Wildflower in Aussie Readers

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May 13, 2022 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2022-release, 3500-2022, read-on-kindle, contemporary-fiction, aussie-authors, own-read, arc, gift-from-author, family

It was 1979 and ten-year-old Jane Kelly, bullied at school and lonely, was glad when the summer holidays arrived, as well as the fact there were new people moving in next door. She really hoped there would be a girl her own age so they could be friends. Jane lived with her mum, dad, brother Jim and sister Sal, and Jane was the youngest. Their dad had dark moods occasionally – their mum said it was from the war. Sal had a boyfriend, Robbie, and although she was only sixteen, she snuck out at nigh It was 1979 and ten-year-old Jane Kelly, bullied at school and lonely, was glad when the summer holidays arrived, as well as the fact there were new people moving in next door. She really hoped there would be a girl her own age so they could be friends. Jane lived with her mum, dad, brother Jim and sister Sal, and Jane was the youngest. Their dad had dark moods occasionally – their mum said it was from the war. Sal had a boyfriend, Robbie, and although she was only sixteen, she snuck out at night to meet him. Jim was getting tangled in a ‘bad group’ and at thirteen, was a grumpy teen most of the time.

The arrival next door of Acacia Miller (named for the wattle) and her mum Rose, thrilled Jane, as Acacia was the same age, and it wasn’t long before they were best friends. But while Jane talked to Acacia about her family life, Acacia was reticent about hers. Rose had a boyfriend – Daryl – and they would fight, loudly. Acacia often didn’t want to go home and would stay at Jane’s until late. But even though Jane didn’t know much about what was happening next door, she knew something was wrong.

It was 1999 when the abused woman arrived at the refuge. She was scared, nervous, fearful of loud noises, all the while wondering if she should go back. Pat cared for her and the other abused women in the refuge, until it was time to move to her own place. But could she do it? Her past life haunted her; the secrets long kept gave her nightmares. Could she make a new life for herself after all this time?

Wildflower by Aussie author Monique Mulligan is a heartbreaking, poignant and stirring story of domestic violence and the ramifications on the person/s lives. The past is hard to shake when it has such a strong hold on you. Told in the voice of 10-year-old Jane in 1979/80, she was an exceptional character with her confusion evident. The second voice was the abused woman – I had in my own mind who it was and the twist at the end was well done! Highly recommended.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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Apr 20, 2022 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-author, arc-are

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Apr 11, 2022 Janine marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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