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vlmollylv's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
textpublishing's review against another edition
5.0
‘Clancy of the Undertow is a beautiful story…It’s about the importance of fitting in or, failing that, finding someone to not fit in with.’
Books+Publishing
‘[A] starkly realist depiction of life for teenagers who feel at odds with the small towns in which they live. Clancy’s biting sense of humour will have readers laughing despite some heavy themes.’
Readings
‘Currie’s storytelling reminded me of Robert Drewe and Raymond Carver…Currie may not have consciously set out to write a YA novel–but I’m glad he found 15-year-old Clancy, and I hope he comes back to this readership who will welcome any new words from him with open arms.’
Alpha Reader
‘A beautiful cover is matched by terrific story-telling in this coming-of-age story of the smart and funny, Clancy. Funny and heartfelt and perfect for the over 15s.’
Book Birdy
‘Clancy of the Undertow demanded a slow, savoured read.’
Alpha Reader, Favourite Books of 2015
‘A compelling coming-of-age story set in a dead-end Queensland town that’s imbued with warmth, empathy and real wit…Currie has a talent for keeping his writing real. From the dialogue to narration, Clancy of the Undertow blends the excruciation, confusion and hope of being a teenager into a novel that will pull in readers of any age.’
Guardian
‘A shining example of the power of Young Adult literature…No matter what age you are, read it, it’s wonderful and engaging and I could hardly bear to put it down to go to work.’
Incredible Rambling Emily
‘A terrific YA book with lots of appeal. Clancy is a completely believable character, a smart, confused, tomboyish teenager who’s struggling to find her identity…An excellent read with plenty of humour.’
Herald Sun
‘This brand spanking new Australian novel has been mentioned in hushed tones alongside adolescent stalwart To Kill A Mockingbird. A better, almost equally impressive, comparison would be Jasper Jones.’
Weekly Review
‘Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice. Anyone having grown up in Australia will see themselves within Clancy’s plight. She’s relatable, likeable and an incredible young woman who lends her voice to the underdog of our nation.’
Diva Booknerds
‘Currie has created a slightly snarky, yet endearing voice in Clancy, perfectly capturing the confusion, heartbreak and excitement of being on the cusp of adulthood…This is a coming of age story that is gritty and raw.’
Kids Bookshop
‘So real it hurts…All the Aussie references are just ace.’
Dolly
‘It’s great to see a LGBT book that is also authentic in portraying small town Australian life.’
Magpies
‘Although billed as a novel for young adults, Clancy of the Undertow is a delightful read for any age. The dialogue is sharp and fresh, with the central players all recognisable personalities, perhaps even displaying traits we can recognise in ourselves or others.’
GlamAdelaide
‘Funny, gritty, absorbing, and occasionally depressing, this is an intriguing if occasionally melodramatic glimpse of a young Australian woman’s coming-of-age.’
Kirkus Reviews
‘In short, if I could, I would throw free copies of this book from the rooftops just to get them into the hands of every young adult reader in the world.’
Hazel and Wren
‘Christopher Currie’s writing has already been compared to John Green…An honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.’
Bustle
Books+Publishing
‘[A] starkly realist depiction of life for teenagers who feel at odds with the small towns in which they live. Clancy’s biting sense of humour will have readers laughing despite some heavy themes.’
Readings
‘Currie’s storytelling reminded me of Robert Drewe and Raymond Carver…Currie may not have consciously set out to write a YA novel–but I’m glad he found 15-year-old Clancy, and I hope he comes back to this readership who will welcome any new words from him with open arms.’
Alpha Reader
‘A beautiful cover is matched by terrific story-telling in this coming-of-age story of the smart and funny, Clancy. Funny and heartfelt and perfect for the over 15s.’
Book Birdy
‘Clancy of the Undertow demanded a slow, savoured read.’
Alpha Reader, Favourite Books of 2015
‘A compelling coming-of-age story set in a dead-end Queensland town that’s imbued with warmth, empathy and real wit…Currie has a talent for keeping his writing real. From the dialogue to narration, Clancy of the Undertow blends the excruciation, confusion and hope of being a teenager into a novel that will pull in readers of any age.’
Guardian
‘A shining example of the power of Young Adult literature…No matter what age you are, read it, it’s wonderful and engaging and I could hardly bear to put it down to go to work.’
Incredible Rambling Emily
‘A terrific YA book with lots of appeal. Clancy is a completely believable character, a smart, confused, tomboyish teenager who’s struggling to find her identity…An excellent read with plenty of humour.’
Herald Sun
‘This brand spanking new Australian novel has been mentioned in hushed tones alongside adolescent stalwart To Kill A Mockingbird. A better, almost equally impressive, comparison would be Jasper Jones.’
Weekly Review
‘Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice. Anyone having grown up in Australia will see themselves within Clancy’s plight. She’s relatable, likeable and an incredible young woman who lends her voice to the underdog of our nation.’
Diva Booknerds
‘Currie has created a slightly snarky, yet endearing voice in Clancy, perfectly capturing the confusion, heartbreak and excitement of being on the cusp of adulthood…This is a coming of age story that is gritty and raw.’
Kids Bookshop
‘So real it hurts…All the Aussie references are just ace.’
Dolly
‘It’s great to see a LGBT book that is also authentic in portraying small town Australian life.’
Magpies
‘Although billed as a novel for young adults, Clancy of the Undertow is a delightful read for any age. The dialogue is sharp and fresh, with the central players all recognisable personalities, perhaps even displaying traits we can recognise in ourselves or others.’
GlamAdelaide
‘Funny, gritty, absorbing, and occasionally depressing, this is an intriguing if occasionally melodramatic glimpse of a young Australian woman’s coming-of-age.’
Kirkus Reviews
‘In short, if I could, I would throw free copies of this book from the rooftops just to get them into the hands of every young adult reader in the world.’
Hazel and Wren
‘Christopher Currie’s writing has already been compared to John Green…An honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.’
Bustle
sarahthornton's review against another edition
4.0
The number of times I said 'oh no, baby girl' was too high for a book this short.
All the wrong choices in all the best places.
I had a 2018 edition with three SPaG issues, the first on page 7. Persisted, was worth overlooking.
All the wrong choices in all the best places.
I had a 2018 edition with three SPaG issues, the first on page 7. Persisted, was worth overlooking.
jinjer's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good book about a 16-yo girl in Australia. I enjoyed her relationships and interactions with her family and her friends and her struggles with how she sees herself.
loadsofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from Text Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
SYNOPSIS:
Clancy is sixteen and lives in Barwen, where she is most commonly known as the misfit who also happens to have a ‘dysfunctional family’. Clancy is trying to figure out who she is and has a great interest in the town’s Nature Club and also has a big crush on the town’s local ‘popular’ girl, Sasha.
Just as summer begins, Clancy’s father is involved in a car accident that kills two well-known local teenagers. Clancy and her family deal in their own different ways but all have to face the rest of the town who blame her father. But whilst this is all under way, Clancy finds someone who would consider being her friend and also gets the attention from Sasha, who begins to show interest in her.
REVIEW:
This YA contemporary is a great LGBTQ Australian fiction and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this. I am really loving that more Australian authors are joining in on the LGBTQ theme, it is so great to see. There is no denying that I enjoyed this book, the story was easy to follow but also intriguing enough that I didn’t get bored or wander off in thought whilst reading. I found that it was a quick and easy read which left me wanting to read more. This book had a lot of different themes in it and I loved the family element in it and I also loved that it wasn’t just another cliché YA book which has a ton load of romance and I also loved that Clancy was a character that wasn’t ‘perfect’. It follows Clancy’s day-to-day life during her summer break and focuses on how she deals with her father’s traffic accident which involved two of the local teenagers.
As a character Clancy was very different to any other gay YA character that I have read about. I really liked that she wasn’t like the average YA character that we always see, she had flaws and she knew it and accepted it! I liked that we follow her through as she discovers who she is. In saying this though, there were a few elements which made her not that likeable. The other characters in the book are quite interesting, I really enjoyed reading about Clancy’s brother, and he was quite hilarious. I loved the normality of Clancy’s family, they were all different and were not perfect at all. I also really liked how one of the main events of the book (the road traffic accident) made the family come together when they normally would not.
Christopher Carrie has written Clancy’s voice in such a great way. She is completely sassy and hard to like at times but that is what makes her a fantastic and unusual character. Each chapter flowed and it was easy to pick back up after having a break.
All in all, this was a story which captures life in a small Australian town and is easy to relate to. I love reading about a strong, independent female protagonist. It was truly remarkable and I do not have a bad word to say about it at all!
This review will also appear on my blog https://loadsofbooksreviews.wordpress.com/
SYNOPSIS:
Clancy is sixteen and lives in Barwen, where she is most commonly known as the misfit who also happens to have a ‘dysfunctional family’. Clancy is trying to figure out who she is and has a great interest in the town’s Nature Club and also has a big crush on the town’s local ‘popular’ girl, Sasha.
Just as summer begins, Clancy’s father is involved in a car accident that kills two well-known local teenagers. Clancy and her family deal in their own different ways but all have to face the rest of the town who blame her father. But whilst this is all under way, Clancy finds someone who would consider being her friend and also gets the attention from Sasha, who begins to show interest in her.
REVIEW:
This YA contemporary is a great LGBTQ Australian fiction and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this. I am really loving that more Australian authors are joining in on the LGBTQ theme, it is so great to see. There is no denying that I enjoyed this book, the story was easy to follow but also intriguing enough that I didn’t get bored or wander off in thought whilst reading. I found that it was a quick and easy read which left me wanting to read more. This book had a lot of different themes in it and I loved the family element in it and I also loved that it wasn’t just another cliché YA book which has a ton load of romance and I also loved that Clancy was a character that wasn’t ‘perfect’. It follows Clancy’s day-to-day life during her summer break and focuses on how she deals with her father’s traffic accident which involved two of the local teenagers.
As a character Clancy was very different to any other gay YA character that I have read about. I really liked that she wasn’t like the average YA character that we always see, she had flaws and she knew it and accepted it! I liked that we follow her through as she discovers who she is. In saying this though, there were a few elements which made her not that likeable. The other characters in the book are quite interesting, I really enjoyed reading about Clancy’s brother, and he was quite hilarious. I loved the normality of Clancy’s family, they were all different and were not perfect at all. I also really liked how one of the main events of the book (the road traffic accident) made the family come together when they normally would not.
Christopher Carrie has written Clancy’s voice in such a great way. She is completely sassy and hard to like at times but that is what makes her a fantastic and unusual character. Each chapter flowed and it was easy to pick back up after having a break.
All in all, this was a story which captures life in a small Australian town and is easy to relate to. I love reading about a strong, independent female protagonist. It was truly remarkable and I do not have a bad word to say about it at all!
This review will also appear on my blog https://loadsofbooksreviews.wordpress.com/
khakipantsofsex's review
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Self harm
rayraymakay's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
The eponymous protagonists learns about fostering friendships, sticking by family, and the painful realities of life in this YA novel.
nachonoemi_'s review against another edition
2.0
For majority of this book, I thought it was quite good but then things started going downhill. My first problem is that Clancy isn't relatable. She makes ridiculous decisions throughout the whole book but we're expected to sympathise with her. She's like Desi from 'Never Have I Ever' but a little less chaotic. All of Clancy's decision seem so irresponsible. Yeah, you can debate her mistakes show she's human or just a hormonal teenager but I don't feel like that, I think she's in need of help.
Also, I was like excited to read a nice lesbian story because all the queer representation in books and just media in general are usually just mlm love stories profiting of queer trauma. Yeah, I said what I said. But this lesbian love story was a massive disappointment. The way that Clancy felt about Sasha is not young love, it's borderline obsession. The decisions made about Sasha were the ones that bugged me more than anything else. Clancy was fully obsessed, it wasn't cute, it was concerning.
Also, I was like excited to read a nice lesbian story because all the queer representation in books and just media in general are usually just mlm love stories profiting of queer trauma. Yeah, I said what I said. But this lesbian love story was a massive disappointment. The way that Clancy felt about Sasha is not young love, it's borderline obsession. The decisions made about Sasha were the ones that bugged me more than anything else. Clancy was fully obsessed, it wasn't cute, it was concerning.
melbsreads's review against another edition
4.0
I heard this mentioned at a YA event that I attended for work at the beginning of December, and was intrigued about it. I saw it at Dymocks on Monday and resisted, figuring that I'd just order a copy for work next year. But when I went back to Dymocks for something on Tuesday, it accidentally on purpose ended up in my pile of purchases and WHOOPS NOW I OWN IT.
So obviously, I was going to pick it up immediately.
First things first - I love the title and its play on Banjo Paterson's Clancy of the Overflow. It's so iconically Australian and totally perfect. Clancy's a very rough around the edges character, but I couldn't help but feel for her. The story ostensibly revolves around Clancy's father being involved in a fatal traffic accident and the entire town turning against them, but really it's a coming of age story in which Clancy struggles with family relationships, friendships, living in a small town, and her sexual orientation.
It's INCREDIBLY Australian, full of slang and daggy references and test cricket and Holden Monaros. It may be a little incomprehensible to international readers as a result, but for Aussies? It's pretty stinking great.
It's a fairly meandering story at times - there are a lot of threads involved - but I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't really want to put it down, which is why I was still awake at 2am last night reading it. There's a lot in it about learning to be yourself and having friends you're comfortable around, and it was kind of sort of brilliant and feelsy all at the same time.
So obviously, I was going to pick it up immediately.
First things first - I love the title and its play on Banjo Paterson's Clancy of the Overflow. It's so iconically Australian and totally perfect. Clancy's a very rough around the edges character, but I couldn't help but feel for her. The story ostensibly revolves around Clancy's father being involved in a fatal traffic accident and the entire town turning against them, but really it's a coming of age story in which Clancy struggles with family relationships, friendships, living in a small town, and her sexual orientation.
It's INCREDIBLY Australian, full of slang and daggy references and test cricket and Holden Monaros. It may be a little incomprehensible to international readers as a result, but for Aussies? It's pretty stinking great.
It's a fairly meandering story at times - there are a lot of threads involved - but I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't really want to put it down, which is why I was still awake at 2am last night reading it. There's a lot in it about learning to be yourself and having friends you're comfortable around, and it was kind of sort of brilliant and feelsy all at the same time.