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Across the Divide

Book Synopsis

Olivia lives with her mum and her grandparents. She has a relatively normal modern family. The opening of a new Army cadets unit causes turmoil both at home and at school. Olivia wants to join, a decision her ex-army grandfather supports, but her pacifist mother is ardently opposed. Her best friend Aiden also disagrees with her decision causing tension in their friendship. When her mum is imprisoned for leading a pacifist protest, Olivia is forced to spend time with her dad who lives on Lindesfarne. The island feels far away and detached from the mainland, almost magical. And even William, a young boy she meets there seems different… Is her mum ever going to be released? And what will Olivia do with her Future?

Our Review Panel says...

The narrative raises to the surface some really interesting considerations about how war is viewed by society and who influences those views. The events on Lindisfarne also bring in a historical aspect by linking Olivia’s story to the experiences of young people in the lead-up to the First World War. In Across the Divide Anne Booth has masterfully crafted a narrative that is deeply contemplative with important values at its heart, and one that allows different viewpoints to be heard without directing what the reader should conclude…

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