Review of Ironbark Hill

[omolaraj]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Ironbark Hill" by Jennie Linnane.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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For many, life is a tough struggle. Finding success in life may become so difficult that they get desperate. This may cause them to make decisions that they will later bemoan. Ironbark Hill by Jennie Linnane is a story based on reality. Natalie is a very strong and hardworking girl who has a brother and two step-sisters. She was confronted with prejudice and low self-esteem because she was aboriginal. Life was difficult.

After high school, Natalie started working as a housekeeper. Her mother is a kind, caring, and wise woman who always stands up for her. She toils so hard for her children so much that she looks older than her age. On the other hand, Natalie's stepfather, Alex is a drunkard. He was so evil and manipulative that he made life unbearable for Natalie and her mother with his constant violent assaults. This got to the extent that Natalie began to reason that only the death of her stepfather will give her family true freedom. She was also determined to succeed in life. However, she made a terrible mistake. Will the mistake hinder her success? Will her family ever find freedom from the shackles of her stepfather? These are intriguing mysteries that are resolved as the story progresses.

The writer's descriptive ability is unique and captivating. It made the story come alive. It is my favorite aspect of the book. Also, the narrating style of the book gives room for readers to anticipate what will happen subsequently. I found this book quite emotional, and the development of the story was good. I love books with numerous lessons, and this book is not excluded. Each chapter is lengthy with a catchy and relevant heading. The characters were also consistent.

However, I observed that the narrative contained lots of abbreviations and slangs. They appear practically in every chapter, and this sometimes made it difficult for me to understand the dialogues between characters. This is my dislike about the book. It tempered my enjoyment of the book. Also, I feel that the story should have had a better ending.

In summary, the novel depicted self-sacrifice, little romance, and art. It is professionally well edited. Due to the reason above, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to both young and old but most especially to young adults. They can learn much from the story and avoid regrets in life.

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Ironbark Hill
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