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The Crossing: Has He Got Everything Wrong and Is There Any Coming Back?
Tim is nearing the end of his final year of secondary school and all he wants is for it to finish. Against his better judgement he agrees to the Principal’s request for him to “buddy up” with Gabriel, a refugee from South Sudan. Two months and it’ll be done, he tells himself. But when both Tim and Gabriel’s father each make one simple, but momentous decision, they are propelled in directions they never imagined they’d go. Murph doesn’t get it, Cat is shocked and angry, and Gabriel is in a coma. Tim must re-evaluate his relationships with his mother and estranged father and ultimately decide if he’s got everything all wrong, and if there’s any coming back.
What a ... very insightful and thought-provoking work! It touched on some real issues encountered by African young people. I could not stop reading it. - Dr William Abur, PhD and South Sudanese Australian.
This is an intriguing and gripping tale of African migration, coming of age, the consequences of our decisions and the journey to redemption. The highly relatable characters grapple with what it means to fit in and the meaning of friendship and family. This story is highly suited to a senior secondary English classroom, especially boys, as well as an adult audience.
Tara Sherlock - Senior English Teacher, Literacy Leader
The Crossing is told with grace, dignity and respect. It is very readable and the characters feel real. It is one of those crossover stories that will engage both YA and adult readers alike. - Julie Capaldo, Editor and award winning author.
What a ... very insightful and thought-provoking work! It touched on some real issues encountered by African young people. I could not stop reading it. - Dr William Abur, PhD and South Sudanese Australian.
This is an intriguing and gripping tale of African migration, coming of age, the consequences of our decisions and the journey to redemption. The highly relatable characters grapple with what it means to fit in and the meaning of friendship and family. This story is highly suited to a senior secondary English classroom, especially boys, as well as an adult audience.
Tara Sherlock - Senior English Teacher, Literacy Leader
The Crossing is told with grace, dignity and respect. It is very readable and the characters feel real. It is one of those crossover stories that will engage both YA and adult readers alike. - Julie Capaldo, Editor and award winning author.
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 26, 2023
A great debut by Ernie Rijs! Can’t wait for the sequel!
The Crossing is a fantastic exploration into a number of issues facing contemporary Australia: the experience of its refugees, racist prejudices, criminal underworld, as well as issues facing the ordinary teenager: exams, parental divorce, difficult friendships.
The Crossing starts with Tim being asked to ‘buddy’ a new addition to the school, Gabriel Dau. The first half explores past events in the lives of Gabriel and Tim, and the effects these have on their present. After a traumatic event involving the two, the book picks up the pace drastically. I found myself unable to put it down as I tried to guess how the book would end!
Ernie has masterfully captured the character and experience of his two protagonists. The book contains a number of flashbacks and dream sequences, and Ernie’s writing takes you right there, in the middle of the action.
I highly recommend this book, and can definitely see it being put on a school reading list in future!
The Crossing is a fantastic exploration into a number of issues facing contemporary Australia: the experience of its refugees, racist prejudices, criminal underworld, as well as issues facing the ordinary teenager: exams, parental divorce, difficult friendships.
The Crossing starts with Tim being asked to ‘buddy’ a new addition to the school, Gabriel Dau. The first half explores past events in the lives of Gabriel and Tim, and the effects these have on their present. After a traumatic event involving the two, the book picks up the pace drastically. I found myself unable to put it down as I tried to guess how the book would end!
Ernie has masterfully captured the character and experience of his two protagonists. The book contains a number of flashbacks and dream sequences, and Ernie’s writing takes you right there, in the middle of the action.
I highly recommend this book, and can definitely see it being put on a school reading list in future!
March 16, 2023
Set in Australia, on the surface, The Crossing is a coming of age novel that explores the challenges of Tim as he approaches the conclusion of his secondary education. There are the expected family issues and peer group pressures but they are given a new perspective by the juxtaposition of Tim's story with that of his Sudanese newly arrived classmate Gabriel. As the parallel stories enfold and entwine, the depth and complexity of the Sudanese tragedy is revealed. This novel is a real page turner. Its twin themes of the consequences of decisions and the complexity of the refugee experience mean that it is a book for our time. It deserves to be widely read by not just young adults but also adults in general.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews