Turbulence

by Jan Mark

From award-winning author, Jan Mark, a compelling tale of how a family become unwittingly entangled in the turbulent lives of another. Clay delivers papers like the Wild West heroines she loves to watch on film with her Dad. Gran is more into B movie horror. It's a normal family of sorts - and then another 'normal' family moves into the street and things become decidedly weird. The Stranger Who Nearly destroyed My Life would be a good title for a film of what happened next...but would anyone dare to watch it?

Paperback

First published November 17, 2005

About the author

Janet Marjorie Mark (1943-2006) was a British children's author and two time winner of the Carnegie Medal. She also taught art and English in Gravesend, Kent, was part of the faculty of Education at Oxford Polytechnic in the early 1980s and was a tutor and mentor to other writers before her death from meningitis-related septicaemia.

Meet the author:

What is your favourite animal?
The noble rat

What is your favourite boy’s name?
George

What is your favourite girl’s name?
Marjorie

What is your favourite food?
Pickled herring

What is your favourite music?
Klezmer

What is your favourite hobby?
Listening to music

Reviews

[Sachin Ganpat · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a young adult book, it was interesting enough to keep my attention but didn't seem developed enough. The writing was enjoyable enough, but the plot was focused way too much on Sandor, who was more of a secondary character. I would have liked to see more character development as the focus was placed mostly on certain traits so you don't get the feeling that you know the entire person. Maybe it was the intention as the narrative was via a first person view.

I liked the ending though. Seemed like a good way to end the book.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book written by Jan Mark. She had a quirky style; very little happens on the surface, but the characters live in your memory for years because they are so vividly described.

[Degan Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a great book, I really enjoyed it. I think the characters were really interesting and likeable, and the story was easy to get into. It was really easy reading, and I found it good to read something about the everyday lives of pleasant characters, going about their business, their interactions with each other and with outsiders creating the story and taking you on a journey.

I think that it is interesting because I say they go on a journey, but at the same time, the characters don't "go anywhere" beyond their own lives, to work, school, the shop, etc. It's fun to read about the dramatic things that can happen when "nothing" happens.

Of course, nothing doesn't happen in this story, lots of things happen, and if I had to put it into one word I would say "misunderstandings" is a good word for it. There are all kinds of things in this book, humour, drama and mystery. Really great.

[Shamaim Zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's addicting! I couldn't put it down. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK