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Waterhole
A haunting and engaging debut from a talented Australian author. Sixteen-year-old Sunny Maguire is dreading the school holidays. She used to love visiting her grandmother's farm but ever since her mother died in a tragic car accident, Sunny doesn't feel at home anywhere anymore and the farm is a constant reminder of what she has lost. She knows it's going to be a long summer. Worse, she has to spend it with her distant stepfather, Kevin, the only ‘family' she has left. On her return to the small town of Kelly's Crossing, Sunny is distracted by a new resident – Matthew Bright – and the disappearance of local teenager Dylan Koslovski. She gets involved in the search for Dylan along the mysterious Constant Creek Gorge, a beautiful location tainted by tragic drownings. Complications arise when Kevin becomes a suspect in the case and rumours begin to circulate. Sunny doesn't trust him and she's beginning to lose faith in herself, too, especially when she starts to see her mother's ghost.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2018
3 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 8, 2020
This story is not perfect but there is realism and truth and beauty in every chapter. Sunny, a teenage girl coming to terms with grief and loss, will not open up to counsellors and she lashes out at her stepfather Kevin, blaming him for her mother's death. She returns to her family farm in the rural North Queensland sugarcane town of Kelly's Crossing for the school holidays. She mopes around with dogs Mervie and Wolfie and cat Reggie while Kevin tries to connect with her but it's not working.
Sunny relates to Salinger's character Holden Caulfield until she meets local bad boy Matthew who shows just the right amount of compassion and frustration with her behaviour. They visit the waterhole, part of a spectacular waterfall cascading down ancient granite boulders to form rock pools, a great place to swim in hot tropical summers. A lot of the action takes place around these deep pools of clear, treacherous water. Sunny goes there to settle her mind but she makes some bad decisions.
Insomnia visits Sunny most nights, she has 'experiences' and they could or could not be real but she doesn't talk about them. She reconnects with a friend Zara and gets caught up in the accusations buzzing around regarding a missing school boy. Sunny's mind goes into overdrive, convinced he's dead, and she knows who did it. The unmasking is thrilling but perhaps the story rushes a little too fast towards a well-rounded conclusion.
One of the thought-provoking quotes. Sunny misses her mother badly and in the rainforest she smells her jasmine perfume and thinks "Noses have very accurate memories."
Sunny relates to Salinger's character Holden Caulfield until she meets local bad boy Matthew who shows just the right amount of compassion and frustration with her behaviour. They visit the waterhole, part of a spectacular waterfall cascading down ancient granite boulders to form rock pools, a great place to swim in hot tropical summers. A lot of the action takes place around these deep pools of clear, treacherous water. Sunny goes there to settle her mind but she makes some bad decisions.
Insomnia visits Sunny most nights, she has 'experiences' and they could or could not be real but she doesn't talk about them. She reconnects with a friend Zara and gets caught up in the accusations buzzing around regarding a missing school boy. Sunny's mind goes into overdrive, convinced he's dead, and she knows who did it. The unmasking is thrilling but perhaps the story rushes a little too fast towards a well-rounded conclusion.
One of the thought-provoking quotes. Sunny misses her mother badly and in the rainforest she smells her jasmine perfume and thinks "Noses have very accurate memories."
May 7, 2018
This is a beautiful story, beautifully written. The writing is so descriptive and evocative of Far North Queensland. The protagonist, Sunny, is quite complex and I love the way her character develops. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone, but particularly teenage girls. I would have loved this as a teen and even as an adult I could empathise with Sunny’s teenage frustrations. Great book!
July 18, 2024
The angst and insufferableness, oh how it hurts…
January 4, 2019
A beautifully crafted YA novel offering insight into the darkness and light of experience in the aftermath of the death of a loved one. Mysterious and suspenseful, Waterhole will have you guessing until the last page, while at the same time revelling in the haunting omnipresence of the Australian landscape, and the awkward encounters of youth.
April 25, 2021
Update: reread for readers cup question-making
Atmospheric, nuanced.
Atmospheric, nuanced.
June 26, 2018
This book was really good, it gave me a deep insight into the life of someone who has lost someone they loved. This book is about a girl called Sunny whose mother recently passed away. When she is living with her stepfather she gets caught up in a mystery.
The start of the book was very slow, and about 60 pages into the book, I had no motivation to continue reading. That is why I rated this book 3 stars. If I had not been given such a great recommendation I probably would have stopped reading there, but I'm glad I continued.
What I love most about this book, is the protagonist's self discovery. I absolutely loved seeing her grow, even though it wasn't always positive, I also liked how the romance was not a main part of the book, though I would have liked to see Matt more.
One problem with the book is that you only see Sunny grow, and there is little or no character growth in the secondary characters, I would have liked to learn more about Kevin (stepfather) and Zara (friend).
Another problem was the discovery of the murder was quite underwhelming, and the author rushes the ending after that.
Overall I enjoyed this book.
The start of the book was very slow, and about 60 pages into the book, I had no motivation to continue reading. That is why I rated this book 3 stars. If I had not been given such a great recommendation I probably would have stopped reading there, but I'm glad I continued.
What I love most about this book, is the protagonist's self discovery. I absolutely loved seeing her grow, even though it wasn't always positive, I also liked how the romance was not a main part of the book, though I would have liked to see Matt more.
One problem with the book is that you only see Sunny grow, and there is little or no character growth in the secondary characters, I would have liked to learn more about Kevin (stepfather) and Zara (friend).
Another problem was the discovery of the murder was quite underwhelming, and the author rushes the ending after that.
Overall I enjoyed this book.
January 16, 2022
Waterhole was a stunningly written book that encapsulates the ambiance and atmosphere of far North Queensland without the dullness or repetitiveness that some books of a similar setting fall victim to.
Sunny’s character was incredibly complex and helped build a strong foundation for the plot. Her narration was engaging and fulfilling enough that she had a sense of substance and flavour to make her distinct from the reader. However, she wasn’t so overpowering or saturated to a point of minimising the goal of the narrative. She was an effective protagonist to exist in isolation from the events of the novel while also being able to coexist with it.
However, Sunny’s character archetype isn’t my personal preference or most liked in a narrative sense. This was not a negative but rather allowed me to focus on the supporting cast which I felt were the stars of the novel. Kevin and Matt brought such a unique spontaneity and sense of distinction to the book.
It’s rare for a novel’s cast to be so individually complex, flawed and captivating. Each character displayed a diverse reaction to trauma and the psychology behind each action and behaviour adds another layer of nuance to the book’s story.
The plot itself, though a tad slower on the uptake than most novels of the genre, was incredibly compelling.
An overall great read and an excellent display of authorial talent.
Sunny’s character was incredibly complex and helped build a strong foundation for the plot. Her narration was engaging and fulfilling enough that she had a sense of substance and flavour to make her distinct from the reader. However, she wasn’t so overpowering or saturated to a point of minimising the goal of the narrative. She was an effective protagonist to exist in isolation from the events of the novel while also being able to coexist with it.
However, Sunny’s character archetype isn’t my personal preference or most liked in a narrative sense. This was not a negative but rather allowed me to focus on the supporting cast which I felt were the stars of the novel. Kevin and Matt brought such a unique spontaneity and sense of distinction to the book.
It’s rare for a novel’s cast to be so individually complex, flawed and captivating. Each character displayed a diverse reaction to trauma and the psychology behind each action and behaviour adds another layer of nuance to the book’s story.
The plot itself, though a tad slower on the uptake than most novels of the genre, was incredibly compelling.
An overall great read and an excellent display of authorial talent.
July 18, 2019
Despite initially being dull (the first 80 pages or so), I felt as though there was finally substance after this. There were some complexities in the plot, which engaged me, urging me to continue reading.
I am happy that I decided to continue reading this, rather than giving up on it.
I am happy that I decided to continue reading this, rather than giving up on it.
March 4, 2020
Really liked this book.
The author has beautifully portrayed the different ways each character is dealing with their own personal grief.
Along with the grief they are trying to navigate through, they are then forced under the microscope by locals when a crisis occurs within the community that ends up consuming their daily lives.
The author has beautifully portrayed the different ways each character is dealing with their own personal grief.
Along with the grief they are trying to navigate through, they are then forced under the microscope by locals when a crisis occurs within the community that ends up consuming their daily lives.
Read
April 16, 2018Sixteen-year-old Sunny Maguire is dreading the school holidays. She used to love visiting her grandmother’s farm but ever since her mother died in a tragic car accident, Sunny doesn’t feel at home anywhere anymore and the farm is a constant reminder of what she has lost. She knows it’s going to be a long summer. Worse, she has to spend it with her distant stepfather, Kevin, the only ‘family’ she has left.
On her return to the small town of Kelly’s Crossing, Sunny is distracted by a new resident – Matthew Bright – and the disappearance of local teenager Dylan Koslovski. She gets involved in the search for Dylan along the mysterious Constant Creek Gorge, a beautiful location tainted by tragic drownings.
Complications arise when Kevin becomes a suspect in the case and rumours begin to circulate. Sunny doesn’t trust him and she’s beginning to lose faith in herself, too, especially when she starts to see her mother’s ghost.
On her return to the small town of Kelly’s Crossing, Sunny is distracted by a new resident – Matthew Bright – and the disappearance of local teenager Dylan Koslovski. She gets involved in the search for Dylan along the mysterious Constant Creek Gorge, a beautiful location tainted by tragic drownings.
Complications arise when Kevin becomes a suspect in the case and rumours begin to circulate. Sunny doesn’t trust him and she’s beginning to lose faith in herself, too, especially when she starts to see her mother’s ghost.
July 19, 2018
Waterhole by Fiona Bell is so well written, I felt like I was living it. Highly recommend for teenagers, their parents and anyone who enjoys a really good read.
January 16, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this, so many things rang true for me, like how we deal with grief and sayings that my mother uses. Beautifully written with well developed characters.
April 7, 2022
A beautiful novel about heartbreak and loss through the eyes of a struggling teenager trying to find herself through the grief of losing her mother. Could not put it down from the moment I picked it up.
April 30, 2021
Update: the day after
That was harsh, perhaps I should elaborate. Fiona Bell writes with a lyrical beauty, hence all the quotes I took down. The book has good coverage of the different ways people grieve.
The story was too predictable for me. And I saw no reason for the ghosts, adding nothing to the story. The characters were flimsy cardboard tropes: dead mother, evil stepdad, instalove boyfriend with no chemistry. The three kisses that Sunny filed into her greatest memories box, were non-events. You haven't kissed Sunny, if there's no tongue.
************
I don't see the point.
That was harsh, perhaps I should elaborate. Fiona Bell writes with a lyrical beauty, hence all the quotes I took down. The book has good coverage of the different ways people grieve.
The story was too predictable for me. And I saw no reason for the ghosts, adding nothing to the story. The characters were flimsy cardboard tropes: dead mother, evil stepdad, instalove boyfriend with no chemistry. The three kisses that Sunny filed into her greatest memories box, were non-events. You haven't kissed Sunny, if there's no tongue.
************
I don't see the point.
July 31, 2022
This is such an amazing book. It is very detailed and it is very good for tenns/ young adults.
As I was reading this I just got lost in the pages and it felt like I was really there and I was watching it.
I was so glad when Kevin wasn't the killer because I did feel for him, all he wanted to do was love Sunny but she thought he had killed her mum.
As I was reading this I just got lost in the pages and it felt like I was really there and I was watching it.
I was so glad when Kevin wasn't the killer because I did feel for him, all he wanted to do was love Sunny but she thought he had killed her mum.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2018
I loved this book from cover to cover, so much emotion, brought tears where I didn't expect them.
April 13, 2023
First 70 pages or so were pretty slow. I am happy that I continued reading this but I felt like it could be better. Sunny didn’t really have a character arc and by halfway through the book I knew that Dylan was dead and who killed him. I also would’ve liked to see more of Matt mentioned but I felt like the romance was hurried with not much depth or reason to it. Ending was really rushed with not much of a conclusion or explanation and some parts were repetitive. However, I liked the read but again, I feel like the story could be something more.
June 22, 2019
2/5 Stars
Honestly this story wasnf bad it actually ended up being a great story but ths main character annoyed me to the point of wanting to DNF this book every other chapter but i pushed through. It was a great story with some tough topics discussed and explored but honeslty its couldve been so much more. I found it mostly boring though the ending saved the story a bit.
Honestly this story wasnf bad it actually ended up being a great story but ths main character annoyed me to the point of wanting to DNF this book every other chapter but i pushed through. It was a great story with some tough topics discussed and explored but honeslty its couldve been so much more. I found it mostly boring though the ending saved the story a bit.
November 14, 2018
Young adult novel set in a small Australian town. Sunny is 16 yrs old and is back home from school for the first time since the death of her mum. Sunny blames her step-father and makes things very difficult. Thrown into the mix is the disappearance of a local 12yr old boy. A good read.
April 18, 2024
This is a gem. The tension she creates about handling grief and relationships is realistic and relatable. I was almost bursting for her to tell about her inner turmoil - surely she could trust someone with what she's thinking and feeling!
September 6, 2018
A very compelling story with relatable situations and characters.
March 19, 2020
An emotional ride.
August 30, 2022
Some parts got a bit repetitive but story line is good and easy to follow with nice setting descriptions that help set a environment for the book
July 13, 2023
very good book
September 11, 2020
If you can get past an angsty, short fused 16 year old girl who is the main character, you will find that this book is so well written and you come to realise how sad the characters and story line actually is. After Sunny's mother dies, she has to go live with her stepfather whom she blames for her mother's accident until a boy goes missing in her local town and she is forced to rethink everything she ever thought about her stepfather and the people in her town. I love books set in rural Australia with small town drama that can send a whole town in to chaos however I think if less focus was on Sunny and her, what I found to be at times unbearable attitude and disrespect to those trying to help her, the book could have explored other characters more as they were just as complex and damaged with their own story to tell.
September 9, 2019
I really liked this book- the mystery aspect was so interesting and everything that happened just seemed so real!
December 30, 2019
Such an amazing book!! Absolutely love how its set in Queensland and how it gives heaps of context. Not even half way through and hooked.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews