Cry of the Karri Errol Broome

Cry of the Karri
Errol Broome

Allen & Unwin, 2001
99pp., pbk $13.95

1865084018

This book tells a story of a thirteen year old boy's guilt about his anger that leads to the injury of his step sister. It goes on to tell an exciting story that twists and turns into a happy outcome.

Errol Broome provides an atmosphere that I can clearly relate to. I understand where her point of view is coming from. The character, Aiden, is jealous of his step sister. He thinks his step father loves the other child more. Without any warning, he pushes her off the veranda. I was expecting her to have been killed or something more drastic, to make it more exciting. However, she only breaks her leg.

The front cover sends out the wrong message to today's demanding readers - some of whom judge a book by the cover. While the characters are a bit lifeless, they do come across as real people. Errol Broome attempts to hold the reader's attention throughout the book, but in my opinion fails miserably. While the text was easy to read I found this book neither a bit interesting nor exciting.

The story did not exactly make me jump out of my seat and run down the street in my pyjamas looking for the sequel. The atmosphere the author is trying to create is dull and thin. The ability to maintain the reader's interest is poor. I was looking forward to the conclusion of this book but was largely disappointed.

I rate this book 6 out of 10.

Primrose, 12, rural Victoria

This story is about a boy named Aiden who has thoughts going through his mind about his step-sister Sabina's broken leg which he thinks he caused. He goes on a hike with his friends and stepfather and after they set up camp he goes off on his own to soak his heels in the creek because they have blisters. When trying to find his way back, he can't find the path he had taken and becomes lost in the woods. The forest was frightening him so he kept on running until he found a cottage. Now Aiden is in the cottage where people call him Dugald. Aiden sneaks out of the house at night after finding a map and reading Dugald's diary telling how he was looking for a cave. He goes to where the map takes him through the giant karris and finds Dugald's dead bones in a cave. A ranger finds him and pulls him out of the cave where his stepfather and friends are waiting. His stepfather gives him a note from Sabina hoping that he gets found and comes home safely. Dugald's family knows now that he is dead.

I didn't think the book was the most exciting book I had read because it was a little too old for me. For my age group it would be better to read this book together with someone older. The print was easy to read and the chapters were well set out. I thought the names of the chapters were funny.

Ashlee, aged 10, Canberra, ACT

I thought this book could be for children or adults.
I personally found it a bit boring but the language was suitable for senior primary students, many of whom would be interested in this type of story.
I found it hard to work out what was happening because there were so many changes in the storyline.

I think that good readers would like this story because they could read through the changing parts more quickly.

Jamie, 11yrs, rural Victoria

I thought this book was a bit boring and would probably be better for teenagers rather than primary school students.
It would not be a good shared reading book - it needs to be a silent reading book.
I think it would the language in it would make it suitable for about 10 - 14 yr olds. I didn't really enjoy the book but I thought that children who like other types of novels to me would probably like it.

Fred, 11 yrs, rural Victoria

The book is suitable for Year 5/6 students of both genders. The writing is easy to read and easy to follow. The book is more of a read alone book.

Synopsis:

The story is about a boy called Aiden. Aiden has just hurt his sister and his dad has taken him for a campout to give Aiden’s sister some space. When they arrived at the campsite Aiden went to a stream to refresh himself. He heard this sound and fell into some kind of trance then he got lost in the dark. After wandering around for many hours he found a small house and entered it. The people living inside the home thought Aiden was their long lost son called Dugald and forced him to stay in their home.

Aiden found out many things about Dugald and ventured into an under ground cave to fulfil his (Dugald's) destiny. In the cave he found the remains of Dugald. He was stuck in the cave and eventually got saved by a park ranger.

This was an interesting story that I enjoyed reading.

Simone, Yr 6, Victoria

Cry of the Karri Errol Broome Allen & Unwin, 2001 99pp., pbk $13.95 1865084018	This book tells a story of a thirteen year old boy's guilt about his anger that leads to the injury of his step sister. It goes on to tell an exciting story that twists and turns into a happy outcome. Errol Broome provides an atmosphere that I can clearly relate to. I understand where her point of view is coming from. The character, Aiden, is jealous of his step sister. He thinks his step father loves the other child more. Without any warning, he pushes her off the veranda. I was expecting her to have been killed or something more drastic, to make it more exciting. However, she only breaks her leg. The front cover sends out the wrong message to today's demanding readers - some of whom judge a book by the cover. While the characters are a bit lifeless, they do come across as real people. Errol Broome attempts to hold the reader's attention throughout the book, but in my opinion fails miserably. While the text was easy to read I found this book neither a bit interesting nor exciting. The story did not exactly make me jump out of my seat and run down the street in my pyjamas looking for the sequel. The atmosphere the author is trying to create is dull and thin. The ability to maintain the reader's interest is poor. I was looking forward to the conclusion of this book but was largely disappointed. I rate this book 6 out of 10. *Primrose, 12, rural Victoria*
	This story is about a boy named Aiden who has thoughts going through his mind about his step-sister Sabina's broken leg which he thinks he caused. He goes on a hike with his friends and stepfather and after they set up camp he goes off on his own to soak his heels in the creek because they have blisters. When trying to find his way back, he can't find the path he had taken and becomes lost in the woods. The forest was frightening him so he kept on running until he found a cottage. Now Aiden is in the cottage where people call him Dugald. Aiden sneaks out of the house at night after finding a map and reading Dugald's diary telling how he was looking for a cave. He goes to where the map takes him through the giant karris and finds Dugald's dead bones in a cave. A ranger finds him and pulls him out of the cave where his stepfather and friends are waiting. His stepfather gives him a note from Sabina hoping that he gets found and comes home safely. Dugald's family knows now that he is dead. I didn't think the book was the most exciting book I had read because it was a little too old for me. For my age group it would be better to read this book together with someone older. The print was easy to read and the chapters were well set out. I thought the names of the chapters were funny. Ashlee, aged 10, Canberra, ACT
	I thought this book could be for children or adults. I personally found it a bit boring but the language was suitable for senior primary students, many of whom would be interested in this type of story. I found it hard to work out what was happening because there were so many changes in the storyline. I think that good readers would like this story because they could read through the changing parts more quickly. *Jamie, 11yrs, rural Victoria*
	I thought this book was a bit boring and would probably be better for teenagers rather than primary school students. It would not be a good shared reading book - it needs to be a silent reading book. I think it would the language in it would make it suitable for about 10 - 14 yr olds. I didn't really enjoy the book but I thought that children who like other types of novels to me would probably like it. Fred, 11 yrs, rural Victoria
	The book is suitable for Year 5/6 students of both genders. The writing is easy to read and easy to follow. The book is more of a read alone book. Synopsis: The story is about a boy called Aiden. Aiden has just hurt his sister and his dad has taken him for a campout to give Aiden’s sister some space. When they arrived at the campsite Aiden went to a stream to refresh himself. He heard this sound and fell into some kind of trance then he got lost in the dark. After wandering around for many hours he found a small house and entered it. The people living inside the home thought Aiden was their long lost son called Dugald and forced him to stay in their home. Aiden found out many things about Dugald and ventured into an under ground cave to fulfil his (Dugald's) destiny. In the cave he found the remains of Dugald. He was stuck in the cave and eventually got saved by a park ranger. This was an interesting story that I enjoyed reading. Simone, Yr 6, Victoria