A little spark by Barry Jonsberg

For those familiar with Darwin based, award winning author Barry Jonsberg's books including My life as an alphabet and A song only I can hear, there will be no disappointment on reading A little spark Don't let it go out. The title captures the main idea. There is a spark in all of us and certainly in people like 13 year-old Caitlyn Carson (CC) the central character of this story. A little spark is told in the first person giving the reader direct access to Caitlyn's funny, thoughtful and sometimes quirky outlook on life.

Caitlyn is busy trying to hold life together as she lives between the homes of her divorced parents. All the adults in this book are very likeable people; their marriages have just not worked out. Caitlyn has been living happily with her mother and nice boyfriend Sam during the week and going to her father on the weekends. She compartmentalises these parts of her life and keeps both parts privately not sharing either life with her parents. When she stays with her Dad amazing adventures, orchestrated by him, unfold. At school, Caitlyn has a close friend Elise whose parents are going through an acrimonious divorce. Caitlyn is a gifted writer, recognised by the school. She wins $2000 as part of a prestigious writer's award. 

This calm flow of life is interrupted when Caitlyn is forced to make an unbearable choice. Very sad and confronting things happen as A little spark moves into the territory that Barry Jonsberg handles with such warmth and skill: love, pain, the mysteries of people and 'a bit of madness and why we need it.'

Difficult subjects are handled well in Jonsberg's hands. I suspect A little spark will be a helpful read for young people who have to witness or experience the detailed stages of divorce as the third party or death or shifting friendships or attempted suicide.  Told through Caitlyn's matter of fact and sometimes hilarious voice we see new parental partners presented well, mixed feelings described, difficult dilemmas, pain and sorrow dealt with and the relationships that students have with their teachers and friends powerfully depicted.  It will come as no surprise that Jonsberg was a lecturer and head of an English faculty in the UK and is a High School English teacher when the reader sees what insight he has into the lives and thinking of young adults.

A little spark is a captivating read. Be warned- there are heartbreaks, there are joys and there are surprising twists. It is about nurturing that precious spark that is you no matter what life has in store. That is the important message. Teacher's resources are available.

Themes: Divorce, Family dynamics, Friendship, Belonging, Identity.

Wendy Jeffrey