The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley: (who planned to live an unusual life)
Author(s): Martine Murray
Cedar hangs out on the edges of the neighbourhood social circuit with Stinky, her dog and best friend. Things start to change when she meets a boy called Kite and finds they have a lot in common - both have single parents, both are loners with colourful inner lives, both like beanies, dogs and acrobatics. Together they form a circus troupe and put on a dazzling performance that helps to unite their inner-city community. Along the way, Cedar gains some understanding of her missing brother, her hard-working mother, her less-than-perfect father - and herself...More reviews:..'vibrates with authenticity', School Library Journal, USA..'Cedar's witty, wry voice will seduce even the most cynical', Bulletin with Newsweek
Product Information
Shortlisted 2003: NSW Premier's Literary Award; Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Book.SHORTLISTED: Children's Book of the year Awards (The Children's Book Council of Australia). In the category: 2003 Book of the Year - Younger Readers.
Shortlisted for NSW Premier's Literary Award Patricia Wrightson Prize 2003 and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards: Book of the Year - Young Readers 2003.
Martine Murray is a new, young author/illustrator. Born in Melbourne, she has travelled widely and now lives in East Brunswick. She says she has been a student for much longer than one should be, studying painting at the Victorian College of the Arts, filmmaking, dance and dance therapy, and writing. She teaches yoga and circus skills, makes dance theatre and writes stories. She likes dancing, walking and hanging upside-down on things...Martine is the author and illustrator of A Moose Called Mouse (Allen + Unwin) and author of A Dog Called Bear (Random House).
From the author:I think this book is mainly about belonging. More specifically, it's about belonging exactly as you are, without having to tone down or change your colour in order to blend in. It's about learning to believe enough in you own uniqueness to let it shine out. And it's about the trouble we sometimes have to go to if there isn't a perfectly-shaped spot for us to fit into (and shine out from). I hope it encourages people to carve out that spot instead of carving some of themselves away (or dulling their own light) in order to fit into the small spots that are already there. I think Cedar learns how to carve out her spot, and in doing that she creates a special community of friends and family who can link their shining selves in support of each other. I think it is also about friendship and family. Close relationships can be so very complicated. This book is about those complications. I see them as being the curly threads that we struggle to unravel. Whether we succeed or not, we at least experience something or gain insight or increase our understanding of
General Fields
- :
- : Allen & Unwin
- : Allen & Unwin
- : 0.218
- : January 2002
- : 195mm X 132mm X 18mm
- : books
Special Fields
- : Martine Murray
- : Paperback
- : 01
- : English
- : 823
- : From 10 To 13
- : 228
- : YFB
- : b&w line illustrations
