Someone Like Me

by Elaine Forrestal

Tas's life is changed forever when Enya and her family move into the farm next door. They have come to Australia to escape the violence in Northern Ireland, but when the past catches up with them, Tas is trapped in the middle.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, School

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Elaine Forrestal is a full-time writer who lives and works in Scarborough, Western Australia. She grew up in the Wheatbelt but now travels all over the world, and has spoken at festivals and presented writing workshops in Australia, Singapore, France, Italy, and Ireland. Elaine has had novels, picture books, magazine articles and short stories published in Australia, the USA and the UK. Her novel, Someone Like Me, which won the CBCA Book of the Year Award, the WAYRBA Hoffman Award and was commended for the NASAN Book and Software Awards in the UK, has been translated into Slovenian and Italian. She has also written for children’s television. Of her 17 published fiction titles, 14 have been shortlisted for, or won, major awards.

Reviews

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good. I liked the way you don't find out until the end that Tas is blind, it's a clever way of showing kids that something like that doesn't make you any different, any less of a person. A really careful reader might have picked up on it though, by the way Tas describes things - by their feel and sound rather than their appearance - and the way he recognises people by their voices instead of their faces.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love this book! Read it as a kid and just recently read again as an adult. The descriptions of scenery & sensory are so homely and comforting to me. Finding out Tas is blind at the end really ties it all together. As a character I quite enjoy him, the music talents, the relationship with Reebok is magic and heartbreaking.
Takes you places you wouldn’t expect as kid.
Really great read, even as an adult.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite book from my childhood. One I read again and again. It's perfect for children aged 9-13,who are trying to figure out who they are. This book covers bullying, family matters, mystery. It's a wonderful book.

[Ava N · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book, I had no idea that Tas was blind! I only realised after one of the reviews!
Someone Like Me I read for school, but I enjoyed it.

Overall I would recommend it to a teacher looking for a possible reading assignment or club.

[Em]

Interesting, great twist of circumstances particularly the end as Tas, not only shows anxiety and other mental illness' but explains the description and style Forrestal used.

Themes: trauma, action, disability, mystery/thriller, grief, anxiety, new experiences, hope.

[Sian Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was Okay

[Vanessa Mozayani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as teachers in Year 5/6 are thinking about using it next year. A brilliant book with great writing.

[Nhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in high school and it was such a beautiful and moving story. An inspirational and emotional read, that will tug at your heart strings and make you think. It's story that will stay with you for awhile and possibly make you change the way you look at life- the things, places and people around you.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Year 5 teacher Ben Dean recommended this book to me. It's in PF and follows the story of Tas as he struggles with school and bullies. He befriends the new girl next door but this friendship leads to unexpected consequences. Did not see the twist at the end coming - very unexpected. Year 5 and above.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those books where you find out Something ie. that Tas is blind right near the end, and it makes you go WHAT and re-read the whole thing, going "oh, yeah..." and "so THAT'S why..." the whole time. Well played!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting but near the end I was soo happy that Tas go in the music academy but when I found out that Reebok died I almost cried. My friends also cried while reading he last few chapters.

[Jacob Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about young Tas who's life is changed when a new person comes to town...

[Fluffy Munchkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story, hits your heart front on!

[Joshua Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a solid book. i liked it. i don't like it that he's blind. how does he know what dreadlock's hair is like?