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The Watermark Trilogy #1
Watermark
Hey, Zillah, A come to Roimata. Be spare. the less the better. Be staunch. Be alive. Be there. Imagine getting a letter like the one they sent me. Wait, delete that. Don¹t imagine it’s just cut it up, okay? Big scissors. Chop, chop, chop.
But 18-year-old city girl, Zillah, just finished school, pushes fear aside and jumps track. She abandons her safe summer holiday plans, and takes the train to the wild West Coast. Her an empty shack on a dangerous tidal river. Here she meets the authors of the letter, Joss and Hep, a mysterious brother and sister who seem to belong to another more primitive world.
Together, they wield a power over Zillah that she barely understands. Disturbing events begin to cluster around them and even the elements appear to be turning against Zillah. A powerful and compelling story of one young woman ¹s awakening to questions of life, death and her own reason for being.
Quotes Todd writes lovely prose, illuminated by precise, consistent imagery. New Books Penelope Todd is one of my favorite emerging NZ writers for young adults. Kate De Goldi, National Radio
But 18-year-old city girl, Zillah, just finished school, pushes fear aside and jumps track. She abandons her safe summer holiday plans, and takes the train to the wild West Coast. Her an empty shack on a dangerous tidal river. Here she meets the authors of the letter, Joss and Hep, a mysterious brother and sister who seem to belong to another more primitive world.
Together, they wield a power over Zillah that she barely understands. Disturbing events begin to cluster around them and even the elements appear to be turning against Zillah. A powerful and compelling story of one young woman ¹s awakening to questions of life, death and her own reason for being.
Quotes Todd writes lovely prose, illuminated by precise, consistent imagery. New Books Penelope Todd is one of my favorite emerging NZ writers for young adults. Kate De Goldi, National Radio
- GenresYoung Adult
173 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2003
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Todd
25 books12 followersTodd, Penelope (1958- ) spent her first thirty years in Christchurch, and now lives in Dunedin. She works freelance as a manuscript consultant and editor.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 21, 2024
A very sweet little adventure story!
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October 31, 2009I quite enjoyed reading Watermark it was quite different to most books that I've ever read before. It has more of a psychological, philosophical and symbolic approach.
The characters are all really interesting. I found Zillah to be an interesting person as she searched for who she was as a person. Joss and Hep confused me a little at times. I felt that they were overly mysterious and I have a few questions about them. I'm hoping by the end of the trilogy the questions will be answered.
The story line is a good one. There is a tiny element of mystery in there which I really liked because I do love mystery.
Now, I would like to talk about the setting of the book. Because it is a great setting. Watermark is set out in the country, in nature. It sets the whole mood of the book as peaceful, calm and quiet.
I really really love it.
There's not a lot more I can think of to say about Watermark because it actually is pretty hard to describe. Penelope Todd did a really good job of writing a unique and fantastic story. The descriptions are amazing and when reading Watermark I could really imagine the scenery in my head.
So definitely check out the Watermark Trilogy if you ever come across it. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone keen on books about self-discovery journeys and I would also say that this book has some really neat descriptions of what New Zealand is like in the wild.
The other two books in the trilogy are Dark and Zillah.
The characters are all really interesting. I found Zillah to be an interesting person as she searched for who she was as a person. Joss and Hep confused me a little at times. I felt that they were overly mysterious and I have a few questions about them. I'm hoping by the end of the trilogy the questions will be answered.
The story line is a good one. There is a tiny element of mystery in there which I really liked because I do love mystery.
Now, I would like to talk about the setting of the book. Because it is a great setting. Watermark is set out in the country, in nature. It sets the whole mood of the book as peaceful, calm and quiet.
I really really love it.
There's not a lot more I can think of to say about Watermark because it actually is pretty hard to describe. Penelope Todd did a really good job of writing a unique and fantastic story. The descriptions are amazing and when reading Watermark I could really imagine the scenery in my head.
So definitely check out the Watermark Trilogy if you ever come across it. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone keen on books about self-discovery journeys and I would also say that this book has some really neat descriptions of what New Zealand is like in the wild.
The other two books in the trilogy are Dark and Zillah.
February 13, 2009
Not the sort of book that I thought I would like. But I loved it!!!
September 26, 2010
Some time ago i read this but loved it enuf to read the following 2 in the series......fantastic Y/A writer from NZ
November 19, 2022
Hmm...on re-reading this fifteen years later, it comes off kinda bratty. She wanted an 'experience' but fruck out when she got the experience.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews