Review:
Ironbark by Barry Jonsberg
Allen and Unwin, 2008. ISBN 9781741149555
(Age 14+) Imagine what would happen when a 16 year old boy, suffering
from a major problem, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, goes to live
with his grandfather in remote Tasmania? After he has been taken to
court for violence in a shopping centre the unnamed protagonist is sent
away by his wealthy father, who has paid extravagantly to have his
son's violence judged as an illness and not hooliganism. He records how
he feels and what happens in his journal.
Jonsberg brings alive the character of the boy, with his foul language,
his bouts of dangerous anger, and his extreme views of his
grandfather's shack and its lack of modern amenities. His relationship
with his girlfriend, his ability to cook and his growing self-awareness
are revealed through his writing. The reader also gains a thought
provoking glimpse of the grandfather, who gradually reveals a sense of
humour and understanding of his grandson's extreme anger. The local
policeman, Richie, is loved by the locals for his wood chopping
prowess, but he threatens and bullies the boy who has to report to him.
An explosion is just waiting to happen!
The author uses humour to effectively depict the generation gap and
there is plenty of action, especially the motorbike riding and illicit
car driving that the boy indulges in. There are some puzzling touches
of what may be the supernatural with a strange text message telling the
boy how to find his way home from the mountain when he is lost and
unexplained incidents at the end of the novel, which left me
puzzled. However the ending is positive and boys will love the action
and humour.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007