Beyond Alice in Aussie Readers

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May 02, 2021 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-release, reviewing-by-request, aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, memoir, non-fiction, 5000-2021, biography, arc, own-read

It was 1975 when twelve-year-old Tanya Heaslip left her bush home in the Northern Territory not too far from Alice Springs for a boarding school in Adelaide, South Australia. The 1600 kilometres between the two places was daunting, but to Tanya, leaving her beloved parents and siblings, plus her horse Nero and the many other things she loved, was the hardest. Tanya had only ever done school-of-the-air, so had never sat in a classroom situation, so immediately she stood out. But the Methodist Lad It was 1975 when twelve-year-old Tanya Heaslip left her bush home in the Northern Territory not too far from Alice Springs for a boarding school in Adelaide, South Australia. The 1600 kilometres between the two places was daunting, but to Tanya, leaving her beloved parents and siblings, plus her horse Nero and the many other things she loved, was the hardest. Tanya had only ever done school-of-the-air, so had never sat in a classroom situation, so immediately she stood out. But the Methodist Ladies College, cold, steeped in tradition, filled with mistresses that were uncaring and harsh, was terrifying for Tanya (as well as many other First Year boarders)

It wasn’t long before Tanya was bullied – she was short, uncertain and scared, so a target for those who had a penchant for bullying. A girl named Treena became a good friend, standing by Tanya’s side and protecting her when she could. And Treena would remain a friend right through the five years at MLC. The holidays couldn’t come soon enough, and Tanya would settle in at home, until suddenly it was time to go back. Would she survive her time in boarding school? Tanya developed a circle of friends who had each other’s backs, supporting one another through harsh discipline and even harsher punishments…

Beyond Alice is the second I’ve read by Aussie author Tanya Heaslip and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although nonfiction, it reads as a fiction story would, flowing well, with the horrors of boarding school standing out. I can’t believe – well I suppose I can (it was 1975 after all) – how horrible the people in charge of the boarders were. How the headmistress even told young first year boarders they were there because their parents didn’t love them anymore!! Can you imagine what that would do to a fragile and impressionable twelve-year-old?! Beyond Alice, along with Alice to Prague (her first) and An Alice Girl (which I loved) show how Tanya’s love of reading and writing as a youngster, led the way with her books. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 25, 2021 Kellie Schache marked it as to-read

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