. The two teenagers are diametric opposites - Adam is an innocent abroad, whereas Billy thrives in the seedy worlds of the petty criminal and the paedophile. Rat cunning and a cavalier regard for the Law keep Billy alive, but we discover that he also has admirable qualities and a good heart. He knows who Adam really is, and is determined to restore the boy to his rightful place in society.
The narrative takes many twists and turns as the boys endeavour to get on the right side of society. We meet many quirky and unsavoury characters along the way, and we get some intriguing insights into the lifestyles and mindsets of the denizens of the netherworld. The suspense builds to a tragic climax, then Brown examines the consequences in detail, which is very satisfying. So many thrillers fail to follow through, leaving the reader to muse on the repercussions. But I know that Brown is a first-class writer, who credits her readers with the intelligence to see the story through to the very end.
Published in 2014, Through the Cracks is a timely offering from Australia’s doyenne of psychological thrillers. There are lessons for all of us in the tale. I read the book in September 2015, against the background of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which has uncovered the extent of the deception and callousness of those in authority. The book refreshed my memory of the notorious cases of the Austrian man who kept his daughter captive in a cellar for over 20 years, and that of the three girls imprisoned in a house in Cleveland Ohio for over 10 years. Brown’s novel focusses less on the scandal and more on the consequences for the victim following release from years of physical and psychological abuse. It is a grim but ultimately satisfying read.
The novel begins with our introduction to Adam, a teenage boy whose story gradually unfolds for us. We discover, over several pages, that he lives in an isolated compound, and has been held captive for long periods, locked in a windowless room, by his abusive father Joe. He has no contact with the outside world and his limited understanding of society comes solely from watching TV.
A day comes when Adam realises his strength matches that of his elderly father, and he lashes out for the first time - and defeats the old man. Joe’s dodgy heart begins to fail. Although Adam now has freedom, he has no concept of how to leave his familiar environment.
Into this fraught situation slips Billy, an older teenager, full of street smarts. Billy has been visiting Joe’s compound over many years, but was genuinely surprised to find Adam there - the younger boy had always been hidden away in the back room. When Joe succumbs to heart failure, Billy encourages Adam to accompany him outside. The younger boy, secluded in complete isolation for so many years, has no idea how to behave and react when he encounters the realities of modern society.
We follow Billy and Adam as they make their way through an underworld most of us would never dream exists. As Billy’s background is slowly revealed by the author, we realise that he too is a victim of abuse. Unlike Adam, his senses have been honed to a razor sharp level, as he ducks and weaves his way through the sleazy underbelly of Melbourne society circa 1984.
As the journey of Adam and Billy proceeds, Honey Brown gives us little glimpses of the awful histories that created their personal circumstances. The revelations come slowly and in small instalments, as Brown builds up a level of suspense and intrigue. I was drawn into the mystery of who Adam really was, which is disclosed following a rather disturbing admission from Billy. The two teenagers are diametric opposites - Adam is an innocent abroad, whereas Billy thrives in the seedy worlds of the petty criminal and the paedophile. Rat cunning and a cavalier regard for the Law keep Billy alive, but we discover that he also has admirable qualities and a good heart. He knows who Adam really is, and is determined to restore the boy to his rightful place in society.
The narrative takes many twists and turns as the boys endeavour to get on the right side of society. We meet many quirky and unsavoury characters along the way, and we get some intriguing insights into the lifestyles and mindsets of the denizens of the netherworld. The suspense builds to a tragic climax, then Brown examines the consequences in detail, which is very satisfying. So many thrillers fail to follow through, leaving the reader to muse on the repercussions. But I know that Brown is a first-class writer, who credits her readers with the intelligence to see the story through to the very end.
Published in 2014, Through the Cracks is a timely offering from Australia’s doyenne of psychological thrillers. There are lessons for all of us in the tale. I read the book in September 2015, against the background of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which has uncovered the extent of the deception and callousness of those in authority. The book refreshed my memory of the notorious cases of the Austrian man who kept his daughter captive in a cellar for over 20 years, and that of the three girls imprisoned in a house in Cleveland Ohio for over 10 years. Brown’s novel focusses less on the scandal and more on the consequences for the victim following release from years of physical and psychological abuse. It is a grim but ultimately satisfying read.
April 16, 2014
The fury that coursed through young Adam Vander as he realized he was finally able to face up to his father and BEAT him was intense. After the years of beatings, of degradation and humiliation, he was determined that this time he would show his father that it would end. But the upheaval to his emotions as his father lay cowering; cowering as Adam himself had done so many times at the hands of his dominating father caused so much confusion that Adam wasn’t sure what to do.
When young Billy turned up at Adam’s house a day later, he had no idea who Adam was – he had always been locked away whenever Billy had visited the house. But Billy realized something was very wrong with the situation; so with Billy leading the way, Adam finally escaped his prison and Billy helped Adam to learn the ways of the streets. The struggle for Adam to make sense of a world he had never seen, a world that scared him more than a little was tempered by the caring nature of a streetwise Billy; as Adam and Billy forged a close bond Billy determined that he would watch Adam’s back and keep him safe.
But as questions arose, desperate people emerged from the depths of darkness. The horrors would continue with evil rearing its ugly head again and again. Why was Adam locked away? Who was he? Was Adam’s new friend Billy also in danger? And were they about to fall through the cracks?
What an amazing book! The subject matter was deep and intense but the characters of Adam and Billy were very real. The author has written a heart wrenching story about a topic that is raw, shocking and one you hope never happens to you or your family. It’s also a very different subject matter to Aussie author Honey Brown’s previous books, and incredibly well done. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
When young Billy turned up at Adam’s house a day later, he had no idea who Adam was – he had always been locked away whenever Billy had visited the house. But Billy realized something was very wrong with the situation; so with Billy leading the way, Adam finally escaped his prison and Billy helped Adam to learn the ways of the streets. The struggle for Adam to make sense of a world he had never seen, a world that scared him more than a little was tempered by the caring nature of a streetwise Billy; as Adam and Billy forged a close bond Billy determined that he would watch Adam’s back and keep him safe.
But as questions arose, desperate people emerged from the depths of darkness. The horrors would continue with evil rearing its ugly head again and again. Why was Adam locked away? Who was he? Was Adam’s new friend Billy also in danger? And were they about to fall through the cracks?
What an amazing book! The subject matter was deep and intense but the characters of Adam and Billy were very real. The author has written a heart wrenching story about a topic that is raw, shocking and one you hope never happens to you or your family. It’s also a very different subject matter to Aussie author Honey Brown’s previous books, and incredibly well done. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
April 10, 2014
I had an ARC, thanks to the reading room and the publisher.I was really looking forward to this because I had heard about this author and the book from people’s whose opinions I value. What I discovered was this is not a comfortable read. It gives a harsh and brutal picture of the inhumanity of some, (I hesitate to use the word human beings,) towards the young and vulnerable.
The book starts with Adam Vander attacking the man he believes is his father and giving him, now he is older, back some of the treatment he has been subjected to for years. He locks his father in a room and for the first time feels some kind of freedom. There were times I wondered why I was even reading this book as I don’t deal well with books that are about abuse, especially child abuse. So yes, I found it hard to read and yet in a way it is strangely compelling. I think that is largely due to the way it is written. It mostly consists of fairly short sentences rather like a newspaper report. There is no room for flowery language in this gritty story. This emphasis on short, sharp writing keeps the tension.
What is interesting is the way the streetwise Billy, also a victim of abuse, takes Adam under his wing and he begins to experience something of life. Of course Billy’s methods of achieving what he wants might sicken, anger or make you despair that there is any way out for Adam and Billy that will not get them into more trouble. That’s certainly the way it looks. Yet you can’t help hoping that these two will find a way out of the darkness and cruelty that has been their lives. What is astounding is that so much went on in this house in a suburban street and yet people didn’t notice. That’s scary. I also found the language hard to deal with, but I guess that shows the type of characters that we’re dealing with in this story and the impact it had on boys subjected to isolation and abuse.
You can be sure after reading this I will be turning to something much lighter. While I appreciate the author’s skill in telling the story and agree that such things need to be brought to light, I’m not sure that I will be in such a hurry to read another book this confronting.
The book starts with Adam Vander attacking the man he believes is his father and giving him, now he is older, back some of the treatment he has been subjected to for years. He locks his father in a room and for the first time feels some kind of freedom. There were times I wondered why I was even reading this book as I don’t deal well with books that are about abuse, especially child abuse. So yes, I found it hard to read and yet in a way it is strangely compelling. I think that is largely due to the way it is written. It mostly consists of fairly short sentences rather like a newspaper report. There is no room for flowery language in this gritty story. This emphasis on short, sharp writing keeps the tension.
What is interesting is the way the streetwise Billy, also a victim of abuse, takes Adam under his wing and he begins to experience something of life. Of course Billy’s methods of achieving what he wants might sicken, anger or make you despair that there is any way out for Adam and Billy that will not get them into more trouble. That’s certainly the way it looks. Yet you can’t help hoping that these two will find a way out of the darkness and cruelty that has been their lives. What is astounding is that so much went on in this house in a suburban street and yet people didn’t notice. That’s scary. I also found the language hard to deal with, but I guess that shows the type of characters that we’re dealing with in this story and the impact it had on boys subjected to isolation and abuse.
You can be sure after reading this I will be turning to something much lighter. While I appreciate the author’s skill in telling the story and agree that such things need to be brought to light, I’m not sure that I will be in such a hurry to read another book this confronting.
August 10, 2016
This novel tells the story of two boys, streetwise 18yo Billy and the younger teenager, Adam who has been kept locked up and abused by a man he believes to be his father. The exact details of the abuse suffered by Adam is never explicitly spelt out but we are made to understand that it is of the worst sort. Apart from sexual abuse, he has deprived of a childhood and an education, is tied to the table while being fed and is frequently locked up in a windowless room. One day he is able to finally overcome his father and escape from the house with the aid of Billy, who takes him under his wing while he gets to know the world around him.
Billy's life has also been one of deprivation; poverty and violence at the hands of his father and sexual abuse at the hands of the religious institution he was sent to to straighten him out. He has learnt to get by through petty crime and selling sexual favours to older men. However, Billy is almost tender in his treatment of Adam who he realises is totally innocent and unworldly, taking care to protect him and making sure he has food and somewhere safe to sleep off the streets. Unfortunately Billy still manages to get involved in some ugly incidents that may lead them into trouble with the police. However, Adam and Billy discover they have some history in common and eventually realise that there is another story to Adam's life and the revelation of what this is adds quite a twist to the story.
This book is very topical in dealing with some very dark issues relating to child abuse that are all too present in our society today. Although the subject matter is often very confronting, the story is so well told that at no time did I find it too dark and depressing. We are immediately drawn to Adam as the wide-eyed innocent who has somehow survived his years of abuse and torture to remain a sweet kid (although he will surely need years of pyschiatric help to truly overcome the trauma he has suffered). The descriptions of life on the margins for Billy and the people he associates with also feel very authentic and helped to explain why Billy makes the bad choices he does as a matter of survival. Highly recommended.4.5★
Billy's life has also been one of deprivation; poverty and violence at the hands of his father and sexual abuse at the hands of the religious institution he was sent to to straighten him out. He has learnt to get by through petty crime and selling sexual favours to older men. However, Billy is almost tender in his treatment of Adam who he realises is totally innocent and unworldly, taking care to protect him and making sure he has food and somewhere safe to sleep off the streets. Unfortunately Billy still manages to get involved in some ugly incidents that may lead them into trouble with the police. However, Adam and Billy discover they have some history in common and eventually realise that there is another story to Adam's life and the revelation of what this is adds quite a twist to the story.
This book is very topical in dealing with some very dark issues relating to child abuse that are all too present in our society today. Although the subject matter is often very confronting, the story is so well told that at no time did I find it too dark and depressing. We are immediately drawn to Adam as the wide-eyed innocent who has somehow survived his years of abuse and torture to remain a sweet kid (although he will surely need years of pyschiatric help to truly overcome the trauma he has suffered). The descriptions of life on the margins for Billy and the people he associates with also feel very authentic and helped to explain why Billy makes the bad choices he does as a matter of survival. Highly recommended.4.5★
April 22, 2014
"Within the space of one week Adam grew strong enough to stop him. Somewhere in those seven days a tipping point had been reached....
'Don't touch me.'
'What did you say to me?'
Adam straightened his elbow and shoved his father in the chest."
After enduring years of confinement and abuse at the hands of his father, Joe, Adam finally pushes back, but having secured his freedom he has no idea what to do with it...until Billy finds him. Placing his trust in the streetwise teen, Adam tentatively ventures beyond his suburban prison for the first time in years, but no matter the direction the pair take to escape, their past refuses to let them go.
Through The Cracks is an intense and provocative read, though not quite the thriller, I have come to expect from Honey Brown. Delving into the darkest recesses of society, Brown explores the fates of two very different young boys and their struggle to survive, and move on from, a shared history of abuse, exploitation and neglect.
Though ultimately a story of hope, Through the Cracks is not an easy read. Written with brutal realism, the themes are disturbing, and certain details, though never gratuitous, can be confronting. Most readers will find themselves heart sore and indignant as Adam and Billy evoke sympathy, their tormentors engender disgust, and those that fail the boys provoke outrage while raising questions about society's failure to protect its most vulnerable members.
Through the Cracks is a powerfully affecting tale but I think the publisher does a huge disservice to the book by linking Nathan Fisher's and Adam's identities in the blurb. It blunts the revelations that come as the story unfolds, and while still an absorbing read, I found there were very few surprises, and little suspense.
April 21, 2014
A brilliantly written book that takes aim at some extremely difficult and disturbing subject matter. Australian author, Honey Brown does not shirk the issues of child abduction, child sexual abuse, imprisonment, homelessness and hopelessness in this novel.
Adam is a teenage boy who has spent his formative years imprisoned in a suburban house. Eventually Adam stands-up to his aging captor and rejoins the world. Free at last, Adam has a chance meeting with Billy, a streetwise teenager, who takes Adam under his wing and introduces him to an outside world that he has never knowingly experienced. As Adam flourishes and grows as a person under the guidance of Billy they both begin to realise they are part of a much bigger issue.
As the layers are unravelled and the level of abuse, depravity and hopelessness is uncovered, the reader is taken on a dark journey of despair followed by uplifting hope for a better outcome.
The background to this novel is every parent's nightmare, but it is the relationships between the characters that is the true and rewarding focus. Congratulations to Honey Brown for having the courage to tackle such divisive issues and kudos for the compassionate and skilful way she takes the reader with her on the journey. Take my advice and get on board!
Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Australia for my Advanced Reader Copy.
Adam is a teenage boy who has spent his formative years imprisoned in a suburban house. Eventually Adam stands-up to his aging captor and rejoins the world. Free at last, Adam has a chance meeting with Billy, a streetwise teenager, who takes Adam under his wing and introduces him to an outside world that he has never knowingly experienced. As Adam flourishes and grows as a person under the guidance of Billy they both begin to realise they are part of a much bigger issue.
As the layers are unravelled and the level of abuse, depravity and hopelessness is uncovered, the reader is taken on a dark journey of despair followed by uplifting hope for a better outcome.
The background to this novel is every parent's nightmare, but it is the relationships between the characters that is the true and rewarding focus. Congratulations to Honey Brown for having the courage to tackle such divisive issues and kudos for the compassionate and skilful way she takes the reader with her on the journey. Take my advice and get on board!
Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Australia for my Advanced Reader Copy.
June 4, 2014
Narratives about a child lost and then found are not uncommon, but Through the Cracks turns a familiar theme on its head, focussing, over a short period of time, on the victim’s efforts to rejoin the world he’s been hidden from. It’s an unsettling read, with a pervading sense of detachment that mimics the young protagonist’s alienation from society and inability to demonstrate appropriate social and emotional behaviour. If you’re looking for a light-hearted read, this one is not for you – there is suggestion, rather than description, of child sexual abuse, among other dark themes. My mood does determine what I choose to read, so I waited to read this until I was in the right frame of mind – a good choice, I realised once I got into the book.
Through the Cracks reels readers in without delay: “Within the space of one week, Adam grew strong enough to stop him.” What a great first line – it’s a cracker! How could you not read on? After years of abuse, Adam has finally reached his tipping point and turns his anger on his abuser – his father. The teenage boy is ready to “jump the fence” that has kept him locked away for years; with the help of the streetwise Billy, Adam steps out into the world … and then the questions come thick and fast. Who is Adam really? Why was he hidden? And what’s Billy’s connection to it all? The two have to find a way to survive and stay under the radar, but as others get involved, it becomes obvious that one boy will have to fall through the cracks in order for the other to rejoin society.
This is my first Honey Brown book and it won’t be my last. Brown has a great talent for getting to the guts of a difficult issue and presenting it in a manner that makes it hard not to keep turning pages, even when it’s like a punch to the soul. Here, she’s tackled a number of issues that too often fall through the cracks – homelessness, abuse and neglect – and she does this with authenticity and an avoidance of sensationalism. The boys are working within a system that is not entirely in their favour (if at all), and so have to find ways to get around the system in order to survive. What’s sad is that this does happen. Every day. People fall through the cracks. With spot-on timing, keen observation and strong characterisation, Brown explores this sad state of affairs, as well as some of the more ugly examples of human behaviour, and delivers a story that does so much more than entertain – it compels the reader to think and it lingers in the mind.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, give this one a go. You’ll be rewarded with a book that is unafraid to examine issues most of us would rather remain ignorant of, but does so without resorting to graphic imagery and never completely allows the grim atmosphere to take over. And, just as some fall people through the cracks, a glimmer of hope manages to push its way out of the cracks and it is this feeling that closes the novel. Whatever happens next in the characters’ stories may not be easy, but readers are left with the sense that light will still trump darkness.
Through the Cracks reels readers in without delay: “Within the space of one week, Adam grew strong enough to stop him.” What a great first line – it’s a cracker! How could you not read on? After years of abuse, Adam has finally reached his tipping point and turns his anger on his abuser – his father. The teenage boy is ready to “jump the fence” that has kept him locked away for years; with the help of the streetwise Billy, Adam steps out into the world … and then the questions come thick and fast. Who is Adam really? Why was he hidden? And what’s Billy’s connection to it all? The two have to find a way to survive and stay under the radar, but as others get involved, it becomes obvious that one boy will have to fall through the cracks in order for the other to rejoin society.
This is my first Honey Brown book and it won’t be my last. Brown has a great talent for getting to the guts of a difficult issue and presenting it in a manner that makes it hard not to keep turning pages, even when it’s like a punch to the soul. Here, she’s tackled a number of issues that too often fall through the cracks – homelessness, abuse and neglect – and she does this with authenticity and an avoidance of sensationalism. The boys are working within a system that is not entirely in their favour (if at all), and so have to find ways to get around the system in order to survive. What’s sad is that this does happen. Every day. People fall through the cracks. With spot-on timing, keen observation and strong characterisation, Brown explores this sad state of affairs, as well as some of the more ugly examples of human behaviour, and delivers a story that does so much more than entertain – it compels the reader to think and it lingers in the mind.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, give this one a go. You’ll be rewarded with a book that is unafraid to examine issues most of us would rather remain ignorant of, but does so without resorting to graphic imagery and never completely allows the grim atmosphere to take over. And, just as some fall people through the cracks, a glimmer of hope manages to push its way out of the cracks and it is this feeling that closes the novel. Whatever happens next in the characters’ stories may not be easy, but readers are left with the sense that light will still trump darkness.
February 1, 2014
So it seems I’ve found my book pick for 2014 already!!!…. I’ve read all of this author’s books and they just keep getting better and better. I feel she is destined to be one of The great Australian fiction authors. “Through The Cracks” by Honey Brown is a touching, thought-provoking story of Adam and Billy, two boys who have fallen ‘through the cracks’. I cried in places; I had to put the book down to ponder; I had goosebumps after the first 6 paragraphs. Beautifully written, I could feel the Australian heat and the sand on my back. I could feel the fear and the triumph. This book will stay in my mind for a long time.
I urge you all to get onto your local bookseller and order your copy, due in April.
I urge you all to get onto your local bookseller and order your copy, due in April.
April 23, 2014
It was a sheer coincidence that I started reading THROUGH THE CRACKS the very week that Daniel Morcombe's killer was sentenced and the details were on every news service across Australia, so it certainly influenced my reading of the novel. I was overwhelmed by the concept that child abusers will always be with us and what can we do to keep our children and grandchildren safe. THROUGH THE CRACKS tells the story of two teens that have both escaped abusive childhoods. The story is told through the eyes of Adam, aged fifteen, which is a very clever ploy because this man child has been locked away for 10 years and his only contact with the human world has been with his abusive father Joe. He is not retarded in any way, although for a while there I thought he might have been. He is just totally innocent in the ways of the world and has a child’s mind as he has never been educated or socialised. So after 10 years confinement Adam finally locks Joe in the same prison that Adam has been previously confined, and ignorance of medication, and fear of trickery, means that he doesn’t give Joe the heart pills that Joe needs to survive. Adam now has freedom but doesn’t know what to do with it, in fact he is even too worried to even leave the yard at first. Help comes in the form of Billy who comes to visit Adam’s father to swim in the pool and finds Adam and Joe’s dead body; Billy had often visited Joe but had no idea that Adam was imprisoned there. Billy realises what Alan has gone through and tells him to avoid the Police because they will put him into the kind of juvenile care which Billy had been in and suffered abuse at the hands of a priest. Adam agrees to follow Billy. So the story begins.
THROUGH THE CRACKS is a story of survival, but it is not a pretty story, it is dark, violent (but not dripping in gore), gritty and heart wrenching; but there is hope that the system can be beaten, that if victims are empowered, and with strong support, they can rise above the terrible things that have happened. Child abuse is not a happy subject; in fact many of us prefer not to know about it - not because we don’t care but because we feel so helpless. What helped me is that the story is told by Adam and he can only tell the reader what he can see even though he may not understand what he is seeing. The reader understands the clues though even if Adam hadn’t, so author Honey Brown really had to use the ‘show don’t tell technique’ of storytelling and she did it perfectly. For instance the reader sees the dark side of Billy, but Adam only describes the helpful and protective Billy but in such a way as you know better than Adam. THROUGH THE CRACKS is not a nice read, it is not an easy read, but it is a must read, and as the title suggests sometimes when looking at the big picture authorities and welfare groups might unintentionally miss some cracks – and it is these cracks that the innocent are falling through.
With thanks to Penguin Books and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
THROUGH THE CRACKS is a story of survival, but it is not a pretty story, it is dark, violent (but not dripping in gore), gritty and heart wrenching; but there is hope that the system can be beaten, that if victims are empowered, and with strong support, they can rise above the terrible things that have happened. Child abuse is not a happy subject; in fact many of us prefer not to know about it - not because we don’t care but because we feel so helpless. What helped me is that the story is told by Adam and he can only tell the reader what he can see even though he may not understand what he is seeing. The reader understands the clues though even if Adam hadn’t, so author Honey Brown really had to use the ‘show don’t tell technique’ of storytelling and she did it perfectly. For instance the reader sees the dark side of Billy, but Adam only describes the helpful and protective Billy but in such a way as you know better than Adam. THROUGH THE CRACKS is not a nice read, it is not an easy read, but it is a must read, and as the title suggests sometimes when looking at the big picture authorities and welfare groups might unintentionally miss some cracks – and it is these cracks that the innocent are falling through.
With thanks to Penguin Books and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
March 4, 2014
My View:
This was a very hard read- the subject matter is very very distressing yet somehow captivating at the same time, it is so well written. This narrative will eat away at your very core, demanding you pay attention to those you value and love, demanding you pay more attention to those who are vulnerable in your community. This novel shouts – pay attention, open your eyes, question and engage; life around you is your business and you do have a social responsibility that extends further than your garden fence.
Is it a coincidence that the subject of this novel, abuse of children, is currently making headlines, is newsworthy - though already the media seems to be moving on to other things…This subject requires our undivided attention. It requires our compassion and the children involved our full support and love.
This extremely well written and engaging novel will not be for everyone. Bravo Honey Brown for being brave enough to tackle such a disquieting subject and presenting it such an engaging way that it will get the attention it deserves. This novel is a well-crafted, complex and powerful snap shot of the ugly side of modern society. This novel kept me awake long after I finished reading it- it was disturbing and sad and yet still managed to garner some hope for the future.
This is my first read of a Honey Brown novel – it will not be my last.
This was a very hard read- the subject matter is very very distressing yet somehow captivating at the same time, it is so well written. This narrative will eat away at your very core, demanding you pay attention to those you value and love, demanding you pay more attention to those who are vulnerable in your community. This novel shouts – pay attention, open your eyes, question and engage; life around you is your business and you do have a social responsibility that extends further than your garden fence.
Is it a coincidence that the subject of this novel, abuse of children, is currently making headlines, is newsworthy - though already the media seems to be moving on to other things…This subject requires our undivided attention. It requires our compassion and the children involved our full support and love.
This extremely well written and engaging novel will not be for everyone. Bravo Honey Brown for being brave enough to tackle such a disquieting subject and presenting it such an engaging way that it will get the attention it deserves. This novel is a well-crafted, complex and powerful snap shot of the ugly side of modern society. This novel kept me awake long after I finished reading it- it was disturbing and sad and yet still managed to garner some hope for the future.
This is my first read of a Honey Brown novel – it will not be my last.
July 8, 2014
Wow this book has a few twists and turns and makes you want to hold your kids hand a bit tighter when you go out.
Through the Cracks tells a story of 'Adam' who finally gets strong enough to stand up to his abusive father. But things go downhill from there and suddenly street kid Billy turns up at the house and takes Adam under his wing to try and help him. But things are not what they seem and the back story unravels as you get further along (I'm not going to spoil it for you).
Honey Brown deals with some pretty confronting issues in this book, child abuse, kidnapping, predators, child abuse rings, spouse abuse, abuse from the 'Christian Brothers', pimping, life on the streets... the list is long and very real. While this story is fiction it could easily be real. Through the cracks could of been "ripped out of the headlines" as the opening line from Law & Order SVU goes.
I actually sat down and read this book all the way through in one go.
Through the Cracks tells a story of 'Adam' who finally gets strong enough to stand up to his abusive father. But things go downhill from there and suddenly street kid Billy turns up at the house and takes Adam under his wing to try and help him. But things are not what they seem and the back story unravels as you get further along (I'm not going to spoil it for you).
Honey Brown deals with some pretty confronting issues in this book, child abuse, kidnapping, predators, child abuse rings, spouse abuse, abuse from the 'Christian Brothers', pimping, life on the streets... the list is long and very real. While this story is fiction it could easily be real. Through the cracks could of been "ripped out of the headlines" as the opening line from Law & Order SVU goes.
I actually sat down and read this book all the way through in one go.
April 28, 2014
The day has come where young teenager Adam Vander has grown tall enough and strong enough to hit back at his violent, abusive father. To turn the tables and have that man cowering in fear, instead of being the one who does the cowering. Kept a prisoner in a secret room, Adam now has the freedom to explore the house and the backyard but he’s faced with a myriad of things he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t know how to work the stove. He doesn’t know how to leave the house and get to the shops. In order to get new food, he has to force his father to do what he wants, all the time keeping his guard up so that the tables don’t get turned again.
For the first time in a long time, Adam tastes freedom when a young man named Billy helps him escape from the prison he’s been kept in for over a decade. Billy takes Adam on an adventure around the streets of Melbourne, teaching Adam things and giving him simple experiences as they seek to avoid police and a sinister Mission Group. As Billy peels back the layers surrounding Adam’s mysterious existence, questions begin to surface. Billy knows that Joe Vander wasn’t Adam’s father but Adam cannot remember any different.
But revealing Adam’s identity isn’t simple and straight forward – it could be extremely dangerous for both of them because it means revealing secrets that powerful and important people would best want to keep hidden. In order to Adam to get his fair chance at a life outside of where he was kept prisoner, someone else might have to take the fall.
I’ve read nearly all of Honey Brown’s books and enjoy the way in which she builds suspense and creates twists and turns that I never see coming. However, I think this might be one of the most understated but creepy books I’ve ever read. You don’t get graphic details in this book but you don’t need them. In fact, it’s entirely left up to the reader to imagine what has happened to Adam for most of his young life, and to young boys like Billy as well and it’s all too easy to imagine the horror these boys and others like them have experienced at the hands of predators and people they should be able to place their utmost trust in, like their parents and church missions. But the cold reality of life is, sometimes the people who trust the most are the ones who betray you the worst.
Adam believes that Joe is his father and he has lived with a lifetime of abuse, locked away from the world, unable to read or write and with no life experience. When Billy sees Adam’s situation, he helps him escape, perhaps seeing a chance for Adam to escape from the path into the life that Billy has found himself in. He helps Adam lay low, away from the police until he realises the full horror of Adam’s story and then Billy decides that Adam must turn himself in, make his true identity known. The danger of that is influential people who will be exposed and who seem willing to do horrible things to have their secrets kept. For Adam and Billy, it is about trying to stay one step ahead of the people that want to find them and using Billy’s street smarts to help tip the outcome their way.
So much that happens or that is alluded to in this book is so hard to fathom and yet you know that it happens in the real world. There are people like Joe out there who pay well to indulge in their habits and there are kids like Adam and Billy, innocents who are snatched away or given away into a horrific situation. And yet despite the fact that this book is horrifying and that there are so many characters I’d be happy to watch burn, there’s also some positive in this book, such as Billy and Adam’s rapport and the hope for a better future, that the two of them can escape the cycle and perhaps have a chance at some sort of normalcy. You know that it’ll be hard, given what they’ve experienced, and maybe even unattainable but the hope is there. The two boys are both great characters and carry this story so well – most of it is the two of them together, Billy trying to figure out the puzzle of Adam at first, always protecting him and keeping him safe and making sure he can make his own choices. When he realises who Adam is, he knows that they have to make the discovery known, it’s just a matter of being able to manage it. I thought the balance between the awful, horrifying, creepy stuff and the beauty and hope of Adam and Billy’s friendship was magnificently done. In all of the terribleness of young boys being exploited and treated abominably, the glimmers of hope for their future are something for the reader to cling to.
For me this book has a different feel and execution to her previous books but maintains the same high standard.
For the first time in a long time, Adam tastes freedom when a young man named Billy helps him escape from the prison he’s been kept in for over a decade. Billy takes Adam on an adventure around the streets of Melbourne, teaching Adam things and giving him simple experiences as they seek to avoid police and a sinister Mission Group. As Billy peels back the layers surrounding Adam’s mysterious existence, questions begin to surface. Billy knows that Joe Vander wasn’t Adam’s father but Adam cannot remember any different.
But revealing Adam’s identity isn’t simple and straight forward – it could be extremely dangerous for both of them because it means revealing secrets that powerful and important people would best want to keep hidden. In order to Adam to get his fair chance at a life outside of where he was kept prisoner, someone else might have to take the fall.
I’ve read nearly all of Honey Brown’s books and enjoy the way in which she builds suspense and creates twists and turns that I never see coming. However, I think this might be one of the most understated but creepy books I’ve ever read. You don’t get graphic details in this book but you don’t need them. In fact, it’s entirely left up to the reader to imagine what has happened to Adam for most of his young life, and to young boys like Billy as well and it’s all too easy to imagine the horror these boys and others like them have experienced at the hands of predators and people they should be able to place their utmost trust in, like their parents and church missions. But the cold reality of life is, sometimes the people who trust the most are the ones who betray you the worst.
Adam believes that Joe is his father and he has lived with a lifetime of abuse, locked away from the world, unable to read or write and with no life experience. When Billy sees Adam’s situation, he helps him escape, perhaps seeing a chance for Adam to escape from the path into the life that Billy has found himself in. He helps Adam lay low, away from the police until he realises the full horror of Adam’s story and then Billy decides that Adam must turn himself in, make his true identity known. The danger of that is influential people who will be exposed and who seem willing to do horrible things to have their secrets kept. For Adam and Billy, it is about trying to stay one step ahead of the people that want to find them and using Billy’s street smarts to help tip the outcome their way.
So much that happens or that is alluded to in this book is so hard to fathom and yet you know that it happens in the real world. There are people like Joe out there who pay well to indulge in their habits and there are kids like Adam and Billy, innocents who are snatched away or given away into a horrific situation. And yet despite the fact that this book is horrifying and that there are so many characters I’d be happy to watch burn, there’s also some positive in this book, such as Billy and Adam’s rapport and the hope for a better future, that the two of them can escape the cycle and perhaps have a chance at some sort of normalcy. You know that it’ll be hard, given what they’ve experienced, and maybe even unattainable but the hope is there. The two boys are both great characters and carry this story so well – most of it is the two of them together, Billy trying to figure out the puzzle of Adam at first, always protecting him and keeping him safe and making sure he can make his own choices. When he realises who Adam is, he knows that they have to make the discovery known, it’s just a matter of being able to manage it. I thought the balance between the awful, horrifying, creepy stuff and the beauty and hope of Adam and Billy’s friendship was magnificently done. In all of the terribleness of young boys being exploited and treated abominably, the glimmers of hope for their future are something for the reader to cling to.
For me this book has a different feel and execution to her previous books but maintains the same high standard.
April 16, 2014
A lost child. A childhood lost. Honey Brown’s latest novel is a sensitive portrayal of a challenging subject, and showcases Brown’s talent as a storyteller. What is left unsaid is perhaps more powerful than what is told, and the reader is allowed to discover the truth between the lines of the narrative.
It takes Adam ten years to stand up to his father’s abuse. When he does, it doesn’t just change his home situation – it changes his life and forces fourteen year old Adam to question the truth of his past. As he navigates a world he knows nothing of, his only ally is the streetwise Billy a youth whose actions seem uncommonly altruistic. In this world, love is warped, truth is twisted by fear of reprisal, and the havens of church and family are not what they promise. Bonded by abuse and loneliness, Adam and Billy struggle to escape a life constrained by fear, poverty and society’s judgement. Yet together they uncover the mystery of Adam’s past.
Through the cracks is ‘narrated’ by Adam, a character so cut off from society that his point of view is almost omniscient. His character emerges as cautiously as Adam ventures into society. For much of the story it is his complex companion, Billy, who is the more intriguing. As Adam’s guide and possible saviour, it is largely left to Billy to reveal the setting and the nature of the society to which he belongs. This approach gives truthfulness to the story. It adds another layer of character that would otherwise be hard to show. Yet the trade-off is the limitation on sense of place, so prevalent in Brown’s earlier works. This is fitting as Adam has no sense of place and for all his street smarts nor does Billy. The two are sympathetic though distant from the reader, just as they are distant from broader society – one that judges them on appearance, unwilling to look too closely for fear that what lurks in the back alleys of the city might be just as present in the leafy suburbs.
Through the Cracks doesn’t shy away from the truth, nor does it judge or preach as Adam’s story draws us into a world only hinted at in news reports. It explores issues of truth and trust, but ultimately is a story of redemption.
Reviewed from and ARC through Netgalley
It takes Adam ten years to stand up to his father’s abuse. When he does, it doesn’t just change his home situation – it changes his life and forces fourteen year old Adam to question the truth of his past. As he navigates a world he knows nothing of, his only ally is the streetwise Billy a youth whose actions seem uncommonly altruistic. In this world, love is warped, truth is twisted by fear of reprisal, and the havens of church and family are not what they promise. Bonded by abuse and loneliness, Adam and Billy struggle to escape a life constrained by fear, poverty and society’s judgement. Yet together they uncover the mystery of Adam’s past.
Through the cracks is ‘narrated’ by Adam, a character so cut off from society that his point of view is almost omniscient. His character emerges as cautiously as Adam ventures into society. For much of the story it is his complex companion, Billy, who is the more intriguing. As Adam’s guide and possible saviour, it is largely left to Billy to reveal the setting and the nature of the society to which he belongs. This approach gives truthfulness to the story. It adds another layer of character that would otherwise be hard to show. Yet the trade-off is the limitation on sense of place, so prevalent in Brown’s earlier works. This is fitting as Adam has no sense of place and for all his street smarts nor does Billy. The two are sympathetic though distant from the reader, just as they are distant from broader society – one that judges them on appearance, unwilling to look too closely for fear that what lurks in the back alleys of the city might be just as present in the leafy suburbs.
Through the Cracks doesn’t shy away from the truth, nor does it judge or preach as Adam’s story draws us into a world only hinted at in news reports. It explores issues of truth and trust, but ultimately is a story of redemption.
Reviewed from and ARC through Netgalley
April 14, 2014
* Copy courtesy of The Reading Room and Penguin Australia *
After reading and reviewing a handful of 3 star rated books, I can't tell you the feeling of relief and expectation picking up an advanced copy of Honey Brown's new thriller Through The Cracks.
Without a doubt the hero of the book is Adam Vander, growing up with an extremely abusive father in suburban Sydney. Made to feel unwanted and different, his home life shifts when Adam becomes old enough and strong enough to fight back. His life is flipped on its head though when he meets Billy.
Through The Cracks is a psychological thriller written by one of Australia's best writers in the genre, Honey Brown. Through The Cracks peers into the dark corners of child abuse, and shines a light on the scum and their motivations for cruelty against children.
Although the subject matter is dark, much is left to the reader to imagine; there is no depravity for depravity's sake. I read Through The Cracks during the week Daniel Morcombe's killer was sentenced and this certainly influenced my reading of the novel. It made me understand that although this is a novel, unfortunately there are depraved pedophiles in our community and we need to do everything we can to protect our children.
So, how does it end? Well, I'll leave that for you to discover, but I can tell you the revelation about Adam's identity was so well written I'd recommend this novel based on that 'twist' alone.
Highly recommended for fans of crime and psychological suspense and readers who love reading Australian authors.
After reading and reviewing a handful of 3 star rated books, I can't tell you the feeling of relief and expectation picking up an advanced copy of Honey Brown's new thriller Through The Cracks.
Without a doubt the hero of the book is Adam Vander, growing up with an extremely abusive father in suburban Sydney. Made to feel unwanted and different, his home life shifts when Adam becomes old enough and strong enough to fight back. His life is flipped on its head though when he meets Billy.
Through The Cracks is a psychological thriller written by one of Australia's best writers in the genre, Honey Brown. Through The Cracks peers into the dark corners of child abuse, and shines a light on the scum and their motivations for cruelty against children.
Although the subject matter is dark, much is left to the reader to imagine; there is no depravity for depravity's sake. I read Through The Cracks during the week Daniel Morcombe's killer was sentenced and this certainly influenced my reading of the novel. It made me understand that although this is a novel, unfortunately there are depraved pedophiles in our community and we need to do everything we can to protect our children.
So, how does it end? Well, I'll leave that for you to discover, but I can tell you the revelation about Adam's identity was so well written I'd recommend this novel based on that 'twist' alone.
Highly recommended for fans of crime and psychological suspense and readers who love reading Australian authors.
May 1, 2014
Honey Brown is an Australian author with a talent for writing gripping psychological thrillers.
The subject matter of Through the Cracks is dark, the abduction of a child is every parents worst nightmare and not an easy topic to read.
However Honey Brown has a way of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat and turning pages long past their bedtime.
Honey Brown's writing style is well above the thriller genre standard and not bogged down by convoluted plots or pointless red herrings. This is lean, sharp writing that draws you into the story with a clarity so detailed it brings the readers senses to life.
This is a difficult book to review without giving away to much.
The story revolves around Adam, a lost child now a young man experiencing the world around him for the first time. However the novels real hero is Billy,a street wise teenager who possessess a compassinate heart despite his troubled and hardened existence. Adam and Billy's relationship has a Oliver Twist/Artful Dodger quality, that i really enjoyed.
Honey Brown is one of my favoutrite authors and this is her 5th book.
The subject matter of Through the Cracks is dark, the abduction of a child is every parents worst nightmare and not an easy topic to read.
However Honey Brown has a way of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat and turning pages long past their bedtime.
Honey Brown's writing style is well above the thriller genre standard and not bogged down by convoluted plots or pointless red herrings. This is lean, sharp writing that draws you into the story with a clarity so detailed it brings the readers senses to life.
This is a difficult book to review without giving away to much.
The story revolves around Adam, a lost child now a young man experiencing the world around him for the first time. However the novels real hero is Billy,a street wise teenager who possessess a compassinate heart despite his troubled and hardened existence. Adam and Billy's relationship has a Oliver Twist/Artful Dodger quality, that i really enjoyed.
Honey Brown is one of my favoutrite authors and this is her 5th book.
April 21, 2014
Thank you to Penguin Australia and The Reading Room for the ARC.
Through the Cracks is not a cushy, comfortable read – let’s get that out of the way first. You won’t be chuckling to yourself as you read this – in fact, you’re more likely to be squirming in your seat as your mind conjures the images that Honey Brown suggests has happened to her protagonists. It’s a well written novel, but it deals with subject matter that most of us are fortunate not to have any experience with. It’s a book that you’ll feel slightly guilty for racing through the pages, trying to work out if someone, anyone, gets their happy ending.
The blurb on the back of the book suggests what has happened to Adam, but it certainly doesn’t prepare you for the narrative. Adam is a teenage boy, who is usually locked in the backroom by his abusive father. One day, Adam snaps and hits his father. The game then changes as Adam slowly begins to equalise the relationship with his father. Eventually, Adam makes his escape into a world that he’s never known. A chance meeting with another teenage boy, Billy (who uses Adam’s father’s pool) finds Adam on the street. However, Billy has knowledge of that life and guides Adam through it. The boys then begin to realise that Adam’s father was part of something much bigger, involving a number of men, women and possibly an organisation in the abuse of young boys. As they set out to settle the score, things become much more dangerous for Billy and Adam…and Adam discovers he may not be Adam after all…
The time and setting of Through the Cracks is somewhat murky – at first I thought it was Brisbane (perhaps because of the heat and humidity described) but later I think I recall trams and Geelong being mentioned, so it’s more likely to be Melbourne. As for time, it appears to be set in the 1980s, but it’s hazy (no mobile phones mentioned and everyone’s smoking indoors). I would have liked to have known a time and location, just to set the scene in my mind.
Initially, Adam reminded me of the boy from Emma Donoghue’s Room, in that everything is new to him. His knowledge of everyday life comes only from television, but it’s lucky that Adam has Billy to guide him. Billy’s world weary and street smart. With him to guide Adam, his fate could have been much, much worse. The boys are no angels while they’re on the streets – stealing cars and breaking and entering but it’s written in such a way that you don’t blame the boys for doing all they can to survive. As this is happening, the true story about Adam’s history is being revealed – the abduction, detention and abuse. Is he really even Adam? Billy reveals he knew more about Adam than he first let on, and we find out how for him, the abuse has continued, compounded by a fractured family life and threats from an organisation. The ending is both heart-warming and heartbreaking.
I found Through the Cracks a difficult read for its gloominess – there are very few happy points in this novel. It’s confronting and dark, tackling issues that we prefer not to occur in society. I’d suggest balancing this one out with another book with a happily ever after. It’s an important subject, but not a happy one.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Through the Cracks is not a cushy, comfortable read – let’s get that out of the way first. You won’t be chuckling to yourself as you read this – in fact, you’re more likely to be squirming in your seat as your mind conjures the images that Honey Brown suggests has happened to her protagonists. It’s a well written novel, but it deals with subject matter that most of us are fortunate not to have any experience with. It’s a book that you’ll feel slightly guilty for racing through the pages, trying to work out if someone, anyone, gets their happy ending.
The blurb on the back of the book suggests what has happened to Adam, but it certainly doesn’t prepare you for the narrative. Adam is a teenage boy, who is usually locked in the backroom by his abusive father. One day, Adam snaps and hits his father. The game then changes as Adam slowly begins to equalise the relationship with his father. Eventually, Adam makes his escape into a world that he’s never known. A chance meeting with another teenage boy, Billy (who uses Adam’s father’s pool) finds Adam on the street. However, Billy has knowledge of that life and guides Adam through it. The boys then begin to realise that Adam’s father was part of something much bigger, involving a number of men, women and possibly an organisation in the abuse of young boys. As they set out to settle the score, things become much more dangerous for Billy and Adam…and Adam discovers he may not be Adam after all…
The time and setting of Through the Cracks is somewhat murky – at first I thought it was Brisbane (perhaps because of the heat and humidity described) but later I think I recall trams and Geelong being mentioned, so it’s more likely to be Melbourne. As for time, it appears to be set in the 1980s, but it’s hazy (no mobile phones mentioned and everyone’s smoking indoors). I would have liked to have known a time and location, just to set the scene in my mind.
Initially, Adam reminded me of the boy from Emma Donoghue’s Room, in that everything is new to him. His knowledge of everyday life comes only from television, but it’s lucky that Adam has Billy to guide him. Billy’s world weary and street smart. With him to guide Adam, his fate could have been much, much worse. The boys are no angels while they’re on the streets – stealing cars and breaking and entering but it’s written in such a way that you don’t blame the boys for doing all they can to survive. As this is happening, the true story about Adam’s history is being revealed – the abduction, detention and abuse. Is he really even Adam? Billy reveals he knew more about Adam than he first let on, and we find out how for him, the abuse has continued, compounded by a fractured family life and threats from an organisation. The ending is both heart-warming and heartbreaking.
I found Through the Cracks a difficult read for its gloominess – there are very few happy points in this novel. It’s confronting and dark, tackling issues that we prefer not to occur in society. I’d suggest balancing this one out with another book with a happily ever after. It’s an important subject, but not a happy one.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
March 1, 2014
I was glad I hadn’t read the backcover / book blurb when I first started reading this book as it meant I was initially quite confused, which I think is what author (Honey Brown) intended. The blurb however, kinda gives the backstory away – though I suspect it’s what drew me to the novel in the first place.
A teenage boy attacks his father. It’s implied that the father is really just getting a taste of his own medicine; the boy finally feeling strong enough to fight back.
After overpowering his father, Adam locks him in the back room. And then… it’s as if he’s free for the first time and finally has the run of the house.
Except, he can’t really do anything. In the conversations with his trapped and ailing father, Joe makes it sound as if he’s protecting his son – concerned that Adam won’t be able to cope without him and can’t look after himself.
Eventually Adam realises he needs Joe’s help and releases him. It’s too late however – and having kept his father’s heart medicine from him – Adam feels responsible for his death.
Not sure what to do next Adam is interrupted by the arrival of a group of boys – not that much older than himself. He knows from their voices they’re friends of his father.
And then, when it’s realised Joe’s dead one of the boys, Billy, takes Adam under his wing.
It then becomes obvious that Adam has been trapped in the house for a very long time with a man who was not his father.
Despite his general loathing of responsibility Billy seems strangely eager to take care of Adam, ensuring he comes to no harm.
In the background the police, having discovered Joe’s body have also found the ‘back room’ and through a range of circumstances realise that the boy living there was a child who disappeared over a decade earlier.
The police however, also discover he’s with Billy who seemingly holds a range of secrets many would prefer to remain hidden.
I actually appreciated being a bit confused in the beginning as I tried to work out whether Joe or Adam was the sane one in the family.
It was easy to get to know Adam and he was (ultimately) eminently likeable. Billy, though more complex and with hidden elements also had a good heart… despite everything.
I was a tad confused about the role of the mission or church in Billy’s background although I guess the implications were fairly obvious in this day and age – but he certainly seemed to have more bad experiences than most. I almost thought it was strange that he felt so bad about Adam, when his own childhood wasn’t really any better.
Not quite a spoiler, but…. (Stop reading if you like!) I really enjoyed Adam’s reunion with his family. Brown could have gone down the clichéd route of Adam acting out and family struggling to accept him, but the relationship felt real and honest.
3.5-4 stars
A teenage boy attacks his father. It’s implied that the father is really just getting a taste of his own medicine; the boy finally feeling strong enough to fight back.
After overpowering his father, Adam locks him in the back room. And then… it’s as if he’s free for the first time and finally has the run of the house.
Except, he can’t really do anything. In the conversations with his trapped and ailing father, Joe makes it sound as if he’s protecting his son – concerned that Adam won’t be able to cope without him and can’t look after himself.
Eventually Adam realises he needs Joe’s help and releases him. It’s too late however – and having kept his father’s heart medicine from him – Adam feels responsible for his death.
Not sure what to do next Adam is interrupted by the arrival of a group of boys – not that much older than himself. He knows from their voices they’re friends of his father.
And then, when it’s realised Joe’s dead one of the boys, Billy, takes Adam under his wing.
It then becomes obvious that Adam has been trapped in the house for a very long time with a man who was not his father.
Despite his general loathing of responsibility Billy seems strangely eager to take care of Adam, ensuring he comes to no harm.
In the background the police, having discovered Joe’s body have also found the ‘back room’ and through a range of circumstances realise that the boy living there was a child who disappeared over a decade earlier.
The police however, also discover he’s with Billy who seemingly holds a range of secrets many would prefer to remain hidden.
I actually appreciated being a bit confused in the beginning as I tried to work out whether Joe or Adam was the sane one in the family.
It was easy to get to know Adam and he was (ultimately) eminently likeable. Billy, though more complex and with hidden elements also had a good heart… despite everything.
I was a tad confused about the role of the mission or church in Billy’s background although I guess the implications were fairly obvious in this day and age – but he certainly seemed to have more bad experiences than most. I almost thought it was strange that he felt so bad about Adam, when his own childhood wasn’t really any better.
Not quite a spoiler, but…. (Stop reading if you like!) I really enjoyed Adam’s reunion with his family. Brown could have gone down the clichéd route of Adam acting out and family struggling to accept him, but the relationship felt real and honest.
3.5-4 stars
September 12, 2014
I make no secret of being a big fan of Australian writer Honey Brown's work and her new novel, Through the Cracks, may well be her best.
The novel's opening jolts the reader like a slap in the face, occurring at the moment when fourteen-year-old Adam Vander has grown strong enough to defend himself against an abusive father, Joe. The stand-off between Adam and Joe is depicted in terrifying, visceral detail, making the first sixty pages so tense that like me, you might not want to read them at night.
Adam emerges, though not unscathed, from the suburban house in which he has been kept as a prisoner, to a world he doesn't know, unable to read or fend for himself. He is taken under the wing of the streetwise Billy Benson, whose motives for helping Adam become increasingly muddied as the story progresses.
Brown has taken many risks with this book yet they all seem to pay off. She writes from the perspective of the two young men, Adam and Billy, effectively starting the story in the middle, slowly revealing the full extent of the trauma that the boys have survived, building tension as the past catches up to the present. She deals with the incendiary topic of child abuse with sensitivity and without being gratuitous, at the same time leaving us in no doubt as to the horrific nature of what the boys have experienced.
The characterisations are remarkable. The boys' voices are so strong, they leap from the page, staying inside your head for days. Their reactions to the world around them and their interactions with each other likewise have power and authenticity, filled with moments of love and pain:
It was my pleasure to attend the launch, where Brown talked about the process of writing Through the Cracks. She admitted to being a minimalist when it comes to research, believing in the power of empathy and imagination to fill in the cracks, so to speak. "Everyone has different experiences that push them into dark places," she said. "But the emotions in those places are similar." She admits to being proud of this book, for having written something "passionate but not preachy."
She's got a lot to be proud of.
A word of advice: if you have the book as a new release paperback, do not read the backcover blurb as it contains details that some readers will consider spoilers. (The online blurb has been edited to remove spoilers).
The novel's opening jolts the reader like a slap in the face, occurring at the moment when fourteen-year-old Adam Vander has grown strong enough to defend himself against an abusive father, Joe. The stand-off between Adam and Joe is depicted in terrifying, visceral detail, making the first sixty pages so tense that like me, you might not want to read them at night.
Adam emerges, though not unscathed, from the suburban house in which he has been kept as a prisoner, to a world he doesn't know, unable to read or fend for himself. He is taken under the wing of the streetwise Billy Benson, whose motives for helping Adam become increasingly muddied as the story progresses.
Brown has taken many risks with this book yet they all seem to pay off. She writes from the perspective of the two young men, Adam and Billy, effectively starting the story in the middle, slowly revealing the full extent of the trauma that the boys have survived, building tension as the past catches up to the present. She deals with the incendiary topic of child abuse with sensitivity and without being gratuitous, at the same time leaving us in no doubt as to the horrific nature of what the boys have experienced.
The characterisations are remarkable. The boys' voices are so strong, they leap from the page, staying inside your head for days. Their reactions to the world around them and their interactions with each other likewise have power and authenticity, filled with moments of love and pain:
[Billy] held out his hand to be shaken.
Adam would have preferred that they hugged. Such was the pull to do it, Adam had to plant his feet, tense his tummy, lock his spine, all to stop from reaching out, holding on, clinging tight.
It was my pleasure to attend the launch, where Brown talked about the process of writing Through the Cracks. She admitted to being a minimalist when it comes to research, believing in the power of empathy and imagination to fill in the cracks, so to speak. "Everyone has different experiences that push them into dark places," she said. "But the emotions in those places are similar." She admits to being proud of this book, for having written something "passionate but not preachy."
She's got a lot to be proud of.
A word of advice: if you have the book as a new release paperback, do not read the backcover blurb as it contains details that some readers will consider spoilers. (The online blurb has been edited to remove spoilers).
May 6, 2014
4.5 stars
Through the Cracks is a concise, darkly disturbing read, it's also a story of survival.
I was blown away last year by Honey Brown's psychological thriller, Dark Horse and I've been waiting with bated breath for her new book to pop up on NetGalley. I was fortunate (and in a rush) ... grabbed it without even giving the synopsis a glance, total faith that Through the Cracks wouldn't disappoint. Readers have mentioned that the synopsis gave too much away so I took the liberty of paring it down (on my blog) to avoid anything 'spoiler-ish.'
Honey Brown writes brilliantly, Through the Cracks is a whole lot of feeling ...
uncomfortable, shudder-y, heart-sick, sad, angry, I could almost taste despair, it made me want answers and justice and yet, it was told without overly graphic detail. Don't get me wrong, you are left in no doubt about the depravities and horror inflicted but there's nothing gratuitous.
When teenage Adam escapes his abusive father with protective, street-smart, Billy, I felt a sense of wonderment as he began to experience some of what he had missed. Adam and Billy are a complex mix of innocence, naivety, knowledge and jaded despair, old in experiences no child should ever have to experience.
The involvement of people in positions of trust, people with power and influence had me spitting-angry. I wanted to scream at the 'system'. People's apathy made me cry. I was fearful of the outcome but hopeful someone would come through for these boys.
Child abuse; sadly so often in our headlines. Please read Adam's story.
Through the Cracks is a concise, darkly disturbing read, it's also a story of survival.
I was blown away last year by Honey Brown's psychological thriller, Dark Horse and I've been waiting with bated breath for her new book to pop up on NetGalley. I was fortunate (and in a rush) ... grabbed it without even giving the synopsis a glance, total faith that Through the Cracks wouldn't disappoint. Readers have mentioned that the synopsis gave too much away so I took the liberty of paring it down (on my blog) to avoid anything 'spoiler-ish.'
Honey Brown writes brilliantly, Through the Cracks is a whole lot of feeling ...
uncomfortable, shudder-y, heart-sick, sad, angry, I could almost taste despair, it made me want answers and justice and yet, it was told without overly graphic detail. Don't get me wrong, you are left in no doubt about the depravities and horror inflicted but there's nothing gratuitous.
When teenage Adam escapes his abusive father with protective, street-smart, Billy, I felt a sense of wonderment as he began to experience some of what he had missed. Adam and Billy are a complex mix of innocence, naivety, knowledge and jaded despair, old in experiences no child should ever have to experience.
The involvement of people in positions of trust, people with power and influence had me spitting-angry. I wanted to scream at the 'system'. People's apathy made me cry. I was fearful of the outcome but hopeful someone would come through for these boys.
Child abuse; sadly so often in our headlines. Please read Adam's story.
February 21, 2014
Enjoyed this a lot. Very readable and ultimately about a subject that haunts most parents,. However it doesn't dwell on any of the abuse but focuses on the relationship between two victims through which the mystery is gradually revealed.
August 29, 2017
This latest novel by Honey Brown is all about child abduction, child neglect, a child escaping an abusive father and a child abused by the Church.
Adam Vander lived locked away since he had been abducted ten years earlier. He was so young at the time he truly believed his captor was his father. With the spirit of a true survivor, he took an opportunity to change his life direction when one presented itself.
As fate would have it, his best ally and support was Billy, a troubled young man. Both were survivors of abuse. Although Billy couldn’t alter his own life direction, he tried desperately to make a difference for Adam. With streetwise Billy, Adam started to catch up on experiences he had missed out on. Some of the decision-making made by Billy during the story is infuriating and mind-blowing for the reader, but stirred real emotion. It truly is a powerful story.
Brown’s inspiration came from news stories of neglect and abuse reported in the media. She is quoted as saying “By using fiction in this way we can give exposure to tough topics, these really confronting things humanity does, but with a little bit of distance because it is fiction” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 May 2014).
I enjoyed this psychological thriller which did not outline in detail the abuse but rather subtly referred to it. I was left at the end of the story with hope for the survivors, even though their journey would be a long and arduous one.
Adam Vander lived locked away since he had been abducted ten years earlier. He was so young at the time he truly believed his captor was his father. With the spirit of a true survivor, he took an opportunity to change his life direction when one presented itself.
As fate would have it, his best ally and support was Billy, a troubled young man. Both were survivors of abuse. Although Billy couldn’t alter his own life direction, he tried desperately to make a difference for Adam. With streetwise Billy, Adam started to catch up on experiences he had missed out on. Some of the decision-making made by Billy during the story is infuriating and mind-blowing for the reader, but stirred real emotion. It truly is a powerful story.
Brown’s inspiration came from news stories of neglect and abuse reported in the media. She is quoted as saying “By using fiction in this way we can give exposure to tough topics, these really confronting things humanity does, but with a little bit of distance because it is fiction” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 May 2014).
I enjoyed this psychological thriller which did not outline in detail the abuse but rather subtly referred to it. I was left at the end of the story with hope for the survivors, even though their journey would be a long and arduous one.
June 25, 2018
Four-year-old Nathan Fisher disappears from the bank of a rocky creek. Did he drown or was he taken? The search for the missing boy grips the nation.
A decade later, young teen Adam Vander has grown tall enough, strong enough, to escape his abusive father. Emerging from behind the locked door of their rambling suburban home, Adam steps into a world he knows little of.
A great read and a book I just had to keep reading until I finished.
A decade later, young teen Adam Vander has grown tall enough, strong enough, to escape his abusive father. Emerging from behind the locked door of their rambling suburban home, Adam steps into a world he knows little of.
A great read and a book I just had to keep reading until I finished.
August 14, 2018
This book grips you tightly in the first few paragraphs and doesnt let go till the end. One of those books you stay up all night to finish because you cant put it down, you NEED to know what happens. This novel was shocking and suspenseful and full of implications of the things we are all afraid of. Highly highly recommend this read.
June 16, 2017
Wow, what an amazing thriller. I was hooked from the very first page, can wait to read more from this author:)
September 17, 2017
As usual, Honey Brown delivers a story which is in equal measure compelling and challenging to read.
January 24, 2019
Fast paced & full of surprises. A wonderful book.
July 14, 2019
A very good book. Honey Brown handles the themes of the book with great sensitivity.
January 12, 2020
Thoroughly engrossing. Beautifully and tightly written, with keen observation.
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