Magenta McPhee by Catherine Bateson
Random House Australia, 2009. ISBN 9781741664089
(Ages 10 to 14 years) Highly recommended. Magenta sends off a letter to
Sammi magazine outlining how depressed
her Dad has become after his divorce. Thrilled that her letter is
published, with a commendation about her writing style, she decides to
confide in her best friend. Polly is convinced that Magenta will
make
a writer one day, but, in the meantime suggests that internet dating
may be the answer for Magenta's Dad! The two girls take this on
without telling him!
Lianna is the lady who replies to 'Dad's' emails and a meeting is
arranged, with the consequences proving very interesting! The
human
interest in this story will make it a popular read. Character
backgrounds discovered along the way keep the reader involved.
Magenta is writing a fantasy story and we are given snippets of this as
she uncovers new material for her novel.
I enjoyed viewing the interactions between the variety of realistic
characters and sharing their disappointments and laughter.
Catherine
Bateson has a great turn of phrase; an easy, relaxed writing style, and
her storyline is captivating.
As we have come to expect from Catherine Bateson's novels, the dialogue
is appealing and the themes pertinent to today's teens.
Julie Wells