Pool

by Justin D'Ath

Short-listed for the 2008 Victoria Prize for Young Adult Fiction Justin D'Ath's Pool is a beautifully modulated novel that explores adolescent transitions and discoveries in seamless prose. Sixteen-year-old Wolfgang Mulqueen works at the public swimming pool in New Lourdes, Victoria, where pilgrims from across the world travel to test the waters curative powers. In the course of a long hot summer, Wolfgang is forced to confront his own strengths and limitations. D'Ath juxtaposes intriguing characters, metaphors and events - a blind girl, a black butterfly, a tragic 18-year-old mystery - to create a truly original work. Pool is a powerful and moving novel about love, death, faith and family.

Genres: Young Adult

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

One of twelve children, Justin grew up on a farm in Otaki, New Zealand. He wrote his first book, a ten page cartoon about his pet turtle, Bubble, when he was nine years old. His next cartoon was about Moriarty, his guinea pig, and filled a complete exercise book. When he was eleven, Justin began writing his first novel, but conked out after 35 pages.


Justin D’Ath is the author of over 30 books for children and young adults, including the hugely popular Extreme Adventures series. Other books include Astrid Spark, Fixologist, The Skyflower, Robbie and the Dolphins, Infamous, and Why did the Chykkan cross the Galaxy?


Justin says: ‘My main message is, Enjoy reading

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a couple of years ago, but remember being intensely interested by the themes and ideas that it brought across. It was my first excursion into young adult fiction; I remember being surprised by the events that took place, and also awed by the simplicity with which D'ath crafted his fantastic story.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very strange book. One of the strongest themes in it was disability and I loved that there was more than one way of being disabled in the book and it was complex, neither irrelevant to a person's identity not the main identifying feature. People were neither victims not superhumans either. Morality was also complex because I think Wolfgang largely meant well but was still working out his responsibilities to himself and others (and getting a whole lot wrong but largely I think because he was overwhelmed and 16).


The Dr Karalis thing did not go where I expected it to go.


I still find the killing butterflies thing problematic and there were a couple of sexist parts in the book, they were mild and not defining of the book but I didn't like them. I liked the way drinking and other teenage misbehaviours were neither portrayed as a fantastic and glamorous thing to do, nor over-reacted to. Likewise sex, I thought it was a pretty realistic and sensitive portrayal of budding teenage sexuality. For all that all sexuality in the book was heterosexual it was complex and not stereotypical so that I could deal with that (and in all fairness anyone apart from Wolfgang and Audrey were background characters). I thought Wolfgang's parents were portrayed well.


An interesting and worthwhile read.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd, but interesting story. Not normally the kind of thing I'd read, but it was on baen.com, and I usually like their stuff. This isn't from Baen directly, it's from fordstreet, but still, figured it was worth a look. Not what I expected, and not entirely unwelcome, just a little off the wall. It was a decent enough story, though it tends more towards the occult than the scifi end of the spectrum, so it's not really in my preferred reading zone. Still, if you like that sort of thing, it should provide some enjoyment.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well told story which made you go with it and feel what the characters were feeling. It goes in different directions that you would expect but the narrative keeps you going and the story is quite emotive and fascinating. D'Ath goes in different directions than you would expect sometimes and this is a million miles away from his action explosion type extreme adventures series. A good read.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting story, and one that still has me wanting to know more about what was on the other side.

[Karen Healey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The star rating reflects how much I liked it, not the book's quality, because there's nothing particularly wrong with this book, which concerns a mysterious blind teenager, a huge younger teenager, and a public swimming pool that's credited with healing people.

Unfortunately, it did nothing but remind me why I don't read much YA non-spec fic these days. The traumas of adolescents can be interesting and heart-breaking in the right hands but often, as in this book, it's just an awful reminder of a period most people are justifiably grateful to leave.

My real problems with the book were the very simple, slow-moving plot, and that there were fantastic elements right there - right there! staring at the reader! - a portal to another dimension, for God's sake! - and those elements were used as handy devices to establish, then wrap up the story, rather than to further it. There were some finely observed pieces of characterisation, and the relationship between main character Wolfgang and his old, senile father was satisfyingly real and complex. But Pool felt like a short story stretched far too thinly to hold its own weight.

I'd like to read more by D'ath, but I think I'll try something more straight-out fantastic next time.

[Brooke]

Yes, this is a pretty YA novel, but I completely loved it. D'Ath masterfully approaches difficult themes and each twist is never exactly what you expect. Would recommend.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Combines usual young adult themes, with a more intricate plot. Definitely pick up this book.