Esme in the limelight by Kate Gordon

Esme in the Limelight is the latest companion book to the Aster books with Esme featuring in the previous books as the teen who runs the milk bar frequented by Aster, Xavier and Indigo. This raw and deeply sensitive story begins with Esme drowning in damaging thoughts and her own lack of belief in herself.

Fifteen year old Esme Rogers is in Year 9 part time. She struggles with mental health and negative self-talk and the important relationships in her life are strained and causing great pain. Esme is either invisible to her parents or the cause of their greatest disappointments. Her sister Ro is the wonder child, a high achiever, popular but struggling with her own demons. Aster, Xavier and Indigo are all part of Esme’s life but she is pushing them away due to her feelings of worthlessness. And Amy, the one person whom Esme trusted and was befriended by, has left without a word. Added to this is the news that her safe place, the milk bar, is to be sold. Esme also dreams of being in the school musical but refuses to risk auditioning and watches as those around her excitedly take part.

Esme’s thoughts finally leave her battered, bruised and broken.

As the story progresses, the reader is given hope that Esme will be okay. Aster, Xavier and Indigo rally around as well as her new friends Erika and Aiden, her sister Ro opens up about her own struggles and the local community provides unexpected support.

Author Kate Gordon has written intensely of the anguish suffered by Esme. The heart breaking honesty of Esme’s words, often expressed through poetry, and her evolving story has many messages that may resonate with mature young readers and adults.

We choose the people we let into our lives. We choose the voices we listen to, and those we shut out --- even if that voice is, occasionally, the mean voice in our heads, telling us we’re worthless. We choose how we tell our own story. p192.

Themes: Friendship, Dreams, Self-Worth, Mental Health, Sibling Rivalry, Courage, Eating Disorders, Body Image, Hope, Counselling.

Kathryn Beilby