Stranded in Boringsville

by Catherine Bateson

As far as Rain May is concerned, Clarkson is Boringsville. It's a million miles from nowhere and doesn't even have a pizza parlor. Plus, she'll have to shuttle back and forth between there and her father's apartment in Melbourne on weekends. But gradually, her new home's fruit-tree-filled garden, the area's astonishing wildlife, and the quirky draw of Daniel, the phenomenally bright boy next door, begin to win Rain over. When Rain learns of Daniel's particular burden, of which he's never complained, she begins to see her own life in a new light.

Told partly in poems composed with refrigerator magnets and partly in Daniel's reports on the "aliens" next door, this unconventional, rich, and satisfying story offers plenty of humor and lots of heart.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Fiction, Australia, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2002

About the author

Catherine Bateson has won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers twice and received three Honour Book Awards, including one for Older Readers. She teaches in the Professional Writing and Editing course at TAFE but is also available for school visits, to talk about both fiction writing and poetry.

Where were you born?
I was born in Sydney, but grew up in Brisbane where my mother owned a secondhand bookshop.

What other jobs have you had?
I’ve been an incredibly bad waitress, but otherwise my work has all been within the arts and education sphere.

What themes are recurring in your work?
The theme of family is strong in my work – the families we make ourselves, rather than are born into. I put this down to being an only child – and also my father’s death when I was nine.

What have been the highlights of your career?
Without doubt, the highlights have been winning CBCA awards and the Queensland Premier’s Children’s Book Award. Having my third collection of poetry published in an environment that is financially hostile to poetry is also a highlight.

http://bookedout.com.au/find-a-speake...

Reviews

[Aaron Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And I know we’ll be friends forever now, because you don’t just forget seeing a platypus with someone, do you? Or how that person showed you who you could be, if you tried. And they cared enough.”

Shut up. I’m not crying - you are.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I Was stuck in boringsville reading this book!

[Fabiola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, "Stranded in Boringsville" by Catherine Bateson is about a young girl named Rain whose parents are divorced and she is staying with her mother. Her mother wants a fresh new start and decides that they move to the country. This is so that she is farther away from her ex husband. Rain did not like the idea of living in the country because that would mean there would not be any more quick grocery shopping and ordering pizza. She also didn’t like the fact that she had to bathe in the same musty water as her mother’s. My favorite character from the book would be the main character, Rain. I like her because she is kind of like me in some sort of way. She does not like living in the countryside. I did like this book because it included poetry, Rain and her mother like poetry, but Rain’s favorite type of poetry would be ‘Fridge Poetry.’ Everyday, Rain would change the letters on the fridge to create a poem for her mother to read. My least favorite character in the story would be her mother, Maggie because she is kind of weird and has a different taste. In the story, Maggie says, “There’s a wood stove, a slow combustion stove.” She likes weird antiques and I personally wouldn’t get something that takes too long to cook. This book was very cool and I do recommend it.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! So many of the things mentioned in the story are relatable to me.
Rain May and Captain Daniel follows the story of two kids in their last years of primary school struggling with the power balance on the playground as well as learning who they are and about the world. Rain May is the new girl from the city, who chooses to hang out with Daniel, the boy who won't play sports due to a heart condition and is extremely smart and loves Star Trek. They teach each other the ways of coping with adults, family struggles, change and bullying.

I love the way the story was easy paced and just explored the country life of rural Victoria. Set in Clarkson, Victoria, Catherine Bateson includes native animals, a glimpse of the bush life and an Australian view on American society.

The novel reflects also on the themes of our busy lives and how work can affect children and the family more than most people think.

The theme of playground bullying and individuality is also written really well by Bateson, and she provides an empathetic look into the lives of children who are shunned in the playground for having different interests or being 'too smart.'

I really connected with this book because I have experienced visiting a child with a heart condition, witnessed playground bullying and shunning due to lack of understanding by other kids, and live in Melbourne so understand all the references to the festivals and the zoo.

5 out of 5 stars to Rain May and Captain Daniel, a thoroughly enjoyable book that connected with me and provided a very broad understanding of te Australian culture in early 2000's.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book. Aww! I loved it. I just want to give it a big hug. Rain is a terrific character, a great role model. She's sparky and intelligent, she doesn't take any crap, and she sticks up for herself and her friends. Daniel was really relatable too, I knew a lot of kids just like him at school. The mum, Maggie, was maybe a *little* bit too perfectly wise and calm and understanding, but I loved this book enough to forgive any minor faults.

I think this book deals with some really important issues and delivers some really great messages - loyalty to your friends, dealing with your parents splitting up, and the fact that it's ok to be different to the crowd - but, CRUCIALLY, it does it in a subtle way. The story comes first, you definitely don't feel like you're being hit over the head with the Moral. I think this is where a lot of YA and Children's books fall in a hole. Kids aren't stupid, they notice when the author's agenda comes before the plot.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain May is a tween dealing with two major life events: her parents separate and she moves to a new town. She embodies the spirit of a pre-teen who can be quickly vacillate between love and hate for her dad depending upon whether or not circumstances are favorable. Rain reminds the reader how hard it is to be a pre-teen, an age when you are expected to act maturely, yet have very little control over your own life. Fitting in is hard, and the perspectives of Daniel and Rain drive that point home as they navigate their way through school as the odd people out. Stranded in Boringsville might appeal more to girls than boys because of the girly cover, but it includes chapters written in the first person by her friend Daniel who is a huge Trekkie fan. I’d suggest this to tweens age ten and older.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part this book was very enjoyable. The use of magnetic poetry between chapters was interesting, and I really enjoyed the voice of Daniel when he narrated (he wrote as a Star Trek Captain). The downsides to this book were the use of Australian slang with no explanation (it took me 50 some pages to even figure out they were in Australia), and the overall preachy-ness of the book. It just left me feeling that this book was very unauthentic, that the author hadn't actually spent time with 12 year olds in the recent future and was writing a book about how to make everyone friends.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the first time many years ago and fell in love with both Rain May and her friend Daniel. I always enjoy books told from alternating perspectives like in this one, as the story switches back and forth between Rain May's first person narrative chapters and Captain Daniel's humerous log entries and the occasional fridge poems. The special relationship between Rain May and her mum warmed my heart over and over again. And of course, reading about them snuggling up and reading to each other was wonderful. So beautiful!

[Mr. Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking place in Australia, this story's protagonist is 12-year-old Rain who moves with her mother to the country and befriends an unpopular boy next door. The boy is a big fan of Star Trek and, while I know nothing about the show, I found myself laughing out loud several times at some of his comments. OK book overall...I likely would never read it again or recommend it to anybody who is not a Star Trek fan.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

After rain's parents broke up rain's mum changed hername to maggie and they both moved from the city to the country.the house is old and there is quite alot of work to do!
She ends up next door to a "phenomenally smart" boy into star trekk and isn't very popular at school.
He shows Rain the platypuses and they both become great friends!
Anyone from age 10-38 would love this heart-warming book.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought I'd read a nice short, light story after my last novel. Chose this one on the basis that Catherine Bateson is flying over tomorrow, and I'm so glad I did. It was lovely. Being a fan of Star Trek myself I understood all those references, and I loved both Rain May and Daniel as characters. Highly recommended - particularly for younger people, ages 10-13 yrs.

[Mayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good middle grade book for kids going through parents' separation or divorce. Although it take place in Australia and of course has some terms not familiar to our kids, it's pretty easy to figure out what they mean : torches for flashlights, for one. Easy reading, a bit dated but interesting nevertheless. Sweet.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book about a girl who moves to the country to start fresh. she lives next door the unpopular boy who can't do regular activities like the other kids. Rain, helps him have a friend but doesn't know why he can't be like the other kids, who run around. Read to find out what it is!

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book the plot at times made me want to cry, I also liked all the star trek in it. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that some of the words were spelled wrong and that absolutley drove me crazy!!!

[Deadra Berry]

HI my name is De'Adra Berry.I like this book because it's knda realistic. In this book ir's a little girl who is just bored of her parents arguing. Her parents are getting a divorce. I really this book becuase its like some of the people in the fam. thank you bye.

[meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

young adult fiction. i have to teach this to my Yr.7 class this term - really cute. well written and good message. i like young adult fiction!

[Buffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iloved it it didnt really have a problem but reading about dannielles mysterious family

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

hard to get into but its really good

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again pretty good, nice simple plot about friendship. I think it's nice how Rain could be super popular if she liked but she stays with Daniel anyway. (Don't worry, I didn't just give away the plot.)

[Bronwyn]

Iloved this book from the beginning to the end. It really gives you the feeling that when something happens that you might not agree with, something good will come from it.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful, quick read! I enjoyed trying to imagine their Australian accents, too. Great characters, great story with some funny narration by Rain May and, Daniel, too.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were lots of Star Trek references that I'm not sure most kids would get, but I sure appreciated them.

[Lisa the Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The references to science fiction shows was fun. I also liked the friendship between the main character and the neighbor boy, but overall I found this to be a bit forgettable.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was waiting for a serial killer or for some excitement but it never came. It was still an enjoyable book though.

[Nicole Loreno · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the title, Stranded in Boringsville, it is somewhat boring. The plot and twists of the story are very simple.

[Siobhan]

not my favourite!

[Christina Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain’s First Weekend Away Fridge Poem. “This girl, will miss you, my most and only, my always, a fat kiss, and no sad, from me your daughter.” There are many reasons why I love this book, but my favorite is the poems. The poems in books are what attract me because they have a meaning to them. It is as if the author actually meant to put a deep meaning to the book. I would totally recommend this book to people who love poems because this author puts a lot of effort into making these poems to make the characters have a deeper meaning. This book was a very interesting book and the cool part was that there were two sides to the book. First it would be Rain’s perspective and then it was Daniel’s perspective. Rain’s struggle was dealing with the fact that she had to move out of her old house and into a new house, in a new city, in an even older house. Then she met this friend and his name is Daniel, she never suspected he was hiding something until it finally happened. Read the book to find out what happened because if I say it, I would spoil it, so I left you with the suspense. I learned that even though things may go bad, they might always get better. Rain though she would always hate her new house but in reality she actually started to like her house even though she had no pizza place around which she had said.