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So Much to Tell You #1
So Much to Tell You
Scarred, literally, by her past, Marina has withdrawn into silence. Then, at her new boarding school, she is set the task of writing a diary by her English teacher, and finds a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings and of exploring the traumatic events that have caused her distress. Through Marina's diary we gain an insight into life on her dormitory, and her difficult relationship with her father, who injured her in an angry moment. Eventually, Marina makes tentative friendships and, in a moving denouement, is reconciled with her father.
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
106 people are currently reading
4187 people want to read
About the author
John Marsden
91 books1,962 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
February 5, 2019
A very short young adult novel, chosen last minute while walking. Marina chooses not to speak after an unnamed accident leaving her face terribly scarred. Having been sent to boarding school, seemingly abandoned by her mother, she must navigate herself through this difficulty, finding friendships and hopefully finding her voice. As a fifteen year old, John Marsden gives Marina a maturity beyond her years, her insights into her own feelings and that of her other fellow students give her a strong inner voice, told to us in the form of a diary. This is my first of this well known author and I think this book would be an excellent one for the intended audience. Serious tones in the audio narration. As an afterthought I realised the cover is of a girl with a perfect face.
March 12, 2016
*May contain spoilers*
I listened to the audio version of this book (#1) during a few quiet hours in my garden, it was the perfect setting.
After suffering a horrendous injury to her face whilst intervening in an argument between her parents, young Marina has stopped talking. She has found herself unable to speak at all, and no amount of encouragement from doctors, hospital staff or family can coax words from her.
Her injuries, although extensive, don't appear to be the cause of her inability to talk. It seems that her trauma has been so great as to literally render her speechless, and in a desperate attempt to encourage her rehabilitation, it is decided she be sent to a boarding school.
In Marina's mind, her mother just wants to be rid of her, and her father is now in gaol.
Life in the boarding school is difficult, not only because of her physical appearance, which ironically doesn't seem to bother her too much, but her muteness is cause for a lot of speculation on the part of her fellow classmates.
Marina is reserved and doesn't wish to participate in anything, nor does she want to be befriended by anyone, well meaning or otherwise.
One morning one of the teachers handed out diaries to the class and required that every pupil write something in it everyday, it didn't matter what they wrote or how they wrote it as long as they wrote something.
Without reading their details of their work he would check every week to make sure that they complied by asking them to hold it up for him to see.
At first Marina just scratched a few meaningless things in the diary, but then one day she found herself writing more, mostly about the girls in her class and dorm, and progressively more about herself.
She still wasn't speaking but she found this exercise liberating and somewhat cathartic.
The book has us tuning in to Marina's daily entries into her diary, slowly we see her story unfolding, and as we discover her story, so does she.
The writing sharpens her mind and makes her more observant, as she writes, she begins to see and understand people differently and soon discovers that everyone has baggage. She starts to find forgiveness in the most unlikely of places.
This is a very moving and inspiring story who's strength lies in its most unusual circumstances, the qualities of which are threaded throughout the unravelling of Marina's story page by page, to command the attention of the reader.
I look forward to reading the second book.
Highly recommended 5★s
October 1, 2011
Re-read October 1st, 2011 after finding it at the bookswap! And I almost didn't get it because I've read it, but then I had donated 30+ books and could thus take 30+ books home with me, so it wasn't like it was going to cost me anything to add another to the pile, you know? (I ended up with 17, I think.)
Anyway. OMG YOU GUYS I had forgotten how amazing and incredible this book was!! Or, had never really realised just HOW awesome it is, because I was only 11 or 12 the first time I read it, and though I read it at least half a dozen more times during my teenage years, I was always a very young teen. Like how I never really "got" Looking for Alibrandi until I saw the film. [insert shame here]
I'd forgotten that you don't find out her name is Marina until the second last page, because I've read it so many times and remembered the tagline of Take My Word For It so vividly. I just love the voice so, so much. I love the way there's that quiet mystery of What Happened to Her which is slowly revealed through her journal entries - of course Marina knows what happened, she was there, so she refers to it only vaguely, giving a little bit more each time - because it's her journal, SHE hardly needs to sit down and explain it all! That was done so, so well, because it's annoying when characters DO sit down and explain everything in one huge hit; it just doesn't feel natural. It's also annoying when they're super-mysterious and cryptic about it and then don't go and say anything until the last page. Marina's story comes out slowly but surely and at a natural pace - she doesn't speak, her face is scarred, her father caused it, there was acid involved, her father actually meant to get her mother...
I love her observations of the other girls in her dorm. There are seven others and you get to know all of them so well, and in only 150 pages. You fall for Cathy and Lisa a little, or at least I do, and have a love-hate relationship with Sophie and Kate. I'm especially amazed and enamoured with Cathy and her wonderful, gentle efforts at friendship. And I love Lisa's line that Marina overhears, when Lisa halts Sophie from playing some April Fool's prank on her: "Don't. Leave her alone; she trusts us, don't mess it up." And Marina ponders this and how she actually does, but how could Lisa tell? It's not like she talks to them, after all. I really need to go and grab me Take My Word For It asap to re-read that as well!
I love also how Australian it is - like five pages in Marina mentioned doonas and I wanted to squeal from excitement! It's been so long since I've read an Australian book, because you just don't find them over here like you do at home. Obviously! And I really needed that little piece of familiarity. But I love also how the setting is never actually specified - Australia is not mentioned, but you can just tell (or I can, anyway) that it's Australian because of the writing and the words and the everything. And not just because I know it is. Okay, Anzac day gives it away a little, but that's about it. Places are mentioned, but I don't recognise the names so they might not even be real, except for big obvious ones like Mt. Buller. But it's also never said whether the school is in Melbourne or Sydney - it's not until over 100 pages in when Marina mentions a rival school, MLC, that you realise it is Melbourne. And she also talks about the court buildings being in the east end, which is very Melbourne too, but I don't know where they are in Sydney anyway so that might not even be a definite hint.
And though it was written in 1987, it's not dated at all which is marvellous, especially after having just this afternoon read a book from 2008 which was already feeling dated! There are no specific-to-the-time pop culture references made; the books spoken of are ones that I read in English 10 years later, or ones that maybe my mother read 30 years beforehand, or ones that they'd still study today.
Also, the chicken and the egg birthday card!!! That was how I first found out what "getting laid" meant. :P
*happy sigh* such a beautiful book, I am so glad I revisited it at an age where I could fully appreciate it.
Anyway. OMG YOU GUYS I had forgotten how amazing and incredible this book was!! Or, had never really realised just HOW awesome it is, because I was only 11 or 12 the first time I read it, and though I read it at least half a dozen more times during my teenage years, I was always a very young teen. Like how I never really "got" Looking for Alibrandi until I saw the film. [insert shame here]
I'd forgotten that you don't find out her name is Marina until the second last page, because I've read it so many times and remembered the tagline of Take My Word For It so vividly. I just love the voice so, so much. I love the way there's that quiet mystery of What Happened to Her which is slowly revealed through her journal entries - of course Marina knows what happened, she was there, so she refers to it only vaguely, giving a little bit more each time - because it's her journal, SHE hardly needs to sit down and explain it all! That was done so, so well, because it's annoying when characters DO sit down and explain everything in one huge hit; it just doesn't feel natural. It's also annoying when they're super-mysterious and cryptic about it and then don't go and say anything until the last page. Marina's story comes out slowly but surely and at a natural pace - she doesn't speak, her face is scarred, her father caused it, there was acid involved, her father actually meant to get her mother...
I love her observations of the other girls in her dorm. There are seven others and you get to know all of them so well, and in only 150 pages. You fall for Cathy and Lisa a little, or at least I do, and have a love-hate relationship with Sophie and Kate. I'm especially amazed and enamoured with Cathy and her wonderful, gentle efforts at friendship. And I love Lisa's line that Marina overhears, when Lisa halts Sophie from playing some April Fool's prank on her: "Don't. Leave her alone; she trusts us, don't mess it up." And Marina ponders this and how she actually does, but how could Lisa tell? It's not like she talks to them, after all. I really need to go and grab me Take My Word For It asap to re-read that as well!
I love also how Australian it is - like five pages in Marina mentioned doonas and I wanted to squeal from excitement! It's been so long since I've read an Australian book, because you just don't find them over here like you do at home. Obviously! And I really needed that little piece of familiarity. But I love also how the setting is never actually specified - Australia is not mentioned, but you can just tell (or I can, anyway) that it's Australian because of the writing and the words and the everything. And not just because I know it is. Okay, Anzac day gives it away a little, but that's about it. Places are mentioned, but I don't recognise the names so they might not even be real, except for big obvious ones like Mt. Buller. But it's also never said whether the school is in Melbourne or Sydney - it's not until over 100 pages in when Marina mentions a rival school, MLC, that you realise it is Melbourne. And she also talks about the court buildings being in the east end, which is very Melbourne too, but I don't know where they are in Sydney anyway so that might not even be a definite hint.
And though it was written in 1987, it's not dated at all which is marvellous, especially after having just this afternoon read a book from 2008 which was already feeling dated! There are no specific-to-the-time pop culture references made; the books spoken of are ones that I read in English 10 years later, or ones that maybe my mother read 30 years beforehand, or ones that they'd still study today.
Also, the chicken and the egg birthday card!!! That was how I first found out what "getting laid" meant. :P
*happy sigh* such a beautiful book, I am so glad I revisited it at an age where I could fully appreciate it.
January 22, 2015
This is truly one of the worst books I have ever read. I have personal experience with a great deal of the topics described, and to be frank I cannot imagine how John Marsden could have screwed it up more. Some of it was downright offensive, in my humble opinion. Furthermore, the actual plot is virtually nonexistent and thus very dull and difficult to understand. I reached the end and was completely blown away that the book had ended. I was catatonic for about an hour. There was no closure to speak of, but the open-endedness wasn't thought-provoking, meaningful, or full of longing. It was abrupt, disappointing, and did not benefit the book in any way.
I essentially walked away feeling like I was led on. I trudged through this dry, emotionless, poorly written, plotless book with the promise of discovering the important withheld information being dangled just out of reach, and I didn't even get that. Despite having read So Much to Tell You about a year ago, I am still furiously spiteful towards this little package of disappointment.
I essentially walked away feeling like I was led on. I trudged through this dry, emotionless, poorly written, plotless book with the promise of discovering the important withheld information being dangled just out of reach, and I didn't even get that. Despite having read So Much to Tell You about a year ago, I am still furiously spiteful towards this little package of disappointment.
December 21, 2016
Life is very complicated for Marina. Shipped off to boarding school, in a world she doesn’t fit in with, trying to understand life. She sets out writing a journal for an assignment but she really takes to it and in the journal we find really what is going on within her head. She is socially awkward dealing with a tragic accident that has left her face scarred; and she hasn’t spoken a word since this incident.
I picked up this book on a couple of peoples recommendation; John Marsden really is a stand out Australian author and this is probably the best I’ve read of his works. I like realistic YA novels that features an angsty, socially awkward protagonist. I think it’s just that I relate well with them and ever since discovering John Green I’ve been looking for more books like this.
So Much to Tell You reminds me a lot of Perks of Being A Wallflower, with the way it’s written, slowly we discover these protagonists; all their anger and hurt and frustrations. But there is always a sense of mystery that doesn’t seem to be revealed. With this novel it is how she got these scars and why she hates her father so much. I know she has issues of abandonment but with the scars I know something bad happened; I thought it was a case of her father setting her on fire (but that’s just my disturbing mind).
This is a wonderful story of discovery and understanding. I loved Marina as a characters and finding more and more about her was what really drove this story home for me. But there was one major issue that I had with this novel, without spoiling anything; I had a WTF moment with the way this book ended.
So Much to Tell You is a perfect example of great realistic YA literature and proves that Australian YA authors have so much to offer. This is a very short book but well worth reading. I did feel like this was focused on a younger audience than other YA novels I’ve read. I would have liked it to be a little darker but still a wonderful read.
I picked up this book on a couple of peoples recommendation; John Marsden really is a stand out Australian author and this is probably the best I’ve read of his works. I like realistic YA novels that features an angsty, socially awkward protagonist. I think it’s just that I relate well with them and ever since discovering John Green I’ve been looking for more books like this.
So Much to Tell You reminds me a lot of Perks of Being A Wallflower, with the way it’s written, slowly we discover these protagonists; all their anger and hurt and frustrations. But there is always a sense of mystery that doesn’t seem to be revealed. With this novel it is how she got these scars and why she hates her father so much. I know she has issues of abandonment but with the scars I know something bad happened; I thought it was a case of her father setting her on fire (but that’s just my disturbing mind).
This is a wonderful story of discovery and understanding. I loved Marina as a characters and finding more and more about her was what really drove this story home for me. But there was one major issue that I had with this novel, without spoiling anything; I had a WTF moment with the way this book ended.
So Much to Tell You is a perfect example of great realistic YA literature and proves that Australian YA authors have so much to offer. This is a very short book but well worth reading. I did feel like this was focused on a younger audience than other YA novels I’ve read. I would have liked it to be a little darker but still a wonderful read.
January 7, 2008
Beautifully written - I'm always admirable of males who write in the shoes of a female and you would never know as the accuracy is remarkable. The concept, the execution, I just loved it all, and was in tears by the end.
July 14, 2010
I don't like fiction that's written in diary-form unless it's done well. So Much to Tell You is definitely in that category of well-written. It is the story of loneliness and the difficulties of being a teenager. Sure, it takes place in an all girls' boarding skill in Australia, but the themes are universal. Anyone who's been a lonely teenager will relate (and let's be honest, who HASN'T been a lonely teenager?). I love how the narrator, Marina, is so observant of the other girls in her class and she realizes that nobody is really what they appear to be.
I think I would've appreciated this book a lot when I was 15 or 16 years old. This is the type of stuff that teenagers should read, not the Twilight garbage that's out there today.
I think I would've appreciated this book a lot when I was 15 or 16 years old. This is the type of stuff that teenagers should read, not the Twilight garbage that's out there today.
September 19, 2011
A young girl with trauma in her recent history starts afresh at a new boarding school. Unable to speak to her teachers, doctors or peers, she begins to confide in her journal...
Another week, another John Marsden novel to attach to my person until every page has been devoured. And this is the best one yet. Am I right in thinking this was his debut? If so, my god... In the last year, with all the edgy YA I've been sifting through, I've become used to my heart being broken and my emotions being ripped to shreds on a weekly basis, but this one really takes the prize. How on earth can he pack so much angst and beauty into such a small book?
At first, our narrator appears to be a painfully shy new girl, apparently invisible to her classmates, just an observer with maybe a few more issues than your average fifteen-year-old. What we do learn, as her story is carefully drawn out, is that she is far from invisible.
Th journal structure allows the author to achieve the honesty and the immediacy that I associate with great YA. Even the supporting characters are so well-rounded and believable - in just a few lines, a girl that could have easily taken the role of the standard, one-dimensional bully, becomes a complex individual that you begin to care about.
We never get the full story and there are no tidy conclusions or easy answers here. And that's as it should be. Just brace yourself for the ending...
Even thought this was written nearly twenty-five years ago, apart from the occasional reference to cassettes and tape recorders, this feels fresh and relevant. Vital, even. I just wish I'd read it when I was fourteen.
Another week, another John Marsden novel to attach to my person until every page has been devoured. And this is the best one yet. Am I right in thinking this was his debut? If so, my god... In the last year, with all the edgy YA I've been sifting through, I've become used to my heart being broken and my emotions being ripped to shreds on a weekly basis, but this one really takes the prize. How on earth can he pack so much angst and beauty into such a small book?
At first, our narrator appears to be a painfully shy new girl, apparently invisible to her classmates, just an observer with maybe a few more issues than your average fifteen-year-old. What we do learn, as her story is carefully drawn out, is that she is far from invisible.
Th journal structure allows the author to achieve the honesty and the immediacy that I associate with great YA. Even the supporting characters are so well-rounded and believable - in just a few lines, a girl that could have easily taken the role of the standard, one-dimensional bully, becomes a complex individual that you begin to care about.
We never get the full story and there are no tidy conclusions or easy answers here. And that's as it should be. Just brace yourself for the ending...
Even thought this was written nearly twenty-five years ago, apart from the occasional reference to cassettes and tape recorders, this feels fresh and relevant. Vital, even. I just wish I'd read it when I was fourteen.
August 26, 2019
Lovely little quick read were you can help but feel drawn to the main character.
April 5, 2020
This is a sensitive story, told from the survivor’s perspective. It’s interesting and touching and makes you feel like a young, vulnerable person.
I like the epistolary style and enjoyed reading this. Just felt strange to me that it was so abrupt and the end resolved so easily after so much anguish...
I like the epistolary style and enjoyed reading this. Just felt strange to me that it was so abrupt and the end resolved so easily after so much anguish...
September 26, 2007
So Much to Tell You
By John Marsden
“So Much to Tell You”, by John Marsden is a true story about a girl, by the name of Marina, whose face is horribly disfigured when her father mistakenly throws acid on her face during an argument with her mother. Marina is sent to a girls’ boarding school after the accident because her mother is frustrated that Marina stops speaking and she feels that the school will help her to speak again. This book is written in a diary form and tells of Marina’s life in the boarding school and how she feels and who she meets and a little about her own family life.
The main character of the story is Marina, whose face is partially disfigured but was beautiful before the accident. She used to be very athletic but after the accident, she no longer participated in any sports. Marina also used to play the flute before the accident but never played again after because she was afraid that her mouth didn’t work. Marina was depressed and sad and felt like she was the living dead because she had no feelings, was numb, and was afraid of living. Marina writes about what she sees and feels about the people around her.
Cathy Preshill is a tall, thin, anorexic looking girl who is beautiful and becomes Marina’s best friend. Marina finds Cathy interesting and loves to read her poems. Cathy comes from a loving and close family and cares about Marina very much and invites her into her family life.
Sophie is very funny and lively, but gets into trouble a lot. Sophie is chubby and looks a bit like a boy with a round face, red cheeks and short hair and speaks with a husky voice which makes her sound older like a twenty-five year old. Sophie antagonizes and makes fun of Marina because she can’t understand why Marina won’t talk. Sophie shakes Marina and yells at her because Marina won’t help clean up the room for inspection. Sophie constantly gets into fights with Kate, another dorm-mate.
Kate is the loud girl who is only interested in sex and boys and boys and sex and is quite crude. Kate is the bad one, along with Sophie.
Lisa is tall, blond and very Nordic looking, very beautiful with a slight mark on her cheek from a skiing accident. Lisa is not a very happy person but it is hidden behind her very strong personality. Lisa is respected by the rest of the girls and is the head of the dorm.
Marina’s English teacher, Mr. Lindell, a Canadian, is a big man, who has fair hair like ginger. He looks like a big bear and his glasses make him look even more like a bear. He becomes Marina’s friend and invites her over to his house for dinner. Marina learns to trust Mr. Lindell.
Marina describes her mother as a selfish person who is always on holiday with her weird second husband and is never around for Marina.
Marina’s dad is not mentioned very much and he is in jail for throwing acid in her face. Marina never mentions hating her father, but instead is afraid of what might happen to him in jail.
The main idea of the book is that even after bad things happen in life, life can still go on. This book is all about Marina’s journey to forgiveness and how she forgives her father at the end.
I enjoyed reading this book because it talked all about what happened in Marina’s life, and it was interesting to read about what she thought and felt about the people in her life and I liked reading the descriptions of all the people. I would recommend this book to young adults because it teaches you about forgiveness, kindness, and love to other people.
By John Marsden
“So Much to Tell You”, by John Marsden is a true story about a girl, by the name of Marina, whose face is horribly disfigured when her father mistakenly throws acid on her face during an argument with her mother. Marina is sent to a girls’ boarding school after the accident because her mother is frustrated that Marina stops speaking and she feels that the school will help her to speak again. This book is written in a diary form and tells of Marina’s life in the boarding school and how she feels and who she meets and a little about her own family life.
The main character of the story is Marina, whose face is partially disfigured but was beautiful before the accident. She used to be very athletic but after the accident, she no longer participated in any sports. Marina also used to play the flute before the accident but never played again after because she was afraid that her mouth didn’t work. Marina was depressed and sad and felt like she was the living dead because she had no feelings, was numb, and was afraid of living. Marina writes about what she sees and feels about the people around her.
Cathy Preshill is a tall, thin, anorexic looking girl who is beautiful and becomes Marina’s best friend. Marina finds Cathy interesting and loves to read her poems. Cathy comes from a loving and close family and cares about Marina very much and invites her into her family life.
Sophie is very funny and lively, but gets into trouble a lot. Sophie is chubby and looks a bit like a boy with a round face, red cheeks and short hair and speaks with a husky voice which makes her sound older like a twenty-five year old. Sophie antagonizes and makes fun of Marina because she can’t understand why Marina won’t talk. Sophie shakes Marina and yells at her because Marina won’t help clean up the room for inspection. Sophie constantly gets into fights with Kate, another dorm-mate.
Kate is the loud girl who is only interested in sex and boys and boys and sex and is quite crude. Kate is the bad one, along with Sophie.
Lisa is tall, blond and very Nordic looking, very beautiful with a slight mark on her cheek from a skiing accident. Lisa is not a very happy person but it is hidden behind her very strong personality. Lisa is respected by the rest of the girls and is the head of the dorm.
Marina’s English teacher, Mr. Lindell, a Canadian, is a big man, who has fair hair like ginger. He looks like a big bear and his glasses make him look even more like a bear. He becomes Marina’s friend and invites her over to his house for dinner. Marina learns to trust Mr. Lindell.
Marina describes her mother as a selfish person who is always on holiday with her weird second husband and is never around for Marina.
Marina’s dad is not mentioned very much and he is in jail for throwing acid in her face. Marina never mentions hating her father, but instead is afraid of what might happen to him in jail.
The main idea of the book is that even after bad things happen in life, life can still go on. This book is all about Marina’s journey to forgiveness and how she forgives her father at the end.
I enjoyed reading this book because it talked all about what happened in Marina’s life, and it was interesting to read about what she thought and felt about the people in her life and I liked reading the descriptions of all the people. I would recommend this book to young adults because it teaches you about forgiveness, kindness, and love to other people.
October 7, 2013
This is a poignant novel about a girl who chooses not to speak. Her inner dialogue spills onto journal pages filled with hesitation, wit, raw emotion and brutal honesty.
From family disfunction, physical and emotional trauma, hospitalisation and a new start at boarding school, this book encapsulates how we all feel through turbulent times, regardless of age, sex or economic status.
I first read "So Much to Tell You" for high school English. It spoke to me on such a profound level that I continued to reread it for much of my teenage years.
I recently picked up a copy in a charity shop and have since been reminded of the beauty of Marsden's prose. His ability to absorb the reader into an emotional connection with the title character is what initially caused my devotion, along with the sense that she was saying everything I couldn't, acting more honestly that I felt I did, and inspiring me not only to start a journal but to indulge in creative writing and the art of the written language.
The book bought me comfort through what can often be an awkward adolescence and I will never grow tired of Marina's story.
From family disfunction, physical and emotional trauma, hospitalisation and a new start at boarding school, this book encapsulates how we all feel through turbulent times, regardless of age, sex or economic status.
I first read "So Much to Tell You" for high school English. It spoke to me on such a profound level that I continued to reread it for much of my teenage years.
I recently picked up a copy in a charity shop and have since been reminded of the beauty of Marsden's prose. His ability to absorb the reader into an emotional connection with the title character is what initially caused my devotion, along with the sense that she was saying everything I couldn't, acting more honestly that I felt I did, and inspiring me not only to start a journal but to indulge in creative writing and the art of the written language.
The book bought me comfort through what can often be an awkward adolescence and I will never grow tired of Marina's story.
September 10, 2020
This is one smelly book. I had to read it for school in year 8. That was about three years ago, but I’m pretty sure if I reread now, my initial opinions would remain. I remember reading it all in one go, propelled by my rage.
The book is supposed to be written like a journal of a fourteen year old girl. Reading it as a fourteen year old girl who kept a journal, it read exactly like a grown man trying to tap into his inner fourteen year old girl, and failing miserably.
The book is supposed to be written like a journal of a fourteen year old girl. Reading it as a fourteen year old girl who kept a journal, it read exactly like a grown man trying to tap into his inner fourteen year old girl, and failing miserably.
December 18, 2015
This book gave me hope when I was a depressed, messed up kid. It...it draws you in.
July 2, 2025
The '80s and '90s really glamorized institutionalization.
Marina (name not revealed until the last page) was in a mental hospital after the accident, but that's not the best place to keep a teen forever and her mom and the new husband don't want to deal with her, so she's sent to boarding school, where she is gradually accepted into a dorm of girls despite her scarred face and not talking. Marina is wrapped up in her own, very valid, issues, but comes to understand that everyone in her group has their own fourteen-year-old girl problems. It's a nice book, it's short, it's a first novel, and the English teacher is such a Mary Sue for Marsden himself. It's not brilliant like the Tomorrow books but it's worth reading if you're a Marsden fan or you want something quick and angsty.
Marina (name not revealed until the last page) was in a mental hospital after the accident, but that's not the best place to keep a teen forever and her mom and the new husband don't want to deal with her, so she's sent to boarding school, where she is gradually accepted into a dorm of girls despite her scarred face and not talking. Marina is wrapped up in her own, very valid, issues, but comes to understand that everyone in her group has their own fourteen-year-old girl problems. It's a nice book, it's short, it's a first novel, and the English teacher is such a Mary Sue for Marsden himself. It's not brilliant like the Tomorrow books but it's worth reading if you're a Marsden fan or you want something quick and angsty.
December 15, 2015
Okay, so the stupid blurb for one of the editions of this book basically gives away everything about it.
(Not that that is a problem for me, but if you don't want to know most of the secrets that are revealed throughout So Much To Tell You, don't read the blurbs for other editions of this book.)
Anyway. I bought this book years ago -- I think when I was 15 or 16 or so and just starting to go through tough shit myself. I don't know why, but I never read it. I know I tried to at one point, and I'm pretty sure that when I did try, I was thrown off by the fact that it takes place in Australia, so I didn't know how to think about the Australian educational system (e.g., "what the hell is a third former?") as well as the school year ("what do you mean winter holidays are in May/June?").
But I did enjoy it, for the most part. The ending was fairly pleasing although I wish there had been a little more explanation of why Marina didn't talk, and what she'd been in the hospital for. That was pretty unclear -- it seemed as though it was either because of suicidality, or
I really liked how the characters closest to Marina were described (Cathy, the Lindells, etc.).
Would recommend. It's a pretty quick read -- my edition only has 119 pages and I finished it in probably less than 3 hours total of reading.
(Not that that is a problem for me, but if you don't want to know most of the secrets that are revealed throughout So Much To Tell You, don't read the blurbs for other editions of this book.)
Anyway. I bought this book years ago -- I think when I was 15 or 16 or so and just starting to go through tough shit myself. I don't know why, but I never read it. I know I tried to at one point, and I'm pretty sure that when I did try, I was thrown off by the fact that it takes place in Australia, so I didn't know how to think about the Australian educational system (e.g., "what the hell is a third former?") as well as the school year ("what do you mean winter holidays are in May/June?").
But I did enjoy it, for the most part. The ending was fairly pleasing although I wish there had been a little more explanation of why Marina didn't talk, and what she'd been in the hospital for. That was pretty unclear -- it seemed as though it was either because of suicidality, or
I really liked how the characters closest to Marina were described (Cathy, the Lindells, etc.).
Would recommend. It's a pretty quick read -- my edition only has 119 pages and I finished it in probably less than 3 hours total of reading.
January 15, 2023
I loved all the "helpers" in this book who worked toward bringing Marina back to where she needed to be, but I didn't really believe the details of her facial injury. Having worked with many teenage girls, and having been one myself, it isn't really possible that none of Marina's roommates or fellow students ever reacted to her facial injuries. I may have missed a look here or there but the injuries seem to be so severe that plastic surgery has to wait for more healing - and no one notices? Even the children she interacts with don't react overtly. Having had much less severe burn injuries to my face in my youth, I don't think that kind of universal anonymity is possible. Marina doesn't even bring it up much herself. Other than that, this is a lovely book with a positive and plausible ending and I look forward to finding the sequel.
February 14, 2023
I hated this book. The characters were petty and predictable, and it was completely unrealistic when she just suddenly healed after seeing her father. It is a horrible representation of trauma and the healing process.
May 30, 2011
don't like this book Depressing
June 29, 2023
Reading this for the second time after over ten years and it’s just as poignant and powerful as I remember. I felt so deeply Marina’s loneliness and suffocating voicelessness. Conversely, I felt the love and care of those around her, that kept her from imploding and gave her hope for reconciliation. Reminiscent of The Catcher In The Rye, with a much more gentle and thoughtful protagonist. It also paints a beautiful landscape of country Victoria that I enjoyed, I really wish I could have boarded there. Very much a classic novel.
June 2, 2018
I felt very bad for her but liked her adventures and stories a lot.
April 16, 2015
The writing itself isn't the issue. It's that we have a protagonist who's been permanently maimed by her father. Who sometimes knocked her around too, but that's okay because he loved her. And it's okay that he threw acid in his daughter's face and disfigured her, because he really meant to disfigure his ex-wife. And his ex-wife is a horrible person who drove him to it and would have deserved getting acid in her face. I'm so not okay with hand-waving away child abuse, who is getting blamed in this story instead OF THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY DID the horrible thing, and how the big resolution is framed as a touching reunion between daughter and her abuser.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2015
Brilliantly written!! highly recommend, but really annoying/unsatifying ending
August 27, 2023
It must be more than 15 years since I last read this book. It was considered a classic when I was a kid - so much so my year 8 class studied it (I didn’t have to bc I’d read it and I was too advanced for my class - grade system fail - so I got to do Joy Luck Club instead) but I remember when I read it thinking like yeah it’s alright but it’s not amazing.
Marsden is an exceptionally talented writer and I love that he’s one of the quintessential Australian authors we grew up with, but I do wish he’d write less teen girls, bc reading it as an adult there’s always something off tbh.
Apart from that, I desperately want more depth from this book or something to elevate it. Bc otherwise I just find Marina a little bit annoying tbh. Like yeah very bad trauma obviously but it’s never quite deeply enough explained or hinted at or shown through conflicts to make it feel a bit more … meaningful for her reaction? Or not meaningful but like the whole situationdoesnt feel quite realistic enough.
Like yeah it makes sense ofc I’m not minimising it but I just want a little bit more about the whole family situation - bc your dad doesn’t throw acid at your mums face from nowhere, just bc she’s a selfish bitch and the court awarded her more in the divorce, especially when he’s apparently so restrained. That’s definitely an escalation of abuse which is never mentioned, it’s not generally a starter moment .
I think there’s a missed opportunity to go a bit deeper into the psychology of abusers - male and female. Bc what did the mum do that’s so much worse than the dad but she can reconcile with him but not her mum and step dad? It just feels lacking some sort of nuance and I just want a bit more. And a little bit more obvious growth from marina tbh. Journal formats are always hard but I just think … this is a little overhyped. And I remember thinking that 15 plus years ago haha whereas I loved the semi-sequel so go figure. Maybe just not my cup of tea.
Marsden is an exceptionally talented writer and I love that he’s one of the quintessential Australian authors we grew up with, but I do wish he’d write less teen girls, bc reading it as an adult there’s always something off tbh.
Apart from that, I desperately want more depth from this book or something to elevate it. Bc otherwise I just find Marina a little bit annoying tbh. Like yeah very bad trauma obviously but it’s never quite deeply enough explained or hinted at or shown through conflicts to make it feel a bit more … meaningful for her reaction? Or not meaningful but like the whole situationdoesnt feel quite realistic enough.
Like yeah it makes sense ofc I’m not minimising it but I just want a little bit more about the whole family situation - bc your dad doesn’t throw acid at your mums face from nowhere, just bc she’s a selfish bitch and the court awarded her more in the divorce, especially when he’s apparently so restrained. That’s definitely an escalation of abuse which is never mentioned, it’s not generally a starter moment .
I think there’s a missed opportunity to go a bit deeper into the psychology of abusers - male and female. Bc what did the mum do that’s so much worse than the dad but she can reconcile with him but not her mum and step dad? It just feels lacking some sort of nuance and I just want a bit more. And a little bit more obvious growth from marina tbh. Journal formats are always hard but I just think … this is a little overhyped. And I remember thinking that 15 plus years ago haha whereas I loved the semi-sequel so go figure. Maybe just not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2026
fun fact - the copy of the book i own is from when my sister was in year 8 (2005), and hers was secondhand too.. safe to say it’s been in the family for a while
i picked this up on a whim because i wanted something short to fill my time, and im really happy i read this. it’s a beautiful story, written from a realistic 14-15 year olds voice. its tragic, its sad, its funny at points, but overall its about trauma.
it’s always a difficult situation when it comes to families, especially when you’re so young. the inner conflict of loving but hating, and being so extremely hurt from someone who was supposed to be there to keep you safe and love you unconditionally is shown really raw in this story.
but at the same time, it’s more than that. seeing her friendships, and the value kindness has (without even knowing what an impact it can have on someone), and the idea that absolutely no one has a perfect life despite what’s visible on the outside.
i always like diary entry style books, and i also like books based in australia, so i liked the way this was written as well.
only downside is that i wish we got more of the aftermath. i would’ve loved to see an epilogue of what happened to her after she spoke to her father. did her friendships flourish or did they lose interest after she became ‘normal’? did her teachers remain close to her? what did she end up doing with her life? what about her mum - did she change when she started speaking or did she run away with the stepdad? lots of questions we will never have the answer to
i picked this up on a whim because i wanted something short to fill my time, and im really happy i read this. it’s a beautiful story, written from a realistic 14-15 year olds voice. its tragic, its sad, its funny at points, but overall its about trauma.
it’s always a difficult situation when it comes to families, especially when you’re so young. the inner conflict of loving but hating, and being so extremely hurt from someone who was supposed to be there to keep you safe and love you unconditionally is shown really raw in this story.
but at the same time, it’s more than that. seeing her friendships, and the value kindness has (without even knowing what an impact it can have on someone), and the idea that absolutely no one has a perfect life despite what’s visible on the outside.
i always like diary entry style books, and i also like books based in australia, so i liked the way this was written as well.
only downside is that i wish we got more of the aftermath. i would’ve loved to see an epilogue of what happened to her after she spoke to her father. did her friendships flourish or did they lose interest after she became ‘normal’? did her teachers remain close to her? what did she end up doing with her life? what about her mum - did she change when she started speaking or did she run away with the stepdad? lots of questions we will never have the answer to
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2023
A relatable sense of melancholy and isolation yet from a girl in pretty extreme circumstances.
Great ending as well! Not a twist exactly, but unexpected of sorts. I like how in this book, hatred isn't always pure and complete hatred. How hatred doesn't always have to be forgotten or healed; some trauma is to stay, but you can still live with it just with more love. That doesn't mean that the hate goes away.
Its also cool that the author wanted to create a play for an all female cast, teenagers and adults, because he didn't think there were enough around at the time (the late 80s).
It aas also more realistic the way that, since its in a diary/journal format, she didn't always remember stuff or wouldn't describe it right or wouldn't completely reflect the emotions of things perfectly, and then would get annoyed at herself. Or she'd just say functional and simple surface things sometimes, just the motiojs of the day, and sometimes would go emotionally in depth into analysing people and her situation, or would write something completely random while very tired.
More for a younger age group but was still interesting. Still hilarious in some places though with some over-the-topness.
Great ending as well! Not a twist exactly, but unexpected of sorts. I like how in this book, hatred isn't always pure and complete hatred. How hatred doesn't always have to be forgotten or healed; some trauma is to stay, but you can still live with it just with more love. That doesn't mean that the hate goes away.
Its also cool that the author wanted to create a play for an all female cast, teenagers and adults, because he didn't think there were enough around at the time (the late 80s).
It aas also more realistic the way that, since its in a diary/journal format, she didn't always remember stuff or wouldn't describe it right or wouldn't completely reflect the emotions of things perfectly, and then would get annoyed at herself. Or she'd just say functional and simple surface things sometimes, just the motiojs of the day, and sometimes would go emotionally in depth into analysing people and her situation, or would write something completely random while very tired.
More for a younger age group but was still interesting. Still hilarious in some places though with some over-the-topness.
August 26, 2021
I was disappointed with this book to be honest. I really like a lot of John Marsdens other work, personally I think the tomorrow series is one of best series in the YA category. This is his debut novel and there is promise in it but I just feel like it doesn’t live up to it. There are really good moments which showed promise around exploring trauma, complex family dynamics, teenage issues etc but they don’t get fleshed out enough. The ending particularly saddened and frustrated me. It felt rushed, forced and an oversimplification of really complicated issues.
July 24, 2019
Rating: 4.5 lol
I really enjoyed this book. My favorite part was seeing the character development and watching the relationships grow over time. Cathy was my favorite character as she seemed so peaceful and kind.
I am looking forward to reading the second book to get to know the characters better and see how everything works out.
This book is a must-read and I recommend this book to teenage girls 12+.
I really enjoyed this book. My favorite part was seeing the character development and watching the relationships grow over time. Cathy was my favorite character as she seemed so peaceful and kind.
I am looking forward to reading the second book to get to know the characters better and see how everything works out.
This book is a must-read and I recommend this book to teenage girls 12+.
January 22, 2020
2.25 stars. I respect John Marsden’s work but this book disappointed me. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t overlook its major weaknesses. The story and characters are under-developed, the diary style could have worked, but failed to deliver because it was not effectively written; there was never a climax; lastly, the denouement is abrupt and flat. Interestingly, in spite of this, I believe the book is still passable for its genre: young adult fiction.
December 31, 2024
Re-read as a tribute to the author John Marsden who passed away just before Christmas this year.
This was the first of many incredible books he wrote - published in 1987 and winner of the Children’s Book of the Year in 1988, this is the story of Marina who has been through a very traumatic incident and hasn’t spoken since. Her story is told through journal entries as she tries to come to terms with her past.
This was the first of many incredible books he wrote - published in 1987 and winner of the Children’s Book of the Year in 1988, this is the story of Marina who has been through a very traumatic incident and hasn’t spoken since. Her story is told through journal entries as she tries to come to terms with her past.
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