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Tasmanian Anglican

June 2003

 

 

 

 


Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Viking Publications, 2003, RRP $24.95

 

Saving Francesca

review by Imogen Wegman

 

 

I had spent all day with an urge to pick up Melina Marchetta's latest book and start reading, but it wasn't until 12:30 that night that I could finally get round to it. Eagerly I opened it, and thinking that I would just read a few chapters, began to absorb the words.

One and a half hours later I put the book down, looked at the clock, and realised I was expected to be ready for church in just six hours. Saving Francesca is too good to put down, and is compelling reading, even in the dark hours of the morning.

Melina Marchetta also wrote Looking For Alibrandi (but this doesn't mean they should be compared), and this is of the same standard as the earlier book. It is the story of Francesca, one of thirty girls at a school that has just started accepting female students. The three hundred boys must get used to this sudden invasion of their territory, and the girls must get used to the chauvinistic attitudes on display. It isn't only on the school front that Francesca has problems, however.

Unfamiliarities, depression and friendship

At home, her mother is suffering from depression, and Francesca, her brother and father aren't sure of what to do. Francesca finds a group of friends, all very 'individual', and very recognisable, and settles into her new school. She learns to deal with the acceptance of unfamiliarities, depression and friendship. It is humorous, but not flippant, and Marchetta seems to known what she is writing about. (As she is a Grade 11 teacher at an all boys' school, I suppose she should!)

The book explores the problem of depression and how people cope with it. One of the boys from Francesca's new school seems to understand Francesca's mother's depression, and has some helpful insights into this common problem.

In places Saving Francesca it is slightly predictable, but this does not subtract from the satisfaction the reader experiences at the end. Being the same age as Francesca, I could recognise all the characters in the book, as people I know. This is quite an easy read, and is a bit of a feel-good story.

I recommend it for anyone, especially older teenagers, although a word of advice: don't start reading it at midnight because you won't be able to stop.