Review of Ironbark Hill

[Rebecca Lynn Hudson]

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

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4 out of 5 stars

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Jennie Linnane’s Ironbark Hill is a captivating coming-of-age novel set in 1950’s Australia. The main character is Natalie Chapman, a 16-year-old girl who deals with poverty, racism, abuse, and love. Natalie is a part-Aboriginal girl who lives with her mother, stepfather, brother, and sisters on a farm. She dreams of becoming a landscape painter but faces many obstacles and challenges along the way. Jennie Linnane has created a compelling narrative that kept me turning the pages and engulfed in Natalie’s world until the very last word. Because of this, and for other reasons to be explained, I give the book four out of five stars. I did not discover any grammatical errors, so I could tell that the book was edited professionally. The book did have a fair amount of sexual content, cursing and racial slurs, so I would not recommend it for young readers.

Jennie Linnane writes with a vivid and engaging style that draws the reader into Natalie’s world. Her characters are realistic and complex, and they evoke sympathy and emotion. Natalie, who is strong and courageous, fights for her family, her dignity, and her dreams. Alex, Natalie’s stepfather, is a cruel and violent man who abuses his family and hates Natalie for her Aboriginal heritage. The novel shows how Natalie copes with the prejudice and injustice she faces as a part-Aboriginal girl in a white-dominated society. It also shows how she pursues her passion for art and tries to overcome the barriers that prevent her from achieving her goals. The reason that I did not give this book five out of five stars is because the ending left me unsatisfied, and I felt that Linnane let me down as the reader.

Ironbark Hill is a compelling and moving novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, romance, and drama. It is also a book that celebrates the resilience and spirit of a young girl who refuses to give up on her dreams. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story with a strong female protagonist.

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Ironbark Hill
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