Bill Condon challenges his young readers in All of Us Together, providing some advanced concepts for his targeted 8-12 year old readers. That’s not a bad thing though, and his novel is filled as much by excitement as it is by deeper messages of responsibility, family and positive thinking.
Set in Australia’s Great Depression of the 1930s, twelve year old Daniel has a typically nice life with his family. He squabbles with his siblings, treasure hunts with his friends, and adores his pet dog. When the family lose their father, Daniel needs to take on more responsibility while dealing with his own grief and that of his whole family. Their financial situation worsens without income however, and soon they’re threatened with losing their home too.
Filled with the charm of the era, including past Aussie slang and expressions, All of Us Together is a fine read for parents as well as their kids. Daniel’s world is populated with loveable characters and a few not so nice. His mum is a particularly well-rounded character and, by seeing the world through Daniel’s eyes, we gain an intimate knowledge of his relationships with everyone and his maturing views of the world. He has to grow up quickly and he learns a few hard lessons along the way.
The historical setting effectively acts as a lesson on Australia’s past but it does so incidentally, leaving the characters themselves to guide us through their life and times.
All of Us Together is a lark but, more importantly, its strong messages of right and wrong, and staying strong in the face of adversity are important lessons for everyone.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Rating out of 10: 8
Publisher: All About Kids Books
Release Date: September 2015
RRP: $14.99
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