There are Japanese bombs raining down from the sky onto the Darwin graveyard that Molly's family owns. But that's not what Molly's worried about.
Molly's worried about finding Longcoat Bob, the Aboriginal man who cursed her family, gradually turning each of their hearts to stone.
Uncle Aubrey's heart is stone. He's all darkness. Her father's heart is turning to stone. He's light and dark. Her mother's heart turned to stone. That's why she left. And she can feel the weight of the heart in her chest growing heavier.
So as the world around her burns, she begins an epic journey. Accompanied by Greta the actress and Yukio the fallen Japanese fighter pilot, the rather unlikely trio journey through the beauty, charm and life-long lessons that only the Australian bushland can teach.
This is the second novel from Brisbane author Trent Dalton. His first Boy Swallows Universe was critically acclaimed.
BOOK REVIEW: Different, but its strengths are the same
All Our Shimmering Skies is a historical fiction novel and quite a leap from Trent's first work which was loosely based on his own life.
However, there are two elements of the novel that I loved that reminded me of Boys Swallows Universe that I will cover in this book review.
1) A True Voice
Both novels are a coming of age story of sorts, in the case of All Our Shimmering Skies we follow the story of Molly Hook.
Trent has a wonderful way of writing the voice of a child. The shorter sentences, the thought processes, the high emotion underlying the world of a near adolescent.
I found Molly's voice to be realistic and unapologetically her own. Unlike any other character I've read.
2) The Thrill of High Stakes Adventure
Trent builds suspense well. There is an element of guessing and being pushed forward to find out what happens next.
From horrifying family dynamics and violence to war and the unravelling mystery of Longcoat Bob, the journey allows the pages to turn easily.
Something I noticed in this novel was Trent's description of the settings. It was almost like an ode to the Australian landscape and all the hidden stories that lie within it.
This was the topic of our Historical Fiction Heart Book Club and some of the readers found the setting description to be a little heavy, as though it interrupted the action too much. Although I didn't get this sense.
While not shortcomings by any means there was a section of the journey in which Molly and her entourage come across a commune of sorts. A group of people living within the rock caves of the bushland on the outskirts of Darwin.
I thought this was possibly unnecessary in the story and perhaps a little unbelievable.
And I did find the ending a touch too sweet. Although I loved that Molly was left with hope.
In summary, a wonderful addition to Australian historical fiction that I would recommend to others. I will remain a fan of Trent Dalton and await his next masterpiece.
I'm giving All Our Shimmering Skies 3.5/5.
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