Eleni Hale’s Stone Girl is an incredibly powerful and honest story about the Australian foster care system. Drawing on elements of Hale’s own childhood, the novel is a confronting look into the troubling conditions faced by the children most in need of care. When twelve-year-old Sophie is moved to a foster home after the death of her mother, her life spirals as her old friends abandon her and she struggles to hold onto any form of consistency. As she becomes just another number in the system, she begins seeking attention by acting out and caving into peer pressure just to feel a part of something.
Stone Girl is written to challenge perspectives and push readers out of their comfort zone, so it is better suited to older readers. While the content is heavy, it is honest, and sends a powerful message about the truth of the matter. It sheds light on the ugly truths of the foster care system, a perspective that is not often given by someone who has experienced it first-hand. Hale’s novel provides a much-needed voice for kids in the same situation who might not have seen
themselves reflected in a strong character like Sophie.
While Stone Girl gives insight into how the unfair amount of neglect in the foster system can make bad choices seem inevitable, Sophie is not a victim. She is a nuanced narrator in that her actions are almost justifiable once the reader considers the situation she’s in and the actions of others that have led to that decision. Being betrayed and disappointed by adults over and over again understandably makes her lost faith in authority, and she can’t be entirely blamed for
making the wrong choices.
Stone Girl brings up the difficult dilemma of how to fix the foster care system when there are too many children and not enough beds, but its purpose isn’t to make the readers sympathise with the system. It’s supposed to be a voice for those whose childhood was affected in similar ways to Sophie’s, and to let them know that they’re not alone in this world. For those lucky enough to never be in that situation, it’s a powerful wake-up call that is guaranteed to change your point of
view.
Contagion by Teri Terry is a ticking time bomb of a novel, each chapter bringing the reader closer to the point of impact. This pre-apocalyptic dystopian novel set in Scotland follows two unique and compelling viewpoints; Shay, whose world is about to be changed forever, and Callie, who has seen everything but can communicate nothing. …
With the arrival of the new Netflix series, now is a perfect time to sink your teeth into Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is unique and one of my favourites; Snicket’s narration is satirical, morbid and hilarious all at once, and although he will warn you many times that the books …
Skulduggery Pleasant follows herione Stephanie Edgley, whose uncle–a famed horror author–dies mysteriously, leaving Stephanie with his fortune and mansion, but as Stephanie spends the night in her late uncle’s house, she is thrust into a magical underworld full of murderous hunters, vampires, ghosts and monsters that appear to mirror those written about in her uncle’s …
M.T Anderson’s enthralling storytelling and Andrea Offermann’s evocative illustrations transport the reader to the age of the Knights of the Round Table in this rich graphic novel. The narrative follows the formula of an epic tale, following a hero’s journey and his many conquests as he fights to retain his honour and regain his love. …
Courtney Summers’ well-written murder mystery is a modern take on the genre. Following the sister of a missing girl and the journalist trying to find her, Sadie’s format is unique, if a little confusing at times. The chapters written from Sadie’s perspective are in first person, but every second chapter is written as a script …
Eliza Henry Jones’ P is for Pearl is a sweet piece of summer escapism. Set in a quiet beach town in Tasmania, complete with romance and hints of mystery, it’s an easy way to pass the time over the summer holidays, sitting out in the sun with a drink in hand. The reader is dropped [...]
Book Review – Stone Girl by Eleni Hale
Stone Girl is written to challenge perspectives and push readers out of their comfort zone, so it is better suited to older readers. While the content is heavy, it is honest, and sends a powerful message about the truth of the matter. It sheds light on the ugly truths of the foster care system, a perspective that is not often given by someone who has experienced it first-hand. Hale’s novel provides a much-needed voice for kids in the same situation who might not have seen
themselves reflected in a strong character like Sophie.
While Stone Girl gives insight into how the unfair amount of neglect in the foster system can make bad choices seem inevitable, Sophie is not a victim. She is a nuanced narrator in that her actions are almost justifiable once the reader considers the situation she’s in and the actions of others that have led to that decision. Being betrayed and disappointed by adults over and over again understandably makes her lost faith in authority, and she can’t be entirely blamed for
making the wrong choices.
Stone Girl brings up the difficult dilemma of how to fix the foster care system when there are too many children and not enough beds, but its purpose isn’t to make the readers sympathise with the system. It’s supposed to be a voice for those whose childhood was affected in similar ways to Sophie’s, and to let them know that they’re not alone in this world. For those lucky enough to never be in that situation, it’s a powerful wake-up call that is guaranteed to change your point of
view.
Related Posts
Book Review – Contagion by Teri Terry
Contagion by Teri Terry is a ticking time bomb of a novel, each chapter bringing the reader closer to the point of impact. This pre-apocalyptic dystopian novel set in Scotland follows two unique and compelling viewpoints; Shay, whose world is about to be changed forever, and Callie, who has seen everything but can communicate nothing. …
Book Review – A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
With the arrival of the new Netflix series, now is a perfect time to sink your teeth into Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is unique and one of my favourites; Snicket’s narration is satirical, morbid and hilarious all at once, and although he will warn you many times that the books …
Book Review – Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Skulduggery Pleasant follows herione Stephanie Edgley, whose uncle–a famed horror author–dies mysteriously, leaving Stephanie with his fortune and mansion, but as Stephanie spends the night in her late uncle’s house, she is thrust into a magical underworld full of murderous hunters, vampires, ghosts and monsters that appear to mirror those written about in her uncle’s …
Book Review – Yvain, The Knight of the Lion
M.T Anderson’s enthralling storytelling and Andrea Offermann’s evocative illustrations transport the reader to the age of the Knights of the Round Table in this rich graphic novel. The narrative follows the formula of an epic tale, following a hero’s journey and his many conquests as he fights to retain his honour and regain his love. …
Book Review – Sadie by Courtney Summers
Courtney Summers’ well-written murder mystery is a modern take on the genre. Following the sister of a missing girl and the journalist trying to find her, Sadie’s format is unique, if a little confusing at times. The chapters written from Sadie’s perspective are in first person, but every second chapter is written as a script …
Book Review – P is for Pearl by Eliza Henry Jones