Book Loving Kiwis discussion

Use this thread to discuss The Half Life of Ryan Davis by our fellow group member, Melinda Szymanik.

If you intend to read this book during March or April, could you please post a message below. I'll then add you to this list :)

Participating:
Angie
Kathleen
Sue
Ngaio
Tui
Melinda
Polly
Sharlene

Melinda - Could you please let us know how best to track down a copy of your book. I tried Dunedin Libraries, but they don't have it, which surprised me.

I'm in for the read - I already have a copy as I bought it for my kids. It's available on Fishpond BTW.

Thanks Sue! Just bought my copy from Fishpond for $14.98.

I'm with Kathleen on the library-dependent (I love that description Kathleen!)

Hi folks

Auckland libraries have copies. Don't know about other centres yet though. Whitcoulls will be selling it in March and other bookshops can order it in but is also available on Fishpond or Mighty Ape and from the usual e-book sellers

cheers

Christchurch Library also has a copy

Just a few words about the book for those planning to read it...

This fast paced contemporary novel for young teens is a dark and tense read with plenty of twists to keep you off balance. Growing up can be even harder than you thought and danger can come in the most unexpected form. Everyone keeps secrets...

I've also prepared an educational resource to accompany the book if anyone is interested.

Yes please! Do you have some discussion questions that you could post for us to answer once we have read the book?

Can do. And I can send the resource to whoever wants it in April.
cheers
Melinda

I'm about halfway through this and really enjoying it. It's well-paced and a real page-turner. It's written from the point of view of 15-yr-old Ryan, and his voice is so credible that you completely forget it's written by, like, a grown-up. That takes real talent. But Melinda doesn't overdo the teenage voice, which is why it works so well. Ryan is very likeable; the author clearly relates well to teenagers and I would guess enjoys their company - when most people do nothing but moan about teenagers it's nice to see someone speaking from their point of view and not making fun.
I have a 15-yr-old son who, like Ryan, loves his BMX bike, has an annoying but loveable younger sister and a best friend called Alex. Bit spooky that.
Anyone who's put this on their 'to read if I get the time' list should promote it to their 'read next' one. It's well worth it.

Wow, thank you Sue Copsey.Glad you have been enjoying the story. Hope you have survived the ending. Will post discussion questions shortly

Warning - Discussion Questions contain spoilers


1. Why do you think Ryan is so alone?
2. How do you think the situation (Mallory running away) could have been avoided?
3. Should Ryan have told his mother he had a girlfriend? Should he have told her about the job?
4. Why do you think the author introduced the character of Kim?
5. Should he have told someone what was happening with his mother? Who should he tell? Why didn’t other people notice what was happening in Ryan’s family?
6. What advice would you give Ryan
7. What positive things occur in Ryan’s life as a result of everything that happens?
8. What clues can you find in the text to Mrs Davis’s state of mind

Thank you for posting the discussion questions, Melinda. I haven't read them, because I saw your spoiler warning, so will avoid eye contact with them until after I have read the book. Which, by the way, arrived this morning from Fishpond. Yay!

I started reading The Half Life of Ryan Davis this afternoon. I'm already well over halfway through. Ryan is a very likeable character and Gemma is a sweet wee sister. It is a really refreshing read. I'm keeping an open mind as to what will happen in the remainder of the book. Could go a variety of ways.

My thoughts/answers to some of the discussion questions

(view spoiler)[1. Initially, the reader is led to believe that Ryan is so alone because he lives in his run-away/abducted sister's shadow. His mother is also overly protective, and as a result, Ryan does not get to do all the things that a typical teenager would. Ryan takes on a lot of responsibility for his younger sister, which often results in him being home with her, rather than out with his friends. The fact that a teenage boy is growing up in a home without a male role model (and an absent father) will have a big impact on his loneliness.

3. In a loving, caring family, it is unlikely that Ryan would have hesitated to share the news about his girlfriend or job (or for a sibling to!) Both Ryan and Gemma realised that this would quickly result in a negative reaction from their mother. When Ryan did mention about Kim, he accidently slipped that his dad had a new girlfriend. This wound his mum up more than Ryan's news.

5. I don't think that Ryan really understood what was happening with his mum until after he ran away. From the outside, it didn't appear like there was anything going wrong. The physical abuse wasn't overly visible, and if it was, probably could have been passed off as skate park injuries. I'm not sure that Ryan really thought about it being wrong. Everything happened pretty quickly for him in the end. The situation in which Kim was called a slut was probably the first time that something wrong was seen from the outside, but Kim's family were probably protecting their daughter by not acting. I'm not sure why Ryan's dad was covering for his ex-wife. Maybe because he was weak and didn't want to disturb his new life.

7. There are many positives in Ryan's life. His relationship with his sister, Gemma. His relationship with Kim. His attitude to school. His ability to say the right thing at the right time e.g. his first conversations with Kim, and his interview for the DVD store job. (hide spoiler)]

Congratulations Melinda! A stunning young adult novel.

Wow, thanks Angie. Glad you enjoyed the book. It does centre on a rather challenging topic which can be a bit of a shock I guess. Its very interesting for me as the writer to see your responses to the discussion questions

I have just grabbed the kindle version and will be reading soon and participating in this discussion.

I got about one third through the book last night. Very interesting. I'm hooked. The "voice" of the young boy narrator is extremely authentic.
Can I please be added to the "participating" list above?
Thank-you.

Tui wrote: "I got about one third through the book last night. Very interesting. I'm hooked. The "voice" of the young boy narrator is extremely authentic.
Can I please be added to the "participating" list abov..."

Sure thing. I've added Melinda as well!

I finished the story and was hooked from start to finish. It was an unusual and clever plot, the touch where Ryan glimpsed the younger sister and thought it was the missing older one and then the reverse happened later when he saw Mallory and thought it was Gemma. I wasn't too sure about the ending though. I didn't find it fully satisfying. I felt I needed a little more info on what actually happened to the mother and also needed to know if Ryan got to grips better with the difficulties he was having with his dad. Just seemed to be left a bit hanging there.

thank you so much for all your comments. It is great having so much feedback and interesting to see different responses.

cheers

Bit behind on this - I read it earlier in the month but I've been on holiday!! I really enjoyed this book and found it, like many others a really compelling read. I was hooked and couldn't guess the ending. Again, like other comments one of the main things that I noticed was the realistic 'voice' of Ryan as a teenager. I really empathised with Ryan and felt frustrated with his mother as he seemed like a pretty good kid all things considered! Great little read for Young Adult Fiction.

I've requested this from the library. Hoping to pick it up soon & tag along in the discussion.

Joining in late :) Just bought the kindle version tonight.

This was a very surprising and totally enjoyable read. Even though the theme was pretty heavy, the author balanced it by injecting the right tone of humour making the read lighter just when it needed to be. I sort of guessed who ‘Mallory’ was when Ryan saw her at the dance and wondered how much effect his controlling, over-protective Mother was having on his mind – was I surprised at the end?!I just never expected either of those aspects at the end.
Yes, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and writing style.Can’t help wondering what happens to the family now.

1. Why do you think Ryan is so alone?

What the others have said I guess. Feeling like he is 'different' because no one else would know how it felt to be in family suffering that kind of loss - not having anyone you could go to who would understand what it was like. I would also imagine there might be a bit of self protection, no attention is better than attention because of Mallory. Do you think people avoided him - not knowing what to say or how to treat him, saying nothing is better than putting your foot in it type situation?

2. How do you think the situation (Mallory running away) could have been avoided?
If Mallory had got help from someone else (a teacher perhaps), if she'd gone to her Dad for help (though how you could be married to someone and not see how they were becoming unhinged left a ? for me), or if the mothers behaviour had become more obvious to others in the family it might have pre-empted some earlier help for her.


4. Why do you think the author introduced the character of Kim? I really liked how this aspect was handled. I liked how they mucked around but he knew he wasnt ready for sex yet but all the adults immediately assumed they were. It felt very 15yr old to me. His reactions to liking her and then not being sure if she was his GF and then the humiliation of being caught. It was a really authentic feeling part of the book for me. I also really liked teh scene were he confessed what had happened at the dance, and her reaction. I was pleased he had someone in his life he could go to when it was all beginning to fall apart - she was his glimmer of hope.

5. Should he have told someone what was happening with his mother? Who should he tell? Why didn’t other people notice what was happening in Ryan’s family?
This part of the plot happened quite fast. I mean, the mother was odd and controlling but I think some of that would have been a valid reaction to having a missing child. The part with Kim was the point where I thought something was clearly not right, but before that, she just felt...odd.... without being so crazy you would have to tell someone. Then by the time it escalated to hitting there wasnt a lot of time (plot wise) before the phone was ringing etc and the next part unfurled.


I'm pleased to have read this. A real page turner that I sped through in 2 sittings. I loved the believable teenage voice and the palpable sense that he was forever living in Mallory's shadow. I wondered at the plausibility of Mallory's name change/never being identified (this is a small country after all) but apart from that small niggle I really enjoyed the book.

I'm really really late on this one, but have just stuck a review up to say how much I enjoyed it. Ryan Davis was easily one of the most credible characters I've ever come across. I really felt for him, trying his best to handle so many issues at once.

I've just read it! lol. A great lil read Melinda.

My thoughts...(view spoiler)[I certainly wasn't expecting a physical side to Ms Davis which made it more exciting. It adds to her character.

I feel for Ryan, going through his teen years without parental support, everything that he does is always wrong. Alex seems a little more mature than Ryan, I wonder why he didn't pick up on anything or ask questions. (hide spoiler)]