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Gabriel is fifteen years old. Fifteen going on fifty, his mom used to tease.
But after her death, he’s no longer sure where he is supposed to fit in.
The psychologist wants Gabriel to talk about his feelings.
But how do you explain to her that it’s been easier to cope with anger than with tears these past few months?
How do you explain the fact that your so-called “mixed blood” makes you different than everyone else at school?
How do you explain that things between you and your dad have changed since he’s in a mental institution, learning to deal with his loss, while you have to find a way to go on with your life?
How do you explain the fact that, since the accident, you’ve tried cutting your wrists ... twice?
So, Gabriel loses himself in the world of performance poetry, where he learns to stick his hand deep inside his backpack of words and fling those words at an audience, like red-hot coals.
Then he meets Sasha, who’s prettier than Snow White and knows a thing or two about poetry ...
A truly South African story about a struggling father-and-son relationship and the healing power of words. Van der Vyver writes convincingly and engagingly about the world of performance poetry and Gabriel’s desperate attempts to make sense of life’s challenges after the death of his mom.
But after her death, he’s no longer sure where he is supposed to fit in.
The psychologist wants Gabriel to talk about his feelings.
But how do you explain to her that it’s been easier to cope with anger than with tears these past few months?
How do you explain the fact that your so-called “mixed blood” makes you different than everyone else at school?
How do you explain that things between you and your dad have changed since he’s in a mental institution, learning to deal with his loss, while you have to find a way to go on with your life?
How do you explain the fact that, since the accident, you’ve tried cutting your wrists ... twice?
So, Gabriel loses himself in the world of performance poetry, where he learns to stick his hand deep inside his backpack of words and fling those words at an audience, like red-hot coals.
Then he meets Sasha, who’s prettier than Snow White and knows a thing or two about poetry ...
A truly South African story about a struggling father-and-son relationship and the healing power of words. Van der Vyver writes convincingly and engagingly about the world of performance poetry and Gabriel’s desperate attempts to make sense of life’s challenges after the death of his mom.
206 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2019
9 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Marita van der Vyver
45 books143 followersMarita van der Vyver is the author of a dozen novels, a collection of short stories, two collections of humorous essays, picture books for children, many short stories and essays in anthologies, and regular columns in newspapers and magazines. Her books have been published in English, Dutch and German, and her first novel, published in English as Entertaining Angels, became a bestseller and was translated into twelve languages. She lives in France with her family.
Marita van der Vyver is die skrywer van ’n tiental romans, ’n bundel kortverhale, twee versamelings van humoristiese essays, prenteboeke vir kleuters, talle kortverhale en essays in versamelbundels, en gereelde rubrieke in koerante en tydskrifte. Haar boeke word deurgaans in Engels, Hollands en Duits vertaal na die sukses van haar eerste roman vir volwassenes, Griet skryf ’n sprokie, ’n literêre sensasie wat in sowat ’n dosyn tale gepubliseer is. Twee van haar romans, Die ongelooflike avonture van Hanna Hoekom en Dis koue kos, skat, is verfilm. Sy woon in Frankryk saam met haar familie.
Marita van der Vyver is die skrywer van ’n tiental romans, ’n bundel kortverhale, twee versamelings van humoristiese essays, prenteboeke vir kleuters, talle kortverhale en essays in versamelbundels, en gereelde rubrieke in koerante en tydskrifte. Haar boeke word deurgaans in Engels, Hollands en Duits vertaal na die sukses van haar eerste roman vir volwassenes, Griet skryf ’n sprokie, ’n literêre sensasie wat in sowat ’n dosyn tale gepubliseer is. Twee van haar romans, Die ongelooflike avonture van Hanna Hoekom en Dis koue kos, skat, is verfilm. Sy woon in Frankryk saam met haar familie.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 12, 2023
sjoe, wat 'n great boek. wonderlike storie met wonderlike karakters.
August 5, 2024
Ek kon regtig nie minder omgee oor Gabriel of enige van die ander karakters nie. Ek was aan die slaap vir tenminste 80% van hierdie boek. Goodreads laat my nie toe om 0 sterre te gee nie- so ek gee 1. Die karakter ontwikkeling is so afgerammel en wishy-washy. En ek wou in Sasha se voetstappe volg en my polse sny elke keer wat Gabriel aangegaan het oor hoe sleg hy vir homself voel. Ek het ook myself DOOD gecringe vir elke gesprek tussen hom en Sasha (and don’t even get me STARTED met Sasha se “stay weird” beanie). As jy vir my vra hoe hierdie boek geëindig het, sal ek eerlik waar nie vir jou kan sê nie. Ek sal hierdie boek voorstel vir mense wat hulle-self deur 181 bladsye se depressie en mismoedigheid wil sit.
Needless to say- ek het dit geHAAT❤️
Needless to say- ek het dit geHAAT❤️
September 3, 2017
Dit is nou regtig 'n mooi boek en ek sal dit vir enige tiener aanbeveel. Ek is mal oor die "young adult" boeke.
Die boek handel oor Gabriel en sy emosies oor sy ma wat dood is asook sy pa se ineenstorting. Hy is woedend. Vir sy ma omdat sy dood gegaan het, vir sy pa omdat hy net altyd stilbly en wegkyk, vir homself. Hy moet die sielkundige gaan sien en so deur sy emosies werk. Hy leer vir Sneeuwitjie of eerder Sasha ken wat haar eie donker geheim het waarteen sy wroeg.
Die boek handel oor Gabriel en sy emosies oor sy ma wat dood is asook sy pa se ineenstorting. Hy is woedend. Vir sy ma omdat sy dood gegaan het, vir sy pa omdat hy net altyd stilbly en wegkyk, vir homself. Hy moet die sielkundige gaan sien en so deur sy emosies werk. Hy leer vir Sneeuwitjie of eerder Sasha ken wat haar eie donker geheim het waarteen sy wroeg.
July 4, 2022
I loved this book it kept me interested and brought my attention to some important topics, also the fact that it's South African makes me relate to it. Evan tho I think sasha and gabriel helped eachother work threw some things and I loved that she came to the slam performance at the end and kissed him.
I don't think sasha is good for him and I didn't like that the end was only about that and like they'll be happy ever after it would have been better if at the end they decided to remain friends until they would work threw the problems in their lives
I don't think sasha is good for him and I didn't like that the end was only about that and like they'll be happy ever after it would have been better if at the end they decided to remain friends until they would work threw the problems in their lives
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2020
Wat 'n lieflike boek! Ek beveel dit sterk aan vir tieners en vir grootmense.
December 12, 2024
Mal oor die oorspronklike plot en oulike karakters, maar die dialoog tussen tieners en veral die spraakgebruik het baie gepla. Dit voel net nie geloofwaardig nie en het weg gevat van die mooi storie.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews