Alex In Winter

Alex Archer #2

by Tessa Duder

The race is over, and Alex has won setting a new record in the 100 metres women's freestyle, but the pressure is still not over. Alex has much swimming ahead of her before she can be selected for the Olympics in Rome. She still has to get over the death of her boyfriend Andy and she is trying to sort out the priorities in her life. There are times when it seems that winter will never end. Suggested level: secondary.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Realistic Fiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Tessa Duder trained as a journalist, and spent fifteen years rearing four daughters before she turned to writing fiction in her late thirties. Her books include the four Alex novels, Jellybean and Night Race to Kawau, as well as ten titles of non-fiction for both adults and young people. She's also an editor, short story writer, playwright and actor. Born in Auckland in 1940, she's lived most of her life there, except for periods spent in England, Pakistan and Malaysia.

Tessa Duder lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she writes full time.

Reviews

[Alice.t · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now you might be thinking I'm addicted to Tessa Duder... And your right! Again this is another amazing book by her.

[Rebecca :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book ages ago but forgot to add it!

[Natalie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was so inspiring, I wish I’d read it as a teenager as I had never seen teenage girls portrayed in such a complex and realistic way (high achiever, dreams of the future, boyfriend, school and sport commitments, emotional, passionate, angry). But the grief she experiences (while realistic) drags the story down. She comes across as entitled, spoiled, miserable friend/daughter/student with no real interest in making amends for her behaviour. It was disappointing and boring. Historical insights were cool.

[Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this Alex journey! I shall read the next two :)

[Caitlin Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m learning a lot and loving it

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a very enjoyable read, and skillfully evocative of a particular era of New Zealand social history, this is not a classic in the way the first book in the series was. The shifts between first person and third person narration mean one is not as immersed in Alex's experience of the world and the Saint Joan subplot relies on readers being familiar not only with the saint herself but also with the George Bernard Shaw play. (Or am I just a Philistine? Did every New Zealand household in the early Sixties have the Collected Works of GB Shaw in pride of place between the Edmond's Cookbook and the Plunket baby books?)

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying this series, even 20+ years later

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked how it dealt with grief