The Cave

by Susanne Gervay

A compelling and confronting book that examines what it means to be young and male in the 21st century.

An important book that is guaranteed to stimulate debate and discussion.

For Sam and his schoolfriends the compulsory school camp is a time of great testing and endurance. Not only do the boys have to struggle with tough mountain climbs and canoeing trips, but there is the final descent into the cave - the ultimate test of all. And all of these physical challenges are accompanied by hot days, freezing cold nights, inadequate and badly cooked food, no washing facilities and plenty of flies.

It′s no wonder this experience is a living hell for most of the boys, especially since there is a lot of bullying and nastiness to contend with as well.

For Sam this particular camp becomes a personal journey of growth as he grieves for his beloved dead grandfather and searches for his own masculine identity.

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Hazel Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistically drawn relationships and provokes readers to think about different kinds of courage: physical and emotional, and the ability to say no to pressure from mates. Good one for a group to read prior to going on a school camp.

[Brenton Cullen]

Raw. Full of hot, salty truth and emotions - life, everything up and down, all rolled into one. A monster of a book (in a good way) in that the story sucks you in and grabs hold, making you captive from page 1. Every teenager and twenty-something needs to read this. Gervay is a powerhouse of YA fiction.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it's a good book when you can pretty much hear the warbles of magpies at dawn when these kids crawl out of their bivvies.

You know it's a good book when you can despise one of the characters with every fibre of your being.

[Susanne Gervay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love being an author writing about things that get you crying, laughing, thinking - from guys in 'The Cave' to school bullying in 'I Am Jack'
Please visit: www.sgervay.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Susanne Gervay's novel is deceptively moving and powerful, all the characters richly drawn and her description of camp life so realistic you feel you are living it. Highly recommended.
Good Reading Magazine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sensational new book, 'The Cave' is a compelling, confronting and important book that examines what it means to be young and male in the 21st Century.

Queensland Booksellers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the tradition of Lord of the Flies, Susanne Gervay's 'The Cave' looks at the dynamics in a group of boys on an eight day survival camp."

Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'The Cave' by Susanne Gervay is also a story of a journey. This time it is a group of teenage boys on a survival camp in a mountainous region. Their grueling physical challenge is complicated by the aggression between them and the disparity in their readiness for the task. Told in the voice of one of the boys, it feels like an authentic trip into an adolescent mind. I found it refreshingly honest and beautifully written."

Spectrum The Sydney Morning Herald

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Surviving the wilderness is tough - surviving each other is tougher.' The author herself acknowledges 'The Cave' was a brave new journey into adolescent male culture: an emotional, funny and perilous journey. There are no compromises as she explores various aspects of that culture: Rave parties, extreme challenges, sport, sexuality, aggression, bravado, bullying, love and loss. As a group of young high school males confront one another, and themselves on an eight-day survival camp. Organised through their all-boys school, the potential for violence and courage is never far below the surface.
The writing is clear, evocative and powerful. The characters, particularly Sam, are well developed and believable. The various literary devices used through the book work effectively. This is a novel which needed to be written and needs to be read."

Reading Time

[Sammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Reading Review (2018?)

Nothing comes to mind when thinking of this book. It’s really an ‘I’ll read this I guess’ kind of thing that doesn’t leave anything to think about. I felt no strong positives - the characters were okay. No strong negatives either except for how bad the writing style was. It was so very emotionless and robotic. ‘This happened then this happened’. It’s hard to see how someone praised it’s writing on the cover.

Second Reading Review (14.12.22)

Much of the same thoughts as before. The writing is much too simple and couldn’t really draw me in at all. Reading it was just as robotic and sterile as the text was.

Rating: 4/10

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, I'm 21 now and have read it probably 5 or 6 times since I was 11 and first picked it up. There is some really brilliant character writing in the book and I definitely agree with the comments about it having a modern-day Australian Lord of the Flies feel to it. I would recommended this book to teens and young adults. I think the book is also a great one for boys to read

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what teen guys are thinking. How they see girls. How they treat them. Who are the good guys and who are the bad ones? What happens when there is NO CONSENT. Then you have to read ‘The Cave’. A gripping and real book that every girl should read, as well as the boys.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is almost a Lord of the Flies Australian style. I can't wait for the movie.

[Cally Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book from a young adult male perspective. Didn't really leave a lasting impression on me though.