Tearaways

by Robin Klein

Stories deal with a grandmother who is visited by someone who claims to be the reincarnation of her sister, a group of boarding-school students who unmercifully torment an unpopular classmate, a boy imprisoned in a soundproof room for sixteen years by his mother and aunt, and other situations

Genres: Childrens

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (1991).

Robin Klein was born 28 February 1936 in Kempsey, New South Wales into a family of nine children. Leaving school at age 15, Klein worked several jobs before becoming established as a writer, having her first story published at age 16. She would go on to write more than 40 books, including Hating Alison Ashley (adapted into a feature film starring Delta Goodrem in 2005), Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left (adapted into a television series for the Seven Network in 1992), and Came Back to Show You I Could Fly (adapted into a film directed by Richard Lowenstein in 1993).

Klein’s books are hugely celebrated, having won the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Award in both the Younger Readers and the Older Readers categories, as well as a Human Rights Award for Literature in 1989 for Came Back to Show You I Could Fly. Klein is widely considered one of Australia’s most prolific and beloved YA authors.

Reviews

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another in that grand late 80s-90s tradition of Australian short story collections for "young adults" before that marketing term actually existed (at least in a mainstream literary sense). Lots of really interesting and clever character pieces with the vague focus on semi-outcasts (a lot with a satisfying vengeful streak) and coupled with some disciplined, but effective writing - it's very, very good.

If you liked some of Paul Jenning's darker stories like "No Means Yes", you'd be right at home here. In all honesty though Robin Klein's work here is a little more mature than the likes of Jennings and I think for that reason it has appeal outside of it's target audience (then again, so does Jennings) and not just for nostalgic old sods like myself.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little vignettes about just deserts and outcasts. Delightful reading.

[Kate Arnott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember the first story really freaking me out when I was younger, but I don't remember much of the other ones.

[Luan On · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little addicted to Robin Klein's writing, have read most of her books. She writes with such devilish humor, specialising in neurotic, bossy characters and their timid, preyed-upon victims. This collection of stories expands upon themes of school bullying / class hierarchy (Little Beast, Stone Angel, Getting Even) that she has addressed in earlier books "Hating Alison Ashley" and "The Lonely Hearts Club". The darkest story of the bunch is "Someone, Somewhere": like a fairy tale gone awry - a mother's well meaning gift for her disabled son results in tragedy. "Elpy" is a twisty story about a con artist getting her comeuppance, "We'll Look After You" has a touch of Stephen King's "Misery" and "A Perfectly Lovely Time" allows Klein to let her imagination run wild, through the eyes of a loner girl telling tall stories as a means of social acceptance.

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soobie a dodici anni:

Bel libro. Il racconto più bello è L'angelo caduto dove c'è una ragazzina un po' strana. Alcune sue amiche la prendono sempre in giro facendole dei dispetti e dicendole i compiti sbagliati. Ma le si arrabbia e arriva il suo angioletto (oh) custode.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

As to be expected with short story collections some were a lot better than others but these were generally of a high standard and typical of Robin Kleins story telling.