View from a Kite

by Maureen Hull

A teenager in the 1970s, Gwen is stuck in one of the last tuberculosis sanatoriums in Nova Scotia. Thoughtful and observant, she documents her surroundings in the hospital, especially the characters living with her in the anachronistic TB ward. Gwen’s method of handling her isolating sickness is to learn as much about it as she can, and interspersed throughout the book are Gwen’s research notes on the disease itself. Gwen is funny and wry about most situations, from her stairwell fling with a fellow patient to one night’s drunken escape at a party in town. But threaded through her writing are glimpses of a violent and dark stain on her recent past. We slowly learn that Gwen’s mother is in a mental hospital and doesn’t remember her daughter, and that Gwen’s father is dead. Close to the end of the book, the full story comes out—Gwen’s father shot her mother, tried to shoot Gwen, and killed himself. But the tragedy is not the crux of the story; Gwen’s humour, strength, and resilience in the face of illness and adversity are. Engaging, entertaining, and deeply touching, this is one of the finest Teen books to come out of this region.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not a cheesy "insprational" book that sounds like a Disney script.It dosent have rainbows and unicorns and happily ever afters.Its honest and raw and moving.Gwen is a heroine that I actually felt I could relate to.She was funny and smart,and she didn't put up with any crap.She didn't sit around whining,waiting for her prince to come and save her.She saved herslf,by writing in her journal and keeping her illness from taking over her life.She was real.
I also loved that this book was set so close to where I lived.I recognized the places and could picture everything in my head perfectly.
This is one of my absolute favorite books.I reccomend it to anyone,anywhere,anytime.If you read it,you wont be sorry.

[Gab · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're tired of books set in hospitals featuring angelic, suffering heroes and inspirational, empowering YOLO or carpe diem style endings, this is a book for you. The characters are real and believable. The medical information in the book was also interesting.

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the shortlisted titles for the CLA Young Adult Book Award in 2007.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 2 out of 5]

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