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[carolinebschoice]

YA Fiction Week - Caroline’s Choice: ‘Almost Grace’ by Rosie Rowell

I first heard of this book via hotkeybooks on Twitter.  Their enthusiasm was infectious and I felt that I had to read this offering put forward by this bold South African writer.  We got in touch and they very kindly sent me a copy to review.  Thanks hotkeybooks!

The novel documents a week in the life of the main protagonist, Grace, and her friends, as they enjoy a week away on the coast to celebrate the end of their exams and the beginning of adulthood.  But it is so much more than that.  Against this light backdrop of these teenagers enjoying the freedom of a holiday on their own, this novel tackles some difficult issues head on.  The white elephant that is ever present is Grace’s eating disorder.  Rowell presents a rounded view of this condition from the various perspectives and gives insight into how this affects everyone around her as well as how it affects Grace herself. 

Things change dramatically when Grace meets an older guy at a house party.  For Grace, Spook epitomises what it means to be free.  He is a surfer living out of his car who drifts into her life and out again through the course of a week, but the impact of this connection affects everyone Grace knows with lasting consequences.

Almost Grace is an evocative and thought-provoking read that doesn’t shy away from the challenges that teenagers and young adults face.  I feel it speaks to its young adult audience in a way that is honest.  Rowell really attempts to connect with the audience and present the rite of passage into adulthood as a period of self-discovery where Grace and her friends learn more of themselves and their place in society. 

Throughout childhood and into adolescence, we learn about responsibility and making choices.  As this book demonstrates, as we move into adulthood, we learn about accepting responsibility for our choices.  We also discover the moral ambiguity of the adult world rather than the moral certainty of a child’s world. 

This is a good, quick read, which is fast-paced and does the job every book should - transports you away from the here and now.

Rosie Rowell has also kindly agreed to take part in a Q&A for Caroline’s Choice at the bookprojectblog and this will follow tomorrow.  Check it out - it’s well worth a read.

In the meantime, enjoy YA fiction week!  Feel free to post any comments or make any suggestions for book reviews too.

Caroline