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Invisible Thread
Fourteen-year-old Ellen Russell runs away from home, from her nagging mother and mean stepfather, and goes and lives with her boyfriend, Robbie. Robbie is mean too, but it's still more fun than home. Things seem better until Ellen is arrested for running away and, considered to be in 'moral danger', is sentenced to a period in a reform school. Ellen, left by her mother to suffer at the Training School for Girls, soon discovers she is pregnant and for this disgrace the staff make her life even more miserable - her only escape is her dreams and writing poetry. When the baby is born it is taken away against Ellen's will. Once released from the school Ellen, drawn by the invisible thread that links a mother to her child, attempts with the help of Frank, a disillusioned doctor, to find the baby she was forced to give up. Instead she uncovers an illegal conspiracy in which babies, taken from people like her (Breeders) are sold to couples wanting to adopt...
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 4, 2012
This book was FANTASTIC! I started it and then read until just after 3 in the morning..so I could finish it. I read some of the reviews AFTER I read this book..and one was quite disturbing in that the commenter recommended this book for teens--to scare them away from getting pregnant!! So very very backwards!! What happens to Ellen in the book is still going on in our world..there are many many places where girls/females are considered to be dirty and inferior to 'anything else'..religion and its vile practices and beliefs, along with greed and power(same thing?, keeps segregation of females 'alive and well'.
Yes..I know that hideous things happen to males too..a big difference is..they cannot get pregnant!
I am keeping this book to pass on and on..
Yes..I know that hideous things happen to males too..a big difference is..they cannot get pregnant!
I am keeping this book to pass on and on..
April 16, 2023
This is an extraordinary book.
Giles conveys the protagonists sense of isolation, alienation and inadequacy with a gritty, tortuous realism. Often hard to read, the book is a painful account of a teen’s tormented experience. Knowing that much of the story is based on the authors own life made it all the harder to read. Just beautiful.
Giles conveys the protagonists sense of isolation, alienation and inadequacy with a gritty, tortuous realism. Often hard to read, the book is a painful account of a teen’s tormented experience. Knowing that much of the story is based on the authors own life made it all the harder to read. Just beautiful.
February 18, 2015
Full review at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/
This book was set in Australia during the 70s. I really enjoyed the book, but I probably would have loved it more if I could read it in an Australian accent.
It's about a girl who gets sent away to a prison of sorts for young girls. She gets sent away because she ran away from home. From the start, it seems like the whole world is against her, and it pretty much keeps on with that theme.
Basically this girl was your average teenage girl. I guess in the 70s people were shocked that a 14 year old could have sex or do drugs, and tried hard to stop it. It seems like to much of a common occurrence these days, and doesn't shock me at all.
Long story short, I liked the book, and couldn't put it down. I like the ones you can't put down. It's based on a true story. I'd love to read a sequel. I actually could go on and on about this book. If I was in University, I'd definitely choose to do an essay on it.
This book was set in Australia during the 70s. I really enjoyed the book, but I probably would have loved it more if I could read it in an Australian accent.
It's about a girl who gets sent away to a prison of sorts for young girls. She gets sent away because she ran away from home. From the start, it seems like the whole world is against her, and it pretty much keeps on with that theme.
Basically this girl was your average teenage girl. I guess in the 70s people were shocked that a 14 year old could have sex or do drugs, and tried hard to stop it. It seems like to much of a common occurrence these days, and doesn't shock me at all.
Long story short, I liked the book, and couldn't put it down. I like the ones you can't put down. It's based on a true story. I'd love to read a sequel. I actually could go on and on about this book. If I was in University, I'd definitely choose to do an essay on it.
August 17, 2010
Found this sad, and frustrating with the adult and teenage main character. all in all not enjoyable and not memorable.
June 18, 2013
Knowledge is power, but ignorance is anything but bliss.
A powerful story about the pain and suffering caused by willful and enforced ignorance.
A powerful story about the pain and suffering caused by willful and enforced ignorance.
September 9, 2016
Good read
July 11, 2014
Very good and insightful.
July 22, 2014
An intriguing tale that has left me pondering the "what ifs?" in life. How might the decisions we make to day impact our next 30 years?
September 25, 2014
Enjoyed the book very much. Similar story to "The Blind Side." Recommend it!
August 7, 2015
One of the most badly written books I've read in recent years. Wish i hadn't bothered to finish it actually...
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October 13, 2016Good
July 10, 2010
An interesting view on someting I knew nothing about. Kin of hard to believe that would happen
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews