Chrysalis

by Libby Hathorn

From one of Australia's favourite authors comes the sequel to the bestselling THUNDERWITH.

Can Lara help Marna, the painfully shy new girl, emerge and spread her wings?

Lara wants to help the shy new girl Marna. But first she must deal with her own feelings. Does she love the faithful Stan, her first boyfriend? Or the beautiful, exciting Jake, on the road with his Crimson River rock band? How can she cope with the hated bully, Gowd Gadrey, who's back in town, awakening powerful memories? And her reserved and troubled stepmother, Gladwyn, who has her own tragic past to confront? A gang of out-of-town bikies with evil intentions, whom Gowd seems to know quite well, leads to a night of revelations for Lara.

It is not only Marna who is 'at the chrysalis stage' in this immensely moving story, a celebration of the human spirit, liberation and hope, from Libby Hathorn, the bestselling author of the Australian young adult classic THUNDERWITH.

'A powerful novel about hope and the human spirit's ability to finally win through.' - COURIER MAIL, Brisbane on THUNDERWITH

'Hathorn deftly injects a sense of wonderment into this intense, very real story. Readers cannot help but be swept up on the action and emotion.' - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on THUNDERWITH

'A believable plot featuring a shattering climax and a satisfyingly realistic resolution.' - HORN BOOK on THUNDERWITH

Genres: Young Adult

133 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Libby Hathorn is an Australian writer who produces poetry, picture books, drama, novels, short stories, and nonfiction for children, young adults, and adults. Best known in the United States for her critically acclaimed novel Thunderwith, Hathorn has created works ranging from serious stories of troubled youth to lighthearted, fast-paced comedies. She writes of powerful female characters in her novels for junior readers, such as the protagonists in All about Anna and The Extraordinary Magics of Emma McDade; or of lonely, misunderstood teenagers in novels such as Feral Kid, Love Me Tender, and Valley under the Rock. As Maurice Saxby noted in St. James Guide to Children's Writers, "In her novels for teenagers especially, Hathorn exposes, with compassion, sensitivity, and poetry the universal and ongoing struggle of humanity to heal hurts, establish meaningful relationships, and to learn to accept one's self—and ultimately—those who have wronged us."

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course Thunderwith is one of my all-time favourites, so I had to read its sequel. It's still a very good book, but I didn't love it quite as much - though that's hardly surprising, given how amazing Thunderwith is. It could have done without the romance angle, would have been much better without it I feel.

[Skye Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book Thunderwith, i had to read the sequel Chrysalis!!! and of course i fell in love with Libby's work yet again! She wrote this series so well, the characters draw you in, and make you feel like your part of the family. A definate must read!!!

[Annette Heslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lara has settled in with her new family and couldn't imagine life without them.

Her new friend Marna is very shy and untalkative and finds she can confide in Lara who she reveals her startling home life to, and she helps her friend without realizing it.

Gowd Gadrey (her Bully) also makes an appearance - to mend his ways or has he not changed at all?

First love also occurs with so many decisions for Lara to make for her future.

A book or Revelations, Secrets and Hope.

[Gemma Fairbrother · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my favourite book as a teenager. It's been a while since I last read it, but I must have read it many, many times because so much of it I know off by heart.
It's hard to see it with fresh eyes.
I think its well written, and interesting (if a little less shocking than I remember)
but I feel that its hard to imagine real teenagers to be so self-assured, kind or worldly.

[Ebony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great

[Stormi]

I preferred Thunderwith, but Libby Hathorn was one of my favourite childhood authors.

[Ejames]

really good!