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Marsh and Me
There’s a hill out the back of Joey’s house. Hardly anyone goes there—it’s not a beautiful place, just a covered-over old rubbish tip. But Joey likes it up there. It’s his hill—somewhere he likes to go to wonder about life. He longs to be the best at something, to be a famous astronaut, or mountain climber, to stand out.
When Joey discovers a tree house in an old peppercorn tree on the hill, he is annoyed that someone has invaded his special place. But he is also curious about who the intruder could be. But making contact isn’t easy. The tree-house girl is wild and hostile and full of secrets—Joey needs to work out a way to win her over. And as he does, he finds a way to shine.
Marsh and Me is a story about friendship and trust and learning to believe in yourself and what makes you special. Martine Murray’s beautifully rounded characters, with all their self-doubts, yearnings and wise insights, will delight readers young and old.
When Joey discovers a tree house in an old peppercorn tree on the hill, he is annoyed that someone has invaded his special place. But he is also curious about who the intruder could be. But making contact isn’t easy. The tree-house girl is wild and hostile and full of secrets—Joey needs to work out a way to win her over. And as he does, he finds a way to shine.
Marsh and Me is a story about friendship and trust and learning to believe in yourself and what makes you special. Martine Murray’s beautifully rounded characters, with all their self-doubts, yearnings and wise insights, will delight readers young and old.
205 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
13 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Martine Murray
18 books58 followersMartine Murray, a native and a current resident of Melbourne, Australia, is an accomplished author with a variety of other talents and interests. She has studied film making at Prahan College, painting at the Victorian College of the Arts, and movement and dance at Melbourne University. She began writing as a method of keeping track of all of her activities. She explains, “I was writing in journals a lot while I was in art school. I also used to write on my canvasses or write on etchings and make tiny stories that weren't really stories, they were more like sketches of moments.”
Soon enough, Martine had authored and illustrated the gentle, funny, and gloriously playful books such as The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley (Who Planned to Live an Unusual Life). In the story of twelve-year old Cedar B. Hartley, the young heroine befriends the son of a circus family and coordinates a local circus to raise money for the community's dog operation. The book has won a number of awards, including NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Book Sense 76 Children's Pick, it was shortlisted for Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the year Award, shortlisted for New South Wales Premier's Literary Award, and won the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books.
Martine Murray is currently enrolled in Professional Writing at RMIT and plans further study in screen writing and short story.
Soon enough, Martine had authored and illustrated the gentle, funny, and gloriously playful books such as The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley (Who Planned to Live an Unusual Life). In the story of twelve-year old Cedar B. Hartley, the young heroine befriends the son of a circus family and coordinates a local circus to raise money for the community's dog operation. The book has won a number of awards, including NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Book Sense 76 Children's Pick, it was shortlisted for Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the year Award, shortlisted for New South Wales Premier's Literary Award, and won the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books.
Martine Murray is currently enrolled in Professional Writing at RMIT and plans further study in screen writing and short story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 16, 2017
“I see the treehouse-builder, the hill-occupier, the collector of small things. It’s a girl. She stares at me with eyes of fire. She’s small with a bundle of hair as black as ink, khaki overalls and bare feet. She’s got a wild look, and she narrows her eyes at me as if she wants to kill me. But then she gives a tiny dismissive jerk of her head and ducks out the tree branches”
Marsh and Me is the eleventh book by Australian author, Martine Murray. Joey is taking the dog for a walk in his favourite place: “The hill brings out the conqueror in me, Joey M. Green. Once I get on the hill, I stride up it, lofty as a cloud, my head stuffed with dreams. My faithful offsider, Black Betty, is always close by, snout to the ground, tail aloft and swashbuckling”. But he finds it occupied. Someone has built a treehouse in the peppercorn tree, an assembly of junk, and Joey is apparently not welcome.
But Joey is determined, and next visit, finds the construction unoccupied, and discovers within a collection of objects: “The tiny things are just normal, everyday things – a thimble, a button, a pencil-sharpener, an acorn, a coin, a bulldog clip, a washer, a stone, an elastic band, a bobby pin, a plug. They look as if they are in the middle of a game. There is a tooth, and next to it, as if in conversation with it, is an acorn. Fanning out around a belt buckle are a periwinkle shell, a bottle lid and a silver button, as if they were children listening to the belt buckle. Directly in front of the sharpener is a dice, as if they are in some sort of confrontation. A duel”
Eventually he meets the secretive builder, they call a truce and, when she does not offer her name, he christens her Marsh. His visits become frequent and Joey is surprised to find himself keeping them secret, and telling lies to family and friends.
Once again, Murray gives her readers a charming tale, one that touches on guilt and grief and secrets, and demonstrates the importance of friendship and feeling needed. Joey is a likeable character whose inner monologue provides plenty of humour. In particular, Joey’s wondering about the first man to set foot on the moon results in a delightful little scenario.
Murray’s descriptive prose is often gorgeous, and readers of her most recent book will be pleased to know this one occurs in the same place: Molly and Maude get a mention; Pim makes an appearance. While this book is aimed at younger readers, it is likely to beguile readers of any age. Very enjoyable.
Marsh and Me is the eleventh book by Australian author, Martine Murray. Joey is taking the dog for a walk in his favourite place: “The hill brings out the conqueror in me, Joey M. Green. Once I get on the hill, I stride up it, lofty as a cloud, my head stuffed with dreams. My faithful offsider, Black Betty, is always close by, snout to the ground, tail aloft and swashbuckling”. But he finds it occupied. Someone has built a treehouse in the peppercorn tree, an assembly of junk, and Joey is apparently not welcome.
But Joey is determined, and next visit, finds the construction unoccupied, and discovers within a collection of objects: “The tiny things are just normal, everyday things – a thimble, a button, a pencil-sharpener, an acorn, a coin, a bulldog clip, a washer, a stone, an elastic band, a bobby pin, a plug. They look as if they are in the middle of a game. There is a tooth, and next to it, as if in conversation with it, is an acorn. Fanning out around a belt buckle are a periwinkle shell, a bottle lid and a silver button, as if they were children listening to the belt buckle. Directly in front of the sharpener is a dice, as if they are in some sort of confrontation. A duel”
Eventually he meets the secretive builder, they call a truce and, when she does not offer her name, he christens her Marsh. His visits become frequent and Joey is surprised to find himself keeping them secret, and telling lies to family and friends.
Once again, Murray gives her readers a charming tale, one that touches on guilt and grief and secrets, and demonstrates the importance of friendship and feeling needed. Joey is a likeable character whose inner monologue provides plenty of humour. In particular, Joey’s wondering about the first man to set foot on the moon results in a delightful little scenario.
Murray’s descriptive prose is often gorgeous, and readers of her most recent book will be pleased to know this one occurs in the same place: Molly and Maude get a mention; Pim makes an appearance. While this book is aimed at younger readers, it is likely to beguile readers of any age. Very enjoyable.
August 11, 2017
‘This is a story of an unlikely friendship, a common theme in children’s books, but one that feels refreshing due to how nice these children are. Martine Murray captures sadness without wallowing in it…Joey and Marsh’s story is both reassuring and encouraging for children aged eight and up.’
Books + Publishing
‘A cute and quirky middle-grade novel about imagination, unlikely friendships and music.’
Paper Fury
‘Marsh and Me is a stirring coming-of-age story with a wonderful main character. Murray is a master of telling gentle stories, exploring the small worries and victories of daily life, revealing magic in the mundane.’
Readings
‘This is a gentle and tender story of finding yourself, finding new friends and finding your voice. It’s for anyone who has a song hidden within them.’
Younger Sun
‘The novel’s strength is in its ability to reveal to a child reader that despite our multicultural community, children from ethnic minorities can still struggle with issues of identity...This is a book that could be a casual read or a whole unit of study.’
Magpies
‘Murray pulls at the heartstrings as the life of the little girl from Serbia is revealed. Joey is the sort of boy we would all be proud of. Together they make convincing and interesting characters in a story for those sensitive primary school readers who are prepared to think about what they would do in the circumstances Murray creates. This is a touching story of two children finding each other.’
Reading Time
Books + Publishing
‘A cute and quirky middle-grade novel about imagination, unlikely friendships and music.’
Paper Fury
‘Marsh and Me is a stirring coming-of-age story with a wonderful main character. Murray is a master of telling gentle stories, exploring the small worries and victories of daily life, revealing magic in the mundane.’
Readings
‘This is a gentle and tender story of finding yourself, finding new friends and finding your voice. It’s for anyone who has a song hidden within them.’
Younger Sun
‘The novel’s strength is in its ability to reveal to a child reader that despite our multicultural community, children from ethnic minorities can still struggle with issues of identity...This is a book that could be a casual read or a whole unit of study.’
Magpies
‘Murray pulls at the heartstrings as the life of the little girl from Serbia is revealed. Joey is the sort of boy we would all be proud of. Together they make convincing and interesting characters in a story for those sensitive primary school readers who are prepared to think about what they would do in the circumstances Murray creates. This is a touching story of two children finding each other.’
Reading Time
January 20, 2019
Marsh and Me was wonderful book about a boy named Joey who discovers his true talent and a girl named Marsh who is healing from the loss of her mother. They both seem to be lost at the beginning of the story but through their friendship they find the courage to come out of their shell.
I really liked Joey’s character in this book. He wasn’t athletic or able to build things like his father and he just felt like a nobody until he was able to play the guitar at his school’s battle of the bands. Marsh was a bit of an odd girl, but she was so bold it fit with how shy Joey was and they were exactly what the other needed.
I think many kids would be able to relate to Joey’s character. I really liked this one!
I really liked Joey’s character in this book. He wasn’t athletic or able to build things like his father and he just felt like a nobody until he was able to play the guitar at his school’s battle of the bands. Marsh was a bit of an odd girl, but she was so bold it fit with how shy Joey was and they were exactly what the other needed.
I think many kids would be able to relate to Joey’s character. I really liked this one!
January 28, 2021
داستان ساده و زیبایی بود. بغض کردم.
June 28, 2017
'Marsh and Me' by Martine Murray is a whimsical story about Joey M Green and his friendship with Serbian-Australian girl, Marsh.
Joey thinks he'll never be special and that he'll always be invisible. Marsh helps Joey to discover his special talent and to become brave.
This book is filled with references to Serbian culture, music, folklore and language.
'Marsh and Me' celebrates friendship, differences and what it means to finally come out of your shell.
A beguiling and capricious read for middle-grade book lovers.
Many thanks to Text Publishing for a copy of this book.
Joey thinks he'll never be special and that he'll always be invisible. Marsh helps Joey to discover his special talent and to become brave.
This book is filled with references to Serbian culture, music, folklore and language.
'Marsh and Me' celebrates friendship, differences and what it means to finally come out of your shell.
A beguiling and capricious read for middle-grade book lovers.
Many thanks to Text Publishing for a copy of this book.
March 13, 2019
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers ahead.
Marsh & Me was kind of cute and an okay read. I think it was too short to have any thorough story development, but for less than 200 pages, this book made the points it was trying to make.
I have to compare this book to the well-known Stargirl because it's just like the middle-grade novel. Basically, Marsh & Me is an Australian Stargirl... and I didn't really like Stargirl. The whole "mysterious girl" thing is overdone, and this book didn't make it new or interesting in any way. I did like Marsh as a character, even though I found faults with her motives-- that is, it wasn't well-explained why she did the things she did in the treehouse. I personally don't think just her mother dying would make her seem that out of it, but who knows. She might have some other problems, but that wasn't implied in the story at all so it ended up not making sense to me.
The parts with the main characters forming a band and competing in the Battle of the Bands at the end was interesting; too bad it didn't go with the rest of the book. How did they get second place if they only practiced for what seemed to be one day, anyways?
Marsh & Me was okay overall, but if you want a good middle-grade novel about a quirky girl and a boy who crushes on her, you might as well read something else because this book is completely average.
Spoilers ahead.
Marsh & Me was kind of cute and an okay read. I think it was too short to have any thorough story development, but for less than 200 pages, this book made the points it was trying to make.
I have to compare this book to the well-known Stargirl because it's just like the middle-grade novel. Basically, Marsh & Me is an Australian Stargirl... and I didn't really like Stargirl. The whole "mysterious girl" thing is overdone, and this book didn't make it new or interesting in any way. I did like Marsh as a character, even though I found faults with her motives-- that is, it wasn't well-explained why she did the things she did in the treehouse. I personally don't think just her mother dying would make her seem that out of it, but who knows. She might have some other problems, but that wasn't implied in the story at all so it ended up not making sense to me.
The parts with the main characters forming a band and competing in the Battle of the Bands at the end was interesting; too bad it didn't go with the rest of the book. How did they get second place if they only practiced for what seemed to be one day, anyways?
Marsh & Me was okay overall, but if you want a good middle-grade novel about a quirky girl and a boy who crushes on her, you might as well read something else because this book is completely average.
April 25, 2022
Yazarın okuduğum ikinci kitabı. Yine yüreklendirici, umut dolu, ince bir mizah ve hüzünle işlenmiş etkileyici bir öyküydü. Kendini keşfetme meselesi ile ilgili ne çok ortak noktamız varmış.
December 9, 2018
Interest Level: 3-6
Have you ever felt like you didn't belong, even in your own family? Have you ever had something so devastating happen to you that you just want to shut out the real world and make up your own? The first question can be answered "yes" by Joey. He only goes to three places - home, school, and his hill- and he only fits in in one of those places. At home he doesn't fit in because he's not a sports jock, at school he doesn't fit in because he is so quiet, but on his hill he can be who he really wants to be. Joey loves the isolation of his hill because he can play his guitar and no one will hear him. However, one day he notices that a treehouse has been built in a tree on his hill. Joey is not happy that his special hill has been invaded by a spaceship looking treehouse. The funny thing is, the girl who built the treehouse is not too happy that her hidden house has been found by someone either. She makes it very clear that she doesn't want him around and Joey is not even sure she is human so he calls her "Marsh", short for Martian. When these two finally make peace and Joey goes into the treehouse, he discovers more questions than answers about this very strange girl. Where is her home? Why doesn't she go to school? What is the deal with all of these strange objects she has lying around? Why does she talk about being from another place? Joey doesn't know any of these answers but he is determined to find out. This is a must read 2019 book!
This book is absolutely incredible. I honestly thought it was a little strange at first, but as the book began to unfold I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The friendship in this books is so heartwarming, standing up for what you believe in and finding the courage to be who you really are, not what other people think you should be is so touching, and finding the courage to step out of the shadows is so inspirational. This story of friendship, family, and love is a must read. Do not miss this one!!
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Have you ever felt like you didn't belong, even in your own family? Have you ever had something so devastating happen to you that you just want to shut out the real world and make up your own? The first question can be answered "yes" by Joey. He only goes to three places - home, school, and his hill- and he only fits in in one of those places. At home he doesn't fit in because he's not a sports jock, at school he doesn't fit in because he is so quiet, but on his hill he can be who he really wants to be. Joey loves the isolation of his hill because he can play his guitar and no one will hear him. However, one day he notices that a treehouse has been built in a tree on his hill. Joey is not happy that his special hill has been invaded by a spaceship looking treehouse. The funny thing is, the girl who built the treehouse is not too happy that her hidden house has been found by someone either. She makes it very clear that she doesn't want him around and Joey is not even sure she is human so he calls her "Marsh", short for Martian. When these two finally make peace and Joey goes into the treehouse, he discovers more questions than answers about this very strange girl. Where is her home? Why doesn't she go to school? What is the deal with all of these strange objects she has lying around? Why does she talk about being from another place? Joey doesn't know any of these answers but he is determined to find out. This is a must read 2019 book!
This book is absolutely incredible. I honestly thought it was a little strange at first, but as the book began to unfold I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The friendship in this books is so heartwarming, standing up for what you believe in and finding the courage to be who you really are, not what other people think you should be is so touching, and finding the courage to step out of the shadows is so inspirational. This story of friendship, family, and love is a must read. Do not miss this one!!
Follow me:
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.com/
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
Twitter - @laurieevans27 https://twitter.com/laurieevans27?lan...
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/auburngirl2...
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCulD...
December 9, 2018
Have you ever felt like you didn't belong, even in your own family? Have you ever had something so devastating happen to you that you just want to shut out the real world and make up your own? The first question can be answered "yes" by Joey. He only goes to three places - home, school, and his hill- and he only fits in in one of those places. At home he doesn't fit in because he's not a sports jock, at school he doesn't fit in because he is so quiet, but on his hill he can be who he really wants to be. Joey loves the isolation of his hill because he can play his guitar and no one will hear him. However, one day he notices that a treehouse has been built in a tree on his hill. Joey is not happy that his special hill has been invaded by a spaceship looking treehouse. The funny thing is, the girl who built the treehouse is not too happy that her hidden house has been found by someone either. She makes it very clear that she doesn't want him around and Joey is not even sure she is human so he calls her "Marsh", short for Martian. When these two finally make peace and Joey goes into the treehouse, he discovers more questions than answers about this very strange girl. Where is her home? Why doesn't she go to school? What is the deal with all of these strange objects she has lying around? Why does she talk about being from another place? Joey doesn't know any of these answers but he is determined to find out. This is a must read 2019 book!
This book is absolutely incredible. I honestly thought it was a little strange at first, but as the book began to unfold I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The friendship in this books is so heartwarming, standing up for what you believe in and finding the courage to be who you really are, not what other people think you should be is so touching, and finding the courage to step out of the shadows is so inspirational. This story of friendship, family, and love is a must read. Do not miss this one!!
This book is absolutely incredible. I honestly thought it was a little strange at first, but as the book began to unfold I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The friendship in this books is so heartwarming, standing up for what you believe in and finding the courage to be who you really are, not what other people think you should be is so touching, and finding the courage to step out of the shadows is so inspirational. This story of friendship, family, and love is a must read. Do not miss this one!!
February 19, 2019
Joey is comfortable hiding on his hill and playing music, but when a girl (he names "Marsh") decides to make it her home he'll have to come out of his shell and discover what it means to stand out.
I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the writing was absolutely exquisite at times. There were some truly beautiful moments. But the story overall felt rushed and a bit underdeveloped, so those moments rarely felt earned to me. For instance, in the last fourth of the book Marsh tells a really beautiful folktale about planting a tree, whispering a secret, and then (much later) making a flute from the tree that sings the secret. This ties directly to the ending image of the book, which was a powerful one -- but we'd only just been told the story. It would have been a more moving scene if the folktale had been a reoccurring theme throughout, I think. Instead, it felt like a cool idea the author just added right at the end.
So, I suppose, I liked pieces of this. And the idea behind it. But in the end, it just didn't grip me the way it has other readers. Could just be me!
(Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review!)
I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the writing was absolutely exquisite at times. There were some truly beautiful moments. But the story overall felt rushed and a bit underdeveloped, so those moments rarely felt earned to me. For instance, in the last fourth of the book Marsh tells a really beautiful folktale about planting a tree, whispering a secret, and then (much later) making a flute from the tree that sings the secret. This ties directly to the ending image of the book, which was a powerful one -- but we'd only just been told the story. It would have been a more moving scene if the folktale had been a reoccurring theme throughout, I think. Instead, it felt like a cool idea the author just added right at the end.
So, I suppose, I liked pieces of this. And the idea behind it. But in the end, it just didn't grip me the way it has other readers. Could just be me!
(Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review!)
June 6, 2018
A quiet paean to friendship, family, grief and the healing power of song. Oh yeah, and climbing trees.
July 21, 2019
Joey liked to climb a hill everyday after school and the hill was where he shared all his secrets. Joey went up to the hill like usaul and found a girl building a treehouse. This girl acted like she had no family, Mum or Dad, had no name and was poor. She did not go to school and steels from the super market. The wild girl. He thought she looked like a martian so he called her marsh. Marsh had a mum( who had died) from serbia. Marsh's mum had told her many stories and gave her specail souvenirs. Whan marsh's mum had died, it had been a hard time for marsh and her dad. Joey and marsh had one thing in common; music. Joey played the guitar and marsh sang. They decided to compete in the battle of the bands together. With the help of marsh's dad Joey and marsh came second. There band was called dark horse. But they didn't care, they were there to participate. After that everything went well for marsh and her dad. Marsh started school, her dad started playing guitar again, joey started hanging out with the cool kids and marsh started feeling connected.
It is a fiction book. I did not feel apart of this journey because it was too much fantasy. Yes, the main characters are beleivable. A girl with a non fittable clothing and wild hair is wild.
A song about MARSH
I know this girL
She is a wild girl
Head in the sky
Wont tell you why
No she wont tell
Heart in her hand
She's hiding herself
In a world of little things...yeah a world like
That...a girl like that...'
It is a fiction book. I did not feel apart of this journey because it was too much fantasy. Yes, the main characters are beleivable. A girl with a non fittable clothing and wild hair is wild.
A song about MARSH
I know this girL
She is a wild girl
Head in the sky
Wont tell you why
No she wont tell
Heart in her hand
She's hiding herself
In a world of little things...yeah a world like
That...a girl like that...'
April 23, 2018
After so many stories about fierce girls surviving against the odds, it was nice to sit with Joey Green for a while. He's a sensitive, shy boy with dreams of fitting in and playing in a band. Our boys need more of these characters.
August 18, 2020
An Engaging and Upbeat Boy Meets Quirky Girl Tale
This didn't start well for me. Our hero was delicately balanced right on the edge between whiny sadsack and sensitive soul. Our heroine wasn't a manic pixie dream girl. Rather, she was a depressive pixie dream girl, with a side of vaguely cutesy poetic delusion. The nickname "Marsh" is short for "Martian", so you see where this started out.
The good news is that as I read on I started to like the book, and by the end I really liked the book. Why? Well, the best I can figure out is that about a third of the way in the author let go of the ironclad rules that had locked these two characters into their respective roles as worn out tropes, and just let the characters develop in interesting ways. Our hero stepped up and our heroine calmed down. Interestingly, a whole bunch of supporting characters also showed up at that point and added some spice, vinegar, variety, and depth to the story.
It's probably not a SPOILER to disclose that we end up with a happiesh ending. The characters from the beginning of the book didn't necessarily deserve such an ending. But the new, improved characters who developed over the course of the tale did. When you couple this with some sharply crafted set pieces, the surprising throwaway lines peppered throughout the narrative, and hints of tenderness and insight, this touched on some unexpected and beguiling high notes. A pleasant surprise.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This didn't start well for me. Our hero was delicately balanced right on the edge between whiny sadsack and sensitive soul. Our heroine wasn't a manic pixie dream girl. Rather, she was a depressive pixie dream girl, with a side of vaguely cutesy poetic delusion. The nickname "Marsh" is short for "Martian", so you see where this started out.
The good news is that as I read on I started to like the book, and by the end I really liked the book. Why? Well, the best I can figure out is that about a third of the way in the author let go of the ironclad rules that had locked these two characters into their respective roles as worn out tropes, and just let the characters develop in interesting ways. Our hero stepped up and our heroine calmed down. Interestingly, a whole bunch of supporting characters also showed up at that point and added some spice, vinegar, variety, and depth to the story.
It's probably not a SPOILER to disclose that we end up with a happiesh ending. The characters from the beginning of the book didn't necessarily deserve such an ending. But the new, improved characters who developed over the course of the tale did. When you couple this with some sharply crafted set pieces, the surprising throwaway lines peppered throughout the narrative, and hints of tenderness and insight, this touched on some unexpected and beguiling high notes. A pleasant surprise.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
July 10, 2018
I’m a primary school teacher and the kids and I review books. This is what I wrote on our shared Facebook page wpsbooktrail...
‘Marsh and Me by Martine Murray
Reviewed by Ms M
I chose this book because I am still reading my way through the books shortlisted for the Children's Book Awards 2018.
What happens in this book?? Not much for the first half of the book. I nearly gave up to be honest. I was wondering why on earth it was shortlisted.
Joey is a boy who feels very average. He is not good at anything, although his mum tells him he is good with people, he does not see this as a strength. His friends play sports and are popular. He is a little lost.
Joey would like to be in a band. He is secretly learning to play the guitar, he takes it to 'his hill' and practises where nobody can hear him. One day he is shocked to find someone has built a treehouse on 'his hill'. That someone is Marsh. A very mixed up girl.
The book is about friendship and loss. It reminds me of 'The Elephant', I reviewed this book last week.
The ending of the book is just beautiful....it made me laugh and it made me cry. I am so pleased I didn't give up on it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved 'The Elephant' or 'Wonder'. Anyone who has ever felt lost and alone and like they don't fit in. When you read this book, stick with it. It's worth it!.
p.s all of these Children's Book Council Award shortlisted books in the Younger Reader category seem to have a similar theme don't they? They have missing parents and strong kids who problem solve.’
‘Marsh and Me by Martine Murray
Reviewed by Ms M
I chose this book because I am still reading my way through the books shortlisted for the Children's Book Awards 2018.
What happens in this book?? Not much for the first half of the book. I nearly gave up to be honest. I was wondering why on earth it was shortlisted.
Joey is a boy who feels very average. He is not good at anything, although his mum tells him he is good with people, he does not see this as a strength. His friends play sports and are popular. He is a little lost.
Joey would like to be in a band. He is secretly learning to play the guitar, he takes it to 'his hill' and practises where nobody can hear him. One day he is shocked to find someone has built a treehouse on 'his hill'. That someone is Marsh. A very mixed up girl.
The book is about friendship and loss. It reminds me of 'The Elephant', I reviewed this book last week.
The ending of the book is just beautiful....it made me laugh and it made me cry. I am so pleased I didn't give up on it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved 'The Elephant' or 'Wonder'. Anyone who has ever felt lost and alone and like they don't fit in. When you read this book, stick with it. It's worth it!.
p.s all of these Children's Book Council Award shortlisted books in the Younger Reader category seem to have a similar theme don't they? They have missing parents and strong kids who problem solve.’
January 24, 2019
Marsh & Me
by Martine Murray
Random House Children's
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Children's Fiction
Pub Date 19 Feb 2019
I am reviewing a copy of Marsh & Me through Random House Children’s and Netgalley:
Joey desires to have someone to talk to about music, he wants to be part of the group. The problem is he is painfully shy and that always seems to get in the way. He often escapes to his secret place on a hill but discovers one day a young girl, a strange young girl has invaded the hill and looks like a spaceship. The hill is the place where he can be himself. Joey decides he needs to stake his claim so he goes to the girl he calls Marsh, short for Martian and finds that she’s been busy making herself an imagined Spaceship as well as building an imaginary world.
This imaginary world hides his secrets but this may be the thing to bring Joey out of his shell. When Joey decides to follow Marsh home he discovers her life is not at all what he expected. He soon finds out too that they are both passionate about music.
I give Marsh & Me five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
December 28, 2018
Joey is a boy who spends a lot of time alone. He's not sporty or confident. He's learning to play the guitar and secretly would love to be in a band.
One day, walking on his hill, where he goes to be alone and walk the dog, he finds a treehouse and a girl inside. After his initial shock and indignation (what is she doing on his hill?), they navigate what becomes a beautiful friendship (and the start of something more).
This is a very sweet story. There are some moments in the first 3/4 where it seems a bit overdone in terms of the supposed emotional depth of the growing relationship and Joey's feelings, but it comes up good at the end. It's largely about giving people a second chance when growing a friendship, seeing things from another's perspective, and working to understand - and appreciate - people for who they are.
Themes: Friendship, families, social insecurity, self-actualisation/personal growth, parental death, multi-culturalism.
It would be fine for a short class read-aloud for grade 4-6.
One day, walking on his hill, where he goes to be alone and walk the dog, he finds a treehouse and a girl inside. After his initial shock and indignation (what is she doing on his hill?), they navigate what becomes a beautiful friendship (and the start of something more).
This is a very sweet story. There are some moments in the first 3/4 where it seems a bit overdone in terms of the supposed emotional depth of the growing relationship and Joey's feelings, but it comes up good at the end. It's largely about giving people a second chance when growing a friendship, seeing things from another's perspective, and working to understand - and appreciate - people for who they are.
Themes: Friendship, families, social insecurity, self-actualisation/personal growth, parental death, multi-culturalism.
It would be fine for a short class read-aloud for grade 4-6.
April 18, 2022
Avusturya'da küçük ailesi; annesi, babası, kızkardeşi, ile birlikte yaşayan Joey içine dönük bir çocuk. Gitar çalmayı seviyor, Kurt Cobain hayranı ve yaşına göre entellektüel. Ancak bir belki iki yakın arkadaşı var. Müzik yaptığını kimseye söylemiyor, spor yeteneği olmadığı için utanıyor. Unutmadan ailesinde bir kediler bir de hiç yanından ayrılmayan bir köpeği de var. Ayrıca ona ait bir tepesi. Ama bir gün tepesinin derme çatma bir ağaç ev ile işgal edildiğini görüyor. İşgalcinin anlamadığı bir dilde çok güzel şarkılar söyleyen yaşıtı bir kız olması, bu kızın ilginç kıyafetler giymesi ve gizemli halleri merak uyandırıyor.
Roman için 11 yaş üstünü işaretlemiş Can Çocuk. Belki bir çok ebevyn için daha büyük yaşlara önerilecektir. Çünkü gerçek bir edebiyat var. Şiirsel bir dil kullanmış yazar. Çevirmenin başarısı da burada belirtmek isterim. Dilin kıvraklığını yakalamış bana göre.
Çok beğendim. Bence ilk gençlik edebiyatının çok güzel örneklerinden biri.
Roman için 11 yaş üstünü işaretlemiş Can Çocuk. Belki bir çok ebevyn için daha büyük yaşlara önerilecektir. Çünkü gerçek bir edebiyat var. Şiirsel bir dil kullanmış yazar. Çevirmenin başarısı da burada belirtmek isterim. Dilin kıvraklığını yakalamış bana göre.
Çok beğendim. Bence ilk gençlik edebiyatının çok güzel örneklerinden biri.
July 31, 2017
This is a delightful coming of age book for junior readers. Joey doesn’t actually feel like he fits in; he isn’t interested in sport, he doesn’t have a lot of friends and isn’t good at anyone particular thing. He sometimes feels as if he is letting his family down by just being a nice person. But he is highly imaginative and comes up with lots of scenarios where he is successful and famous. When a little girl, Ruzica, one he calls in his head “Wild Girl” and later Marsh, invades his tree house his world is opened up. Martine Murray’s earlier book, Molly and Pim and the Millions of Stars was very popular with junior readers and we can see that this book has the same soft touch and gentleness in dealing with relationships.
Suitable for 9+ - grief, friendship, being comfortable in your own skin.
Suitable for 9+ - grief, friendship, being comfortable in your own skin.
March 22, 2019
I've just finished Marsh and Me, by Martine Murray, and I absolutely loved it. I came across it as it was an Honours Winner for the 2018 CBCA awards and I wanted to see what was happening in books for younger readers.
It was very easy to get swept up in the characters; from the everyman Joey to the grieving Marsh. The books supporting characters were well rounded and played their roles well. The book is aimed at readers 8-12 years and between you and me, I found it an engaging and entertaining story of self-acceptance and self-discovery and I'm slightly older than 12.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone whose children enjoy a gentle and entertaining read.
It was very easy to get swept up in the characters; from the everyman Joey to the grieving Marsh. The books supporting characters were well rounded and played their roles well. The book is aimed at readers 8-12 years and between you and me, I found it an engaging and entertaining story of self-acceptance and self-discovery and I'm slightly older than 12.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone whose children enjoy a gentle and entertaining read.
July 19, 2018
A gentle story of a primary school boy, Joey, who doesn't quite fit in with the school crowd, and his growing friendship with the strange and lonely 'wild girl' who has taken over Joey's hill, tree and hangout spot. There are some deep underlying threads woven into this story of trust and mistrust, loss and grief, self esteem and how fragile it is, and the isolation of new immigrants. The reader is gradually drawn in to the story but it lacks real spark to be highly popular.
Shortlisted for the 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Younger Readers award.
Shortlisted for the 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Younger Readers award.
July 2, 2020
To be young!
This story unfolds and cleverly links, leaving the reader with a sense of having discovered something. The start seems slow in comparison with the second half of the book so my advice is to give it a chance because it will be worth it!
Safe read for children and tells of a Serbians family struggle after migrating.
Themes: Belonging, Acceptance, Loss, courage and friendship
This story unfolds and cleverly links, leaving the reader with a sense of having discovered something. The start seems slow in comparison with the second half of the book so my advice is to give it a chance because it will be worth it!
Safe read for children and tells of a Serbians family struggle after migrating.
Themes: Belonging, Acceptance, Loss, courage and friendship
May 18, 2018
3.5* A lovely tale about finding friendship in unexpected places. I just loved Joey as a character. The story was a little slow in some parts in the middle, but it was a perfect ending. Lovely to read a beautiful, optimistic book after a few dark stories.
March 2, 2022
Bazı cümleler çok güzeldi.
Benzer hikayelerden çok okuduğum(uz) için hikayeden çok etkilendim diyemem.
İlk gençlik dönemi "kendini keşfetme" süreci içinse güzel bir alternatif.
Molly, Pim kitabını daha etkileyici bulmuştum.
Benzer hikayelerden çok okuduğum(uz) için hikayeden çok etkilendim diyemem.
İlk gençlik dönemi "kendini keşfetme" süreci içinse güzel bir alternatif.
Molly, Pim kitabını daha etkileyici bulmuştum.
November 25, 2018
A slow burn, but worth it. A love story about friendships and family, music and song, tree houses and dreams.
February 20, 2019
A cute, thoughtful read for younger audiences. Not sure if it’d be a great fit here because the plot didn’t really feel like it got going until about halfway through, but once it did the sentiment was thoughtful and sincere. Perhaps better with a younger audience.
April 8, 2019
Charming story.
July 20, 2019
My 7.5 year old claimed to be disinterested in this book. I think the themes were too mature.
October 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I have started Molly and Pim and the millions of stars.
January 5, 2020
A so-so book about feeling out of place in life as a 12 year old. Lots of unanswered questions. Too neatly wrapped up
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