What do you think?
Rate this book
Letters From the Inside
Through their letters to each other, two teenage girls--one hiding a terrible secret and the other trapped in a violent family nightmare--gradually reveal the darkest aspects of their lives.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
59 people are currently reading
2116 people want to read
About the author
John Marsden
90 books1,955 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
June 7, 2012
Stunning. Although I agree with many of the reviews that it was hard to tell the voices of the girls at times (wait, was that Mandy...oh no, Tracey) I didn't identify with either girl. I haven't committed any crimes (and don't have that rage) but I wouldn't have continued the pen pal friend ship after the secret was revealed.
And yet, the book just sucked me in. And then, it was done.
An ending that leaves you wondering what could have been. I think, like many reviews, you can guess what happened. It just leaves you shaken.
A dark book that I would not give my 13 year old. It's not that I don't think she could handle it, it's just not her style. It's scary and real in a subtle but suddenly IN YOUR FACE kind of style. Because it was easy to forget the violence that was happening in the house (and just how off kilter everything was getting) because she didn't bring it up.
A good reminder ~ we never really know what's going on no matter how honest we think someone is being!
And yet, the book just sucked me in. And then, it was done.
An ending that leaves you wondering what could have been. I think, like many reviews, you can guess what happened. It just leaves you shaken.
A dark book that I would not give my 13 year old. It's not that I don't think she could handle it, it's just not her style. It's scary and real in a subtle but suddenly IN YOUR FACE kind of style. Because it was easy to forget the violence that was happening in the house (and just how off kilter everything was getting) because she didn't bring it up.
A good reminder ~ we never really know what's going on no matter how honest we think someone is being!
October 6, 2014
«Supongo que era demasiado bueno para ser verdad; Quizás nadie lo tiene todo...»
En Letters From the Inside nos encontramos con la historia de Mandy y Tracey, dos chicas que se escriben correspondencia a partir de un anuncio que una de ella publica en la revista G.Y.D. Todo comienza como una "amistad ficticia", donde cada una cuenta detalles de su vida,pero a medida que las cartas llegan la amistad se torna más real y es cuando Mandy se da cuenta que Tracey no es quien dice ser.
A ver,primero antes que nada tengo que admitir que todavía siento una molestia muy grande dentro de mi pecho y estoy muy confundida. El libro es tan pero tan intrigante que no podés parar de leer. La sinopsis te atrapa, lo cuál es genial para animar a cualquiera a leerlo. Es corto, sencillo, con un vocabulario tan natural e informal que lo lees muy rápido pero hubo una parte en que la historia decae pero por suerte vuelve a levantarse.
El libro está dividido por cartas que se van intercalando. Todas las cartas contienen algo, una parte de cada una. Algunas cartas son mejores que otras pero en muchas se muestra realmente lo que cada una siente o vive y aunque algunas te dan esperanza y alegría muchas te dan angustia y te hacen sentir temor.
Tengo que reconocer que los personajes son tan...crudos e informales que parece tan verdaderos,no lo sé. Aunque tengo que decir que Mandy por momentos me parecía muy ingenua? y egoísta no lo sé, supongo que eso era lo que quería lograr el escritor, crear dos personajes opuestos,cada una viviendo la vida que otra no tiene.
Tengo que decir que el final me impactó y me dejó muy mal. A pesar que deja un final abierto yo soy más de ir a por el final que pienso como primer plano. Es más, creo que va a mi lista de libros que "Te dejan pensando muchísimo cuando terminas de leerlo".
January 20, 2011
Mandy answers an ad for a pen pal and she starts to exchange letters with Tracey.
For almost a year these two girls find out about themselves and each other.
Tracey is in prison (we are never told why) and Mandy is afraid of her brother who beats her whenever he can ... that is the first time Mandy felt she could tell anyone
Mandy goes to parties and meets boys and tracey plays in the prison softball team - Tracey is now determined to get an education and be a better person since she has learnt to trust Mandy and enjoy their freindship. She writes a story and wins a competition and she is so excited..
the ending is so sad
Mandy and her mum send Tracey a parcel for Christmas
Tracey send a letter thanking her - then she has a nightmare involving blood and guns and knives and she wakes screaming and writes about it in the next letter..... still no reply she writes again .... then her mail is return with "not known at this address"...
She spirals into depression and the nightmares continue.... she writes one last letter and the reader is left wondering if Tracey will actually make it....
John Marsden at his best
he is able to generate a lot of empathy for the two main characters and the way he details the brothers' slide from a morose emo into a dangerous psychotic who is filled with rage is realistic and scary.
The reader is left to fill in the blanks.
Did Simon kill his entire family?
Will Tracey get her life back together?
For almost a year these two girls find out about themselves and each other.
Tracey is in prison (we are never told why) and Mandy is afraid of her brother who beats her whenever he can ... that is the first time Mandy felt she could tell anyone
Mandy goes to parties and meets boys and tracey plays in the prison softball team - Tracey is now determined to get an education and be a better person since she has learnt to trust Mandy and enjoy their freindship. She writes a story and wins a competition and she is so excited..
the ending is so sad
Mandy and her mum send Tracey a parcel for Christmas
Tracey send a letter thanking her - then she has a nightmare involving blood and guns and knives and she wakes screaming and writes about it in the next letter..... still no reply she writes again .... then her mail is return with "not known at this address"...
She spirals into depression and the nightmares continue.... she writes one last letter and the reader is left wondering if Tracey will actually make it....
John Marsden at his best
he is able to generate a lot of empathy for the two main characters and the way he details the brothers' slide from a morose emo into a dangerous psychotic who is filled with rage is realistic and scary.
The reader is left to fill in the blanks.
Did Simon kill his entire family?
Will Tracey get her life back together?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2010
I'm a bit disappointed. I mean, I thought this book was going to be interesting and revealing. It is revealing but... woah, you can tell a guy wrote this book. The language is really immature at times. I cannot believe that some adults look at kids in this way. I would want to be seen as something more. I have more to offer the world than my body. I have a mind, I have goals, I have opinions.
April 30, 2020
"Esto no acaba hasta que termina."
Mandy está aburrida y sin nada que hacer, así que decide contestar un anuncio de una revista que publicó otra chica, Tracey. Las jóvenes, entre carta y carta, se hacen amigas, comparten detalles de su vida, sus miedos, sus esperanzas... Pero tras escribirse unos meses, Mandy comienza a sospechar que Tracey oculta algo.
Cartas desde el interior es un libro que me sorprendió muchísimo, no esperaba nada él y me terminó encantado. El libro entero está narrado por medio de cartas, así que se lee súper rápido, prácticamente se devora.
Las protagonistas no están muy definidas, apenas las conocemos por las cosas que se cuentan. Es que ese es uno de los grandes misterios de la novela, quienes son Mandy y Tracey realmente. Pero no sé, la amistad que tienen me pareció re linda.
Hacia la mitad me costó avanzar con la lectura, cuando surge la duda, los miedos, la desconfianza y todo se va a la mierda, se pone muy deprimente la historia. Me costó engancharme de nuevo.
Algunas cosas me las venía venir, otras me sorprendieron un montón. El final me encantó, es abierto y te deja con un millón de dudas, pero me pareció perfecto. Quiero leer algo más del autor.
"He estado pensando en quien ve mi verdadero rostro, porque cada quién ve uno diferente: mis papás, mi hermana, mi hermano, Cheryl, Rebeca, María, tú, el chófer del autobús, mi maestro francés... Pero, a su manera, todos son verdaderos, y a veces, también falsos. Quizás sea la prueba de que todos tenemos muchas caras."
October 2, 2014
"Esto no acaba hasta que termina"
Este es uno de los libros más confusos que leí en mi vida. Este libro esta narrado en cartas entre dos chicas, ambas muy diferentes. Mandy la inocente chica que respondió a un anuncio de una chica para ser amigos por correspondencia. Y Tracey, una chica que parece tener la vida perfecta. Hasta que Mandy comienza a notar que las cosas en las cartas de Tracey no coinciden y comienza a preguntarse si Tracey es quien dice ser.
Sinceramente no sé como sentirme con respecto a este libro, es todo muy confuso y mis opiniones y pensamientos se mezclan.
Lo único que sé es que este libro me gustó, muchísimo. Le daría un 3.5 si pudiera.
Se lee rápido y no me resulto pesado o denso en ningún momento, al contrario, estuve muy enganchada mientras lo leía.
Una de las cosas que más me gustaron fue que Mandy y Tracey no tenían nada en común, absolutamente nada, eran dos polos opuestos, y si estas dos chicas (en un caso hipotético) se hubiesen conocido de otra forma dudo mucho que se hicieran tan amigas. Mandy comparte cosas con Tracey que no comparte con sus amigas de la infancia y Tracey empieza a cambiar por Mandy (y a la vez por ella misma)
Además, me gusto mucho el hecho de que nunca se contaran como eran físicamente.
Y aunque muchos critiquen este final abierto, a mi me gusto porque te deja con la duda, te hace pensar.
Lo único que no me gusto fue que Marsden no escribe que fue lo que paso realmente para que Tracey terminara donde termina.
Mis teorías sobre el final son:
Este es uno de los libros más confusos que leí en mi vida. Este libro esta narrado en cartas entre dos chicas, ambas muy diferentes. Mandy la inocente chica que respondió a un anuncio de una chica para ser amigos por correspondencia. Y Tracey, una chica que parece tener la vida perfecta. Hasta que Mandy comienza a notar que las cosas en las cartas de Tracey no coinciden y comienza a preguntarse si Tracey es quien dice ser.
Sinceramente no sé como sentirme con respecto a este libro, es todo muy confuso y mis opiniones y pensamientos se mezclan.
Lo único que sé es que este libro me gustó, muchísimo. Le daría un 3.5 si pudiera.
Se lee rápido y no me resulto pesado o denso en ningún momento, al contrario, estuve muy enganchada mientras lo leía.
Una de las cosas que más me gustaron fue que Mandy y Tracey no tenían nada en común, absolutamente nada, eran dos polos opuestos, y si estas dos chicas (en un caso hipotético) se hubiesen conocido de otra forma dudo mucho que se hicieran tan amigas. Mandy comparte cosas con Tracey que no comparte con sus amigas de la infancia y Tracey empieza a cambiar por Mandy (y a la vez por ella misma)
Además, me gusto mucho el hecho de que nunca se contaran como eran físicamente.
Y aunque muchos critiquen este final abierto, a mi me gusto porque te deja con la duda, te hace pensar.
Lo único que no me gusto fue que Marsden no escribe que fue lo que paso realmente para que Tracey terminara donde termina.
Mis teorías sobre el final son:
February 20, 2011
The original Cliffhanger. I loved this story completely though I think a lot of it is because when I read this book I was blown away by the unexpected ending and not just that it was unexpected but just that it left you wishing like anything Marsden would have written just one more letter.....
The combination of letter writers/ charaacters in this book was also interesting, both from vastly different backgrounds you somehow get the feeling their lives marry up fairly closely despite the extremeties one of their lifes end up going to.
This book also raised for me thoughts about the personal-ness (if that's a word, and hey I can make up words right now if I want.) of long distance communication. It's like if I am writing to someone regualarly and then I just stop then there's no way for that person to know why I did that unless I tell them why. HOW RUDE!! But then how often does that happen.... God I'm such a loser... *hates herself a little bit more right now (just kidding)*. I think this uncertainty and the fact that Marsden does it in all his immense experience of writing skill causes this book to be one that sticks with you long after. Like a long lost friend that you constantly think about but never hear about after that moment.
The combination of letter writers/ charaacters in this book was also interesting, both from vastly different backgrounds you somehow get the feeling their lives marry up fairly closely despite the extremeties one of their lifes end up going to.
This book also raised for me thoughts about the personal-ness (if that's a word, and hey I can make up words right now if I want.) of long distance communication. It's like if I am writing to someone regualarly and then I just stop then there's no way for that person to know why I did that unless I tell them why. HOW RUDE!! But then how often does that happen.... God I'm such a loser... *hates herself a little bit more right now (just kidding)*. I think this uncertainty and the fact that Marsden does it in all his immense experience of writing skill causes this book to be one that sticks with you long after. Like a long lost friend that you constantly think about but never hear about after that moment.
July 29, 2010
Here are the issues I had with this book:
-The two main characters have virtually indistinct voices, and similar enough situations that it's confusing trying to remember who's talking. One is supposed to be quiet and shy but since they're pen pals, the author chose to make her write...shyly...It comes off as weird and phony.
-The book is very eighties--not that that's a bad thing. But the piece isn't period enough to be historical fiction, and if you're not reading closely, or if you're a teen leafing through it, the story sounds terribly Amish, with almost no technology used and no explanation given as to why. The girls write letters even though they could presumably talk on the phone, but no other option for communication is ever discussed which seems odd for today's teens. Instead of being an interesting book that happens to be set in the eighties, these characters feel dated and obsolete.
-There is an obvious 'this girl is hiding something' storyline, but it's too common and vague of an issue to keep me reading. The characters aren't interesting enough to me to want to keep reading, and their secrets don't really matter to me since I never cared about them as characters.
Instead, I suggest: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Bad by Jean Ferris
-The two main characters have virtually indistinct voices, and similar enough situations that it's confusing trying to remember who's talking. One is supposed to be quiet and shy but since they're pen pals, the author chose to make her write...shyly...It comes off as weird and phony.
-The book is very eighties--not that that's a bad thing. But the piece isn't period enough to be historical fiction, and if you're not reading closely, or if you're a teen leafing through it, the story sounds terribly Amish, with almost no technology used and no explanation given as to why. The girls write letters even though they could presumably talk on the phone, but no other option for communication is ever discussed which seems odd for today's teens. Instead of being an interesting book that happens to be set in the eighties, these characters feel dated and obsolete.
-There is an obvious 'this girl is hiding something' storyline, but it's too common and vague of an issue to keep me reading. The characters aren't interesting enough to me to want to keep reading, and their secrets don't really matter to me since I never cared about them as characters.
Instead, I suggest: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Bad by Jean Ferris
May 27, 2015
Dios que libro!! De este libro no tenia ni idea, pero un día decidí leerlo y gracias a Dios que lo hice.
Este libro narra la historia de la amistad entre Mandy y Tracey, esta ultima decide publicar un anuncio en una revista para hacer amigos por correspondencia y Mandy decide contestar. Se empiezan a escribir cartas en las cuales se cuentas su día a día, hasta que un día Mandy se da cuenta que en las cartas de Tracey hay algunas contradicciones. Yo sospechaba que algo no andaba bien, pero me sorprendió bastante el giro que tomo la historia a partir de este momento.
Este es un libro que puedes leer bastante rápido, tiene un final que de verdad te sorprende y a mi me hizo llorar un poco, bueno en realidad el final me dejo devastada. Me hubiese gustado que el libro tuviera mas paginas y que la historia se alargara un poco mas.
Este libro me gusto bastante, pues no trata de amor ni de ningún tema trivial, muestra la vida de unas jóvenes, con sus temores y problemas, alegrías y tristezas.
Este libro narra la historia de la amistad entre Mandy y Tracey, esta ultima decide publicar un anuncio en una revista para hacer amigos por correspondencia y Mandy decide contestar. Se empiezan a escribir cartas en las cuales se cuentas su día a día, hasta que un día Mandy se da cuenta que en las cartas de Tracey hay algunas contradicciones. Yo sospechaba que algo no andaba bien, pero me sorprendió bastante el giro que tomo la historia a partir de este momento.
Este es un libro que puedes leer bastante rápido, tiene un final que de verdad te sorprende y a mi me hizo llorar un poco, bueno en realidad el final me dejo devastada. Me hubiese gustado que el libro tuviera mas paginas y que la historia se alargara un poco mas.
Este libro me gusto bastante, pues no trata de amor ni de ningún tema trivial, muestra la vida de unas jóvenes, con sus temores y problemas, alegrías y tristezas.
April 11, 2023
I‘ll actually never be okay again
May 22, 2013
I remember reading this book about four years ago for class, and i absolutely loved it. Although there are those "flaws" people mention of both the girls being troubled, "no teenager [sounding] like that", not many kids caring about letters, I find that mentality to be at a fault. Yes, some teens they view adults like that. Some teens really do have issues at home. And most of all, receiving letters is one of the most exciting things now, BECAUSE we're all used to email. I was around these girls' age when I read this and found it haunting and, to be honest, I still think of the book to this day. The ending was what I hated the most, not because I didn't like it though, I loved it as the ending, but I just hated what it implied, and more importantly, how that happens so often to so many people. Loved the book though.
February 10, 2025
This book!!!! My high school self buried the emotional trauma of the ending and my adult self is considering reburying it.
John Marsden had such an ability to capture teenagers (some of the language is a bit dated - I’m still chuckling at fair dinkum) - the highs and lows of being young and figuring stuff out.
I’ll be thinking about Trace & Mandy for awhile.
John Marsden had such an ability to capture teenagers (some of the language is a bit dated - I’m still chuckling at fair dinkum) - the highs and lows of being young and figuring stuff out.
I’ll be thinking about Trace & Mandy for awhile.
October 7, 2019
Pfff, no se que decir de este libro.
Literalmente fue una montaña rusa de emociones. Debo de confesar que al principio la lectura no me estaba atrapando para nada y todo el tiempo estaba pensando en las distintas posibilidades de que mentiras se estaban diciendo la una a la otra mientras se desarrollaba la historia.
El final no le entendi... nada de nadita, me quedé en SHOOK no sabia que era lo que había pasado, lo leí fácil como unas cinco veces para ver si lograba entenderlo. Al final no fue asi.
P.d: Odio los finales abiertos
Literalmente fue una montaña rusa de emociones. Debo de confesar que al principio la lectura no me estaba atrapando para nada y todo el tiempo estaba pensando en las distintas posibilidades de que mentiras se estaban diciendo la una a la otra mientras se desarrollaba la historia.
El final no le entendi... nada de nadita, me quedé en SHOOK no sabia que era lo que había pasado, lo leí fácil como unas cinco veces para ver si lograba entenderlo. Al final no fue asi.
P.d: Odio los finales abiertos
March 31, 2009
Argh! Another frustrating teen book that ends with the story wide open. Mandy and Tracey are pen-pals (do pen-pals even exist anymore?). They have very different lives but are tied together by a feeling of connection. That is all any 16 year old really wants, right? A connection. Worth reading but just don't expect it to wrap up neat and pretty in the end.
July 13, 2016
¿Qué onda con ese final? o.O
February 15, 2019
THAT. ENDING.THO!!!!
JOHN, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME *FEEL* THINGS!
JOHN, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME *FEEL* THINGS!
April 25, 2022
A gripping, haunting read. I would have recommended it to anyone until I read the ending. *shakes head* Completely unfair for an author to end the book like that, giving the readers an awful sense of doom and hopelessness as he leaves the protagonists on the edge of a cliff, as it were, with no chance of being rescued. Sigh.
March 26, 2012
I picked up this book to read on the weekend thinking "140ish pages... nice and short... maybe I can recommend it to my Year 7s". Maybe not. I had several issues with this book. Firstly, I didn't like the ending (I hate not knowing what happened to so-and-so, but maybe that's just me). Secondly, I don't know how well this book translates across to the world of 2012 teendom. For example, some of the dialogue was quite old school/amusing. Did teenagers (or anyone, for that matter) really use the word "rad" back in the early 90s, as in, "We had a rad time"? Would today's teenagers even know what a penpal is? If anything, the concept of putting pen to paper and actually 'writing' a letter/waiting a week to receive one in the mail would probably seem quite alien to most 16 year olds... not to mention the fact that most teenagers are used to sharing their innermost thoughts on the most public of forums (i.e. Facebook) and there is no such thing as delayed gratification. At the beginning of the book, I also found it difficult to distinguish between Mandy and Tracey, to the point where I had to keep checking who was who. It wasn't until we found out the truth about Tracey that their voices became a little more distinct. Thank goodness for the big reveal though, because I wasn't sure I could read endless letters about potential boyfriends, etc. Finally, why is it so hard to find a kind/trustworthy adult in John Marsden books? Despite the fact that this is supposed to be Contemporary Realistic Fiction, I found that "Letters" presented a not-so-realistic take on what adults are actually like. They're not all completely unreliable and they don't all set out to ruin kids' lives. Some of us are actually okay.
Now for the 'likes'. I liked the way the two girls didn't hold back and openly criticised each other's letters (e.g. whether or not they felt they were getting the right response to a previous letter). I also liked the way that they both seemed willing to process/accept this criticism, when many others would have thought "stuff you" and stopped writing. Even though it only existed on paper, their friendship and loyalty to each other was tested to the limit. From an educator's perspective, teachers could certainly use this text to explore the nature of friendship, family relationships and domestic violence.
Overall, this book definitely becomes more interesting once the true meaning of the word "inside" becomes apparent. Whilst I would recommend this book to Year 9-10s, some of the prison-related imagery is not particularly age appropriate for Year 7-8s. Not the greatest insight I've ever had into the teenage mind, but worth a read.
Now for the 'likes'. I liked the way the two girls didn't hold back and openly criticised each other's letters (e.g. whether or not they felt they were getting the right response to a previous letter). I also liked the way that they both seemed willing to process/accept this criticism, when many others would have thought "stuff you" and stopped writing. Even though it only existed on paper, their friendship and loyalty to each other was tested to the limit. From an educator's perspective, teachers could certainly use this text to explore the nature of friendship, family relationships and domestic violence.
Overall, this book definitely becomes more interesting once the true meaning of the word "inside" becomes apparent. Whilst I would recommend this book to Year 9-10s, some of the prison-related imagery is not particularly age appropriate for Year 7-8s. Not the greatest insight I've ever had into the teenage mind, but worth a read.
November 7, 2011
It was a very creepy story and I don't recommend reading the entire thing Halloween night (or any night). The book was only 146 pages and it left a lot of questions unanswered, which I sometimes like, but there was too much confusion at the end of this book. John Marsden is an Australian author and the story took place in Australia (which wasn't officially established so, we had to do some googling).
Description from inside the book~ "Two teenage girls. An innocent beginning to friendship. Two complete strangers who get to know each other a little better each time a letter is written and answered. Mandy has a dog with no name and an older sister, and a creepy brother. Tracey has a horse, two dogs, and a cat, and an older sister. They both have hopes and fears... and secrets. As Mandy and Tracey swap confidences, and share some ups and downs of school, home, and friends, they get to know every detail of each other's lives. Or do they?"
Though at times in the story, you could definitely tell the author was a guy because it was hard to remember if Tracey and Mandy were girls or boys.
Description from inside the book~ "Two teenage girls. An innocent beginning to friendship. Two complete strangers who get to know each other a little better each time a letter is written and answered. Mandy has a dog with no name and an older sister, and a creepy brother. Tracey has a horse, two dogs, and a cat, and an older sister. They both have hopes and fears... and secrets. As Mandy and Tracey swap confidences, and share some ups and downs of school, home, and friends, they get to know every detail of each other's lives. Or do they?"
Though at times in the story, you could definitely tell the author was a guy because it was hard to remember if Tracey and Mandy were girls or boys.
April 29, 2012
Two girls started writing to each other: one who seemed to have the perfect family and the other, a regular one. But as the letters progressed, they find out more and more about each other - dark, little secrets about one another. The one with the perfect family... Has no family. She's in a maximum security prison with no one to talk to. Why she was in there, it was never revealed and Marsden drops little hints but he basically leaves it up to us, the audience. The ending was incomplete but in its own way, it ended perfectly. I freaked out at one point when I realised how little they know each other and how much of strangers they were but like the protagonist, I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
It was very well-written and the suspense was well-kept. Two girls formed an unlikely friendship but it was what kept them both "goin' till it all stopped flowin'".
It was very well-written and the suspense was well-kept. Two girls formed an unlikely friendship but it was what kept them both "goin' till it all stopped flowin'".
November 22, 2014
Todo iba bien, muy bien de hecho, hasta esa última carta.
Es que nooooooo. Tal vez le faltan páginas o algo. Pero a estas alturas debo saber que esto sucede en varios libros y seguirá existiendo.
La forma en que está escrito, (epistolar, por cartas), me gusta demasiado. Además en éste el ritmo de lectura fue sencillo de llevar.
La historia en sí es entretenida, al principio parece muy normal pero a partir de ciertas cosas que descubre Mandy, (una de las protagonista), empieza a destapar a la verdadera Tracey (otra de las protagonistas).
Cuando parece que todo va a terminar, NO, se pone mejor, la situación que viven ambas mejora y vuelven a ser las "mismas" de antes (bueno,, hay cambios pero se acoplan a ellos), pero vuelvo a como inicie: -Todo iba bien, muy bien hasta esa última carta. :'(
Recuerden lo siguiente: "Esto no empieza hasta que termina".
Es que nooooooo. Tal vez le faltan páginas o algo. Pero a estas alturas debo saber que esto sucede en varios libros y seguirá existiendo.
La forma en que está escrito, (epistolar, por cartas), me gusta demasiado. Además en éste el ritmo de lectura fue sencillo de llevar.
La historia en sí es entretenida, al principio parece muy normal pero a partir de ciertas cosas que descubre Mandy, (una de las protagonista), empieza a destapar a la verdadera Tracey (otra de las protagonistas).
Cuando parece que todo va a terminar, NO, se pone mejor, la situación que viven ambas mejora y vuelven a ser las "mismas" de antes (bueno,, hay cambios pero se acoplan a ellos), pero vuelvo a como inicie: -Todo iba bien, muy bien hasta esa última carta. :'(
Recuerden lo siguiente: "Esto no empieza hasta que termina".
January 17, 2016
Muy bueno si estás dispuesto a pasar por alto la premisa inverosímil.
La verdad esperaba algo con más misterio y violencia, pero de hecho, a pesar que toca ciertos temas que pretenden ser fuertes lo considero un libro tierno y ligero. Son dos chicas que comienzan a escribirse por correo, ambas tienen vidas duras a pesar que no lo parezcan a simple vista y ven en la otra una amiga con la que pueden desahogarse. Me entretuvo y eso es exactamente lo que necesitaba.
Su final es abierto, un poco decepcionante pero entendible.
La verdad esperaba algo con más misterio y violencia, pero de hecho, a pesar que toca ciertos temas que pretenden ser fuertes lo considero un libro tierno y ligero. Son dos chicas que comienzan a escribirse por correo, ambas tienen vidas duras a pesar que no lo parezcan a simple vista y ven en la otra una amiga con la que pueden desahogarse. Me entretuvo y eso es exactamente lo que necesitaba.
Su final es abierto, un poco decepcionante pero entendible.
June 29, 2020
1.2 Estrellas ⭐
Es un libro muy fácil de leer, ya que se desarrolla a través de cartas. La historia que te cuentan no es muy emocionante ni nada por el estilo.
Simplemente son dos chicas que no se conocen y se hablan por correspondencia, contándose sus vidas y ese tipo de cosas, todo muy "normal".😐
Antes de empezar con la lectura, leí todos los comentarios negativos hacia el final y no pensé que realmente fuera tan pésimo "final", si es que se le puede llamar así... Detesto los finales abiertos y creo que esté podría entrar como uno de ellos.
No tengo mucho que decir sobre la historia, siento que lo que trató de ser el "clímax" de la historia, no lo fue, se quedó muy corto. Claramente existía cierta intriga de descubrir lo que pasaba y nunca te aclaran la situación, y eso me frustra demasiado.
Es un libro muy fácil de leer, ya que se desarrolla a través de cartas. La historia que te cuentan no es muy emocionante ni nada por el estilo.
Simplemente son dos chicas que no se conocen y se hablan por correspondencia, contándose sus vidas y ese tipo de cosas, todo muy "normal".😐
Antes de empezar con la lectura, leí todos los comentarios negativos hacia el final y no pensé que realmente fuera tan pésimo "final", si es que se le puede llamar así... Detesto los finales abiertos y creo que esté podría entrar como uno de ellos.
No tengo mucho que decir sobre la historia, siento que lo que trató de ser el "clímax" de la historia, no lo fue, se quedó muy corto. Claramente existía cierta intriga de descubrir lo que pasaba y nunca te aclaran la situación, y eso me frustra demasiado.
April 6, 2010
I hated the ending so much. When Mandy stopped answering the messages I found it very interesting and wanted to know what happened to her but NOOOO John Marsden found it best that I suffer through never knowing what happened. I mean if Mandy died her mom could've atleast written a note say something like:
We are sorry to have to tell you this but something terrible has happened to Mandy. She has been hit by a car and died instently (or something along those lines).
Or if she moved the new people owning the house could send something like:
Im sorry to tell you this but I have no idea who 'Manna' is. We just moved into this house and keep getting your messages. Will you please stop sending them
I dont know whatever happened. This book makes me frustrated..
We are sorry to have to tell you this but something terrible has happened to Mandy. She has been hit by a car and died instently (or something along those lines).
Or if she moved the new people owning the house could send something like:
Im sorry to tell you this but I have no idea who 'Manna' is. We just moved into this house and keep getting your messages. Will you please stop sending them
I dont know whatever happened. This book makes me frustrated..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2022
"What you know about me is what I choose to tell you..."
Every Australian teenager growing up in the 1990s devoured John Marsden's books because they were raw and true and always touched on taboo topics. The characters in his books are often flawed and ragged and real, which is perhaps why his books continue to hit home. I also think Marsden is the only middle-aged man who's ever been able to convincingly nail female characters and voices; he's quite amazing. I've now read this epistolary novel three times, twice as a pre-teen and once as an adult, and it still kills me. On the surface, it's about a friendship that develops between two teenage girls through letters. Below, there's so much shit going on, it's deeply disturbing. Now I finally have my own copy to keep and reread.
Every Australian teenager growing up in the 1990s devoured John Marsden's books because they were raw and true and always touched on taboo topics. The characters in his books are often flawed and ragged and real, which is perhaps why his books continue to hit home. I also think Marsden is the only middle-aged man who's ever been able to convincingly nail female characters and voices; he's quite amazing. I've now read this epistolary novel three times, twice as a pre-teen and once as an adult, and it still kills me. On the surface, it's about a friendship that develops between two teenage girls through letters. Below, there's so much shit going on, it's deeply disturbing. Now I finally have my own copy to keep and reread.
November 21, 2013
Soy bastante optimista e ingenua cuando se trata de adivinar los finales inconclusos de los libros, aunque claro eso no evito que pensará que Mandy murió, pero sin embargo me puse a pensar en su hermano (pff se me fue el nombre) y creo que lo que se hablo de el no haya sido solo para que el libro tuviera más paginas, presiento, sospecho y estoy segura que el tiene mucho que ver con lo que le paso a Mandy obviamente, pero claro es aquí donde aparece mi lado optimista y pienso que tal vez Mandy no murió o algo así, tal vez hubo una emergencia (NO MUERTES) y tuvieron que retirarse, mudarse o algo así, en fin me gusto mucho el libro, digamos que me llego, por eso le doy mis 5 estrellas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2014
This is a short book, where two teenage girls send letters to one another and become close friends.
I thought this was going to be a very light read and I was surprised when the dark theme of domestic violence was introduced. I was glad to see this though, as I thought it added a deeper dimension to the book.
At the start of the book, I found myself having to check whether Tracey or Mandy was narrating, as both characters seemed quite similar. This issue disappeared as Tracey's story was revealed.
I interpreted the ending of this book to symbolize an abrupt consequence of domestic violence, but it seemed that this was open to interpretation for the reader.
I thought this was going to be a very light read and I was surprised when the dark theme of domestic violence was introduced. I was glad to see this though, as I thought it added a deeper dimension to the book.
At the start of the book, I found myself having to check whether Tracey or Mandy was narrating, as both characters seemed quite similar. This issue disappeared as Tracey's story was revealed.
I interpreted the ending of this book to symbolize an abrupt consequence of domestic violence, but it seemed that this was open to interpretation for the reader.
December 2, 2019
I picked this book up from the second hand shop where I worked because I know who John Marsden was ( Tomorrow when the war begin series) and the bonus is that his an Australian author also but this book was OK for me. What I liked was when Mandy wanted a pen pal and instead answered a an ad in a magazine that Tracey posted and wrote letters ever since. But I thought there was going to be more to the story but it was a bit boring for me, that Mandy is talking about her struggles in her life and so as Tracey's personal struggles. So overall I wasn't happy with this book even though it let me down so for me it was a 1.5-2 stars.
March 17, 2014
I read this when I was a teenager, in the early years. There was something so painfully tragic and lyrical about the letters. If it was me, I think I would have done the same. I think I would have kept writing. The ending made me cry. Not because of what was said. But because of what wasn't said.
I loved this book.
And if you're worried about the bad reviews... go borrow it from a library instead. My copy is ex-library and falling apart. But it makes me happy how many hands it touched before mine. And makes me wonder how many lives it changed. Think about it :)
I loved this book.
And if you're worried about the bad reviews... go borrow it from a library instead. My copy is ex-library and falling apart. But it makes me happy how many hands it touched before mine. And makes me wonder how many lives it changed. Think about it :)
June 25, 2016
There are no words in the English alphabet (or any alphabet that I'm familiar with) that I can use to fabricate a review that can describe how I feel about this book.
But actions speak louder than words, so here is a pretty accurate reaction of mine upon finishing the novel:
But actions speak louder than words, so here is a pretty accurate reaction of mine upon finishing the novel:
Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews