Black Water

David Metzenthen

Penguin Books: YA Fiction

April 2007 $18.95

316p pb

ISBN: 978-0-14-300561-2

Black Water is a book about a young boy of about 16 named Farren Fox who is going through an almost unbearable situation. The story is set in 1915, during the Battle of Gallipoli and Farren’s older brother is one of the soldiers who signed up to fight. Early on in the story, we find out that Farren’s mother has died and soon after, his father dies in a storm while on a dangerous fishing trip. Sadness just seems to follow Farren everywhere, as his ‘heroic’ brother comes back from the war crippled physically and emotionally, never to return to the way he once was, as Farren hoped.

The books intended audience are teenagers, but I’m not sure the story would automatically appeal to today’s teens. I think this book would have been better if it was aimed at an older generation or those who were actually affected by Gallipoli and World War I. I don’t think that the storyline will necessarily appeal to its target audience. A story about a 16 year old coping with his troubles doesn’t seem the ideal plot for a teenager’s book in my opinion.

Personally, I found the book very depressing to read. The constant sadness and gloom with very little comic relief (or happiness in general) did not interest me and I was almost glad when the book was over. That’s not to say there was a happy ending…

I do not recommend this book for younger readers. Personally, with all the troubles in the world today, I did not need an extra bit of sadness. Despite this the book is well written and would be enjoyable to those people who like reading realistic war related stories.

Steven, aged 15, Adelaide, South Australia