Walking Home with Marie-Claire

by Kirsty Murray

Addressing the important issue of girls and self-esteem, this coming-of-age story of two girls reveals the meaning of friendship. The day Marie-Claire walks into PJ's life, everything changes. Whether they are skipping school or just hanging out on the beach, Marie-Claire can make any day an adventure. She's funny and unpredictable and full of good ideas that just might lead PJ down a troublesome path. The 1970s setting adds an interesting historical slant to this charismatic story that stresses loyalty to friends, making the right decisions, and other aspects of growing up.

204 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Kirsty Murray is a multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books for children and young adults. Her works include eleven novels as well as non-fiction, junior fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction and picture books. She loves books, libraries, bookshops, readers, writers, puddles, puppies, and stories – especially stories about kids and teenagers. Her 2019 releases included the non-fiction title 'Kids Who Did' and a gorgeous new picture book 'When Billy was a Dog', illustrated by Karen Blair. 'Strangers on Country', by Kirsty & Dave Hartley with stunning illustrations by Dub Leffler was published in 2020.

You can find me all over the internet. There's stacks of information on my website at:

hhtps://www.kirstymurray.com


and I'm on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/kirstymurrayauthor



and Twitter:

http://twitter.com/kirstymurray

Reviews

[Kerry]

This was fun to read. A good junior high level reader with enough content to raise a lot of worthwhile issues for discussion. Well written with strong enough character development to work with. Suitable for the age group of the lead characters, 13 or 14.

[Carolyn Gilpin]

This book is younger than I normally read, but I have to say that the characters grew on me. It's set in 1972, a time of massive change for Australia, when a Labor government was voted in for the first time in 23 years. This rings perfectly with the situation of Pauline, who is in Grade 6 and the baby of her family - she meets Marie-Claire (real name Margaret) who is a breath of dangerous fresh air in their stuffy classroom. The first thing she does is change Pauline's name to the cooler-sounding PJ.

This is all about being on the cusp of teenagerhood and trying to understand the changing world around you - your friends, the change from primary to secondary school, your family, and society, which was making massive leaps. In fact, PJ's older brother Brian is a Vietnam War draft evader, and middle sister Sue is the rebel against conservatism, fighting with her 50s-style parents and leaving home for a boyfriend and sharehouse.

Marie-Claire is an imaginative kid with a wild streak (and a few secrets), and she leads PJ into various scrapes, escalating to law-breaking when rough girl Tracy is drawn into their group. PJ doesn't really want to follow everything they do, but naturally she is caught between wanting to keep her friend but do the right thing.

This very much reminded me of Puberty Blues, except set in Melbourne and less confronting. The ending was satisfying if rather neatly tied off - but this suited the style and the characters, and I was certainly happy with that :)

[Nellie Malseed]

Seeing Marie-Claire in the title, i hastily purchased this at a second hand book sale. expecting a book relating somehow to cooking or cookbook writing, i was disappointed, but this was probably my fault. this book may have been enjoyable for younger readers. but for a teen reader, this was a poorly written novel.

[Tahanee Davis]

it was an all right book and people will enjoy it

[Ellie!]

This is a fun book that i am finding funny, a little disbelieiving and entertaining. I think i am a little to old for the book, but it is very good and i would reccomened it.

[Georgie]

it was 1 of the most unusual books that i have ever read, but at the same time very good. sort of sad though. great 4 a friday afternoon read!

[Alexandra]

I liked this book it had a good plot some parts went on for a bit to long, but overall it was a good book

[Carlie]

my favourite as a 12 yr old. Still read it when looking for something light hearted