Saving Francesca in Around the World in 80 Books

May 04, 2011 mstan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-young-adults-or-children, favourite-ya, addictive-ya, australian

I LOVE THIS. And yes, I must type this in CAPS because this book makes me feel about 20 years younger... which is probably one of the reasons why I read YA, but let's not go there. At the same time this book also makes me feel wiser - Francesca's family is all about tough love, with all the naked, ugly bits hanging out, and perfection and happiness.

The boys don't seem very realistic, especially Jimmy (the worldly wise bully turned friend) but oh are they ever charismatic. ALL the characters - a I LOVE THIS. And yes, I must type this in CAPS because this book makes me feel about 20 years younger... which is probably one of the reasons why I read YA, but let's not go there. At the same time this book also makes me feel wiser - Francesca's family is all about tough love, with all the naked, ugly bits hanging out, and perfection and happiness.

The boys don't seem very realistic, especially Jimmy (the worldly wise bully turned friend) but oh are they ever charismatic. ALL the characters - and there are many - are breathing, likeable, three-dimensional. They are: Justine the piano-accordion-player a.k.a. "THE ROCK" or Polish peasant, Tara the socially aware feminist a.k.a. "THE BUTCH", Siobhan the macarena-dancing-ex-best-friend a.k.a. "THE SLUT", Tommy MacKee... whom I can't wait to read more about in The Piper's Son, Ms Quinn the awesome 'least gullible' teacher in the school, Luca the angelic brother, Angelina the tough-as-nails-cousin, and the wonderful Rob and Mia - the parents. Even the people next door (who are never named, but only mentioned in the context of their near-daily waves) are marvellous.

Let's not forget the most adorable Will Trombal - former choir-boy (before his voice broke), bad rugby player, straitlaced prefect, high flying academic achiever, mangler of Tolstoy's name. I don't think (view spoiler) but he still ranks up there with Darcy (even though he thinks he may be a Bingley).

Here's a quick plot synopsis (because I realised none of the above would really make sense except to other starstruck fans of Marchetta) - Francesca is one of a handful of girls who's recently been admitted into St. Sebastian's, a formerly all-boys' Catholic high school. She's lost all her former 'friends' and struggles to fit in. One day her mother doesn't get out of bed. This lasts longer than just a day or a week...

PS: Marchetta is so masterful a writer that reading her makes me wonder why I was wasting my time on Anna and the French Kiss and Hex Hall. ...more

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Aug 19, 2022 mstan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: rereads, for-young-adults-or-children, favourite-ya, australian, hp

Deducting one star on my reread.

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Oct 07, 2014 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: second-hand, australia, contemporary, women, campus-life, family

I'm a bit picky of Young Adult novels but Melina Marchetta hasn't disappointed me so far :) Saving Francesca told a story about an all-boy school that just opened up for female students. Francesca, in the middle of gender-war and trying to find her way in the new school, also has to face problems at home- starting from her depressed mother. Poignant, funny, with very lovable characters, Saving Francesca is the kind of book that I wished I could have written it :) ...more

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