Cross My Heart

by Maureen McCarthy

Cross My Heart is the story of a 17 year old girl from a country-family who runs away from home after deciding that she doesn’t want to marry her boyfriend as is expected of her just because she is pregnant (she was never asked about the marriage, he just asked her parents and it was excepted that she would accept the situation), and an ex-crim in his early twenties who has just got out of jail on good behaviour. Both looking for work. He offers her a lift on his bike to save her being picked up by a group of guys he knows is danger and they end up riding across half of Australia.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance

439 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Maureen McCarthy, the ninth of ten children, was born in 1953 in country Victoria. She has worked as a teacher in Victorian secondary schools and has written scripts for television and educational films. Her film credits include 'Skipping Class', he award-winning documentary, 'Eating Your Heart Out', and the SBS mini-series, 'In Between', which was later adapted inot four novels by Maureen. Her latest works includes the novels Ganglands and Cross My Heart, which was published in 1993 and short-listed for the NSW Premier's Prize in that year. An Australian author and scriptwriter, her novels concern the lives of emerging adults, from ages sixteen to early twenties. McCarthy has three sons and lives in Melbourne.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this!

Despite it being a bit dated language wise, the themes and issues are still highly relevant.

I HATED Michelle's mother and Kevin, the father of the baby, absolute asshats.
In her situation I probably would have run too.

I enjoyed the reality of Michelle and Mick's reactions to everything. Discounting their over the top Aussie-ness in their speech, their reactions were genuine and believable.

Mick is an amazing guy. He is a big softie and does right by Michelle where everyone else hasn't. I fell for him a little bit. And Chas! He's the dad that Mick and Michelle both needed.

This story was both heart rending and truthful and despite being written in the 90s and reading a little old fashioned and probably not having any appeal to an audience outside Australia, Cross My Heart is an excellent book.

[Arina Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

die Geschichte hat mir sehr gut gefallen. kann man auch als junger Erwachsener lesen :)

[When in doubt, go to the library. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember loving this book when I read it as a teenager, I thought it was so romantic. It’s still a good story and I enjoy Maureen McCarthy’s writing (except for that clunky love scene), but I was surprised by how unlike-able I found the characters this time. Michelle was an utter moron - an entire pregnancy without touching base with a doctor and then trying to give birth without telling anyone? She was stubborn to the point of stupidity. And Mick was just a giant red flag, I didn’t find him to be the dreamy bad boy of my youth either. A bit disappointing.

[Petya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Определено ми хареса книгата. Приятно ненатоварващо четиво. Четенето върви леко. И в същото време има много ценни неща в нея, особено за млади хора. За трудния старт, който понякога не може да се предвиди. За изборите, които правим в живота си и тяхното отражение. За отговорността, която носим за действията си и последствията от тях. Освен всичко това, книгата е и за любовта, всъщност най-вече за любовта - между мъжа и жената, между родителите и децата - и от двете позиции - на родите и на дете. Авторката е добър психолог и развива героите си естествено и истиснки. Хареса ми.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Maureen McCarthy's writing style and character development... they always seem so real and easy to connect and relate with, despite their circumstances! I just really enjoyed reading this and I honestly just kind of fell in love with the characters!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book, very easy to read