Teenagers: The Rise of Youth Culture in New Zealand

by Chris Brickell

Teenagers is a groundbreaking history of young people in New Zealand from the nineteenth century to the 1960s. Through the diaries and letters, photographs and drawings that teenagers left behind, we meet New Zealanders as they transition from children to sealers and bushfellers, factory girls and newspaper boys, the male ‘mashers’ of the 1880s and the female ‘flappers’ of the 1910s and ’20s, schoolgirls and rock’n’rollers, larrikins and louts. By taking us inside the lives of young New Zealanders, the book illuminates from a new angle large-scale changes in our society.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

382 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2017

Reviews

[She's So Novel! ꧁꧂]

4.5★

I'll write my review first and choose pictures to insert later, as this books biggest strength is the lavish amount of illustrations. I loved having these youthful faces gaze out at me.

Mary Annie Hargreaves 1866

Another strength is Brickell's meticulous noting of sources. The reference side of the book is nearly 40 pages of the book's content.

Brickell's writing style is warm and engaging - as is that of his very young sources. A lot of the 19th century teens illustrated their journals in impressive detail - that poor teacher "old Squeers!"

1851

Would have been a good way to occupy their time! Even New Zealand in the 1950s/19600s you were a happier person if you could make your own fun!

Playing kilikiti, an Islander version of cricket, 1959

Toga Party. Undated & I remember them being popular in the 70s

This book discusses things I knew about New Zealand's past. The freedom outside work gave the young from the near slavery of domestic service & the huge hours in farming.

Huia & Alene, two young workers in a NZR (New Zealand Railways) canteen in the 1950s.

And the book tackles the Subject That Must Not Be Mentioned in our conservative past. The photos were more than I was expecting. How sad it would have been to be ignored - at best. Treated as committing a criminal offence at the worst.

Young lovers from the turn of the 20th century.

Because the coverage of the 70s/80s was so cursory there is little mention of the lethal teen killer - drink & driving. As the book so rightly states, car ownership was either a dream for most young Kiwis pre 1970 - or they had an old "Bomb" which they spent more time pushing or repairing. The book has missed an opportunity to link opportunity with youthful recklessness - & yes, the harm alcohol has done in this country. I'm a drinker myself, but it isn't something that can be ignored.

But the big weakness for me was in the book's finish. A cursory afterward about the 70s/80s, but really the book's time period finishes at 1965. I was disappointed as 1966-8 for me is the most fascinating time ever to be an adolescent. A quick flick through the book & seeing the 70s & 80s photos certainly gave me the impression that this period was going to be covered. It really felt like Brickell ran out of steam & decided to wind the book up.

Hopefully this criticism isn't too off putting for other readers, as what Brickell has achieved is quite remarkable. I have never seen adolescent life covered like this for any other country.

This book is on the longlist for the 2018 Ockham Awards for illustrated non fiction & really deserves this honour.

& I'll finish with my favourite photo - one that shows two faces full of promise, hopes & dreams.

Lovely.

[Giuliano]

Great history of the rise of teenage culture in New Zealand, complete with a number of beautiful photos. I especially enjoyed the chapter on the mid-1800s and 1950s. The author dedicates a good amount of time to each chapter and you can see he has done a lot of research into the subjects. Highly recommended