Killing Darcy

Rating:
Summary: mystery, magic and reconciliation
Review: this book, the first by the author specifically for young adults, would suit teenagers from the age of 14 upwards. Killing Darcy tells the story of a family (the Menzies) and their interactions with a young Aboriginal man (Darcy of the title) over the course of a summer holiday. The book explores themes of bigotry, racism and acceptance set against an intriguing mystery of a magical camera which takes pictures of the past. The writing is powerful and the language strong, and the author has captured how modern Australian youth speak and teh broad themes of the book address many issues confronting the same youth today - sexuality, adulthood and the treatment of Australia's indigenous population today and in the past.