Spinifex Press - I Started Crying Monday

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I Started Crying Monday

Laurene Kelly

Fourteen-year-old Julie starts crying on Monday when things go badly at school.

Although cheered up by her dog, Jessie, things are not much better at home. And they go from bad to worse. On the day Julie and her brother, Toby decide to join Ruby at the local waterhole, there is an accident.

But something more is wrong. Her father is in hospital and Jessie is not there to greet her.

"This is a gritty, detailed documentation of the minefield that is adolescent girls’ culture, presented in graphic, tragic, ironic detail." – Pam MacIntyre Review of Books The Australian

"consciously positive and hopeful" – The Australian Review of Books

"a commendable first novel" – Notable Children’s Books

"I Started Crying Monday is an entertaining, well written novel that explores the traumatic world of a teenage girl living in a dysfunctional family. ... Kelly’s non-confrontational but engaging style is highlighted when drawing to the climax of the novel... Despite the tragic ending, the epilogue leaves the reader with an overwhelming feeling of optimism. ... I recommend I Started Crying Monday to readers looking for an accesible real life novel that pinpoints issues without overexposing them. I thoroughly enjoyed the autobiographical/narrative style. I give it a rating of 9/10." – Susan Cole, Gold Creek School React 99 (Young Adult & Teenage Fiction)

"extremely sad and very believable... [I] would recommend this book to anyone between the ages of nine and fifteen" – Viewpoint

"The themes are relevant to adolescents, the young characters are engaging, believable and impressively perceptive, and the issues have a frightening ring of serious, contemporary truth... [it is] highly commendable" – Jenny Connor, Manager of Publications at the Department of Education, Tasmania.

About the Author

Laurene Kelly has worked with abused children and women in refuges for many years and now works part time as a carer of children.
Her interest in young adult fiction derives from a wish to give hope to teenagers in our often chaotic and confusing world. She is a contributor to Australia for Women, but this is her first published novel.
She currently lives and writes in south-eastern Tasmania.

Author of The Crowded Beach: second book in the series
Still Waving: third book in the series

ISBN 1875559787
180pp 128x198mm pb
Territories:World
All rights:Spinifex

women@spinifexpress.com.au