Change the Locks

by Simon French

Remembering can be risky.“I don’t know where we came from. Several times when it had seemed important to know, I had tried asking, but mum never really answered.” Eleven year old Steven is curious about his past. When he hears a stranger’s name, odd memories come back to him. A large house. Being left on the side of the road. But does he really want to remember everything?Remembering can be risky in Change the Locks, an unforgettable junior fiction novel by multi-award-winning Australian author Simon French. This novel deals with family issues, belonging and acceptance. In 1992 it was an Honour Book at the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Awards and winner of the Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature. If you enjoyed this book, read Simon’s other Cannily, Cannily and Other Brother.“Change the Locks is a book of rare insight and great emotion with sensitively drawn characters and a readable and varied literary style.” Reading Time magazine“Compelling and thoughtful … French handles issues of honesty, fear and family responsibility with skill and compassion.” The Horn Book Magazine“A tightly wrought novel of a protective youngster trying to keep his family functional … This has plenty to entice a tautly written story, good characterisation...” School Library Journal“French's tender treatment of Steven, and the careful exploration of Steven's relationships with his best friend, Patrick, his mum, Darryl and his adored baby brother makes this book deeply moving. The love (and dysfunction) are so real they resonate long after you finish reading.” The Courier Mail

Genres: Family, Contemporary

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Simon French began his writing career as a thirteen-year-old in Sydney's western suburbs, and had his first novel published five years later, while he was still at high school.

In the years since, Simon's writing for children has been published in numerous overseas editions, and in Australia has earned critical acclaim and several awards, including the 1987 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award for All We Know. Change the Locks was an Honour Book in 1992. Where in the World, Simon's first novel in ten years, is published by Little Hare Books.

The characters in his stories often develop from the children he has worked with—from babies and toddlers in an inner-city crisis refuge to the pupils he has taught over many years at primary schools in suburban and rural New South Wales. Simon continues to work as a teacher in a small school in Sydney's rural outskirts.

He is unable to imagine life without good books, interesting music and movies, exotic food, travel to new places, old cars . . . but, most of all, true friends.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Australian YA novel that is enhanced by a glossary of Aussie slang that most American readers wouldn't be familiar with. Steven tries to be a good son and brother, caring for his baby brother when his mother can't cope. She has never told him much about the past, but he's begunt to have flashbacks that he doesn't understand. As the pieces begin to fall into place, his mother begins to put her life back together and realize what a treasure he is.

[Mollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not the target demographic for this book - it was still an interesting read but I would have enjoyed it more if I weren't 20

[Grayson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I'm not the targeted age range for this book,it was a somewhat interesting read. Although I would have enjoyed it more if I read it when I was younger; not 20.

[Liz Kean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven lives in a small country house with his mum and baby brother. Darryl used to live there too, but it has now been 'five weeks of no angry voices or trouble of any kind, five weeks of no Darryl in the house'. Steven is glad.
Change the Locks is a gripping story about Steven and his struggle to remember his past. His mum won't answer questions, but when he hears the name of a stranger, odd memories start coming back.

Teachers notes:
I read this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. French is a wonderful children's author who isn't afraid of tackling the bigs issues that some children do have to deal with every day. Although the protagonist does not focus on his circumstance, the book points to issues of neglect and abuse as well as love. Through the mums perspective, the novel also shows the hardship of parenthood for teenagers. I would recommend all children who read this have opportunities to talk about it with an adult.

[Aarchana Bulathsinghala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in my school library. Sure, the book itself was quite short and the plot rather simplistic, but I was left with a feeling of satisfaction when I finished reading it.

[Veng Walt Gatt]

This book interesting