THYLA

THYLA by Kate Gordon     (LWH)

I must say this book had me hooked from the start.  Found in the bush, looking like a wild animal, slashes across her back, frightened with no memory of what has happened to her... very intriguing! The only thing she knew for certain was "her name was Tessa, she was strong, she was brave and she did not cry". I sure love a good mystery and I must admit it did get my imagination going.

Set in Tasmania this book gave me a glimpse of what it was like in early settlement during a very hard time in history. The mysterious Tessa is sent to a boarding school where she doesn't fit in but strangely becomes friends with students no that different to herself.  Flashes of memory start to appear and the plot thickens. I was waiting to see what her mysterious past was all about but was a little disapponted with the ending particularly when shapeshifters appeared (I'm not really into animorphs), but overall worth a read.

About the author: Kate Gordon grew up in a very booky house, with two librarian parents, in a small town by the sea in Tasmania. She spent her childhood searching for fossils at Fossil Bluff, wondering about the doctor who rode his horse off the cliff at Doctor’s Rocks, and eating the best chips in the world at the fish and chip shop at the wharf. She also spent much of her time dreaming about being a writer, and spent many a lunch hour walking around the playground reciting poetry. The other children thought she was a little bit odd.  
Read more about Kate