Karen Comer, Grace Notes, Lothian’s Children’s Books, February 2023, 320 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk) ISBN 9780734421722
This debut novel captures a specific time and place that affected a lot of people but also is less understood by those of us whose lives were relatively unchanged by the Melbourne lockdowns of 2020. Comer’s verse novel with a dual narrative offers readers a sweet love story between violinist Grace and street artist Crux set during those gruelling months when Melbourne’s strict laws impacted many lives in many various ways. She is able to capture a wide variety of these experiences, including Grace’s mum who is in Italy on business, her grandmother who is a nursing home, and Crux’s job at a supermarket and his mother’s role as a nurse.
It brought back memories of many terms and expressions that I had forgotten about – the panic buying of toilet paper (as well as other items), the numerous controversies surrounding hotel quarantine and, and the all-consuming need for contact tracing. Dan Andrews fronting the media every day and the ongoing speculation about his attire is something those of us in other states were very much aware of, and while it all seems trivial now, we shouldn’t forget the devastating number of deaths, particularly in aged care homes. Has it been long enough since these events that Victorians will be able to read this with some regret and nostalgia? I am only glad that there now appears to be some Australian young adult literature capturing these moments, because we lived through them, and they need to be acknowledged.
Grace is a highly talented violinist and has her grandmother Ettie and teacher Rani’s full support. Her own mother is less invested, constantly badgering Grace and her sisters (even from the other side of the world) about their academic expectations and to have a ‘plan b’. Crux has a similar situation at home where his parents support his spray-painting art, but don’t actually let him paint in a public space. His dad allows him a wall of their garage, however when Crux makes friends with some older graffiti artists, he is tempted by the opportunities they offer. Comer does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of the arts and reminds us how the entertainment industry was basically abandoned during this time. While they have different talents, Grace and Crux bond over the way creative people inspired and supported those in isolation through viral videos of playing, singing, and dancing.
The conflict revolves around Grace and Crux meeting in person, in secret. They have never really defied their parents and yet their mutual attraction is hard to resist. This part of the story plays out beautifully as readers expect, but there are a few side plots which add drama and authenticity – Crux’s new neighbour’s volatile behaviour is particularly affecting. By the end, readers are well and truly immersed in the lives of all these characters and will be satisfied (if a little sad) by the resolution.
A recurring motif in the text is Crux’s cyanometer, with 52 shades of blue which he uses constantly to gauge the colour of the sky. Throughout the story, it becomes crucial to help Grace understand and communicate her full range of emotions. Crux proves himself as a person of thoughtfulness and compassion as he helps her navigate her confusion, anger, and grief.
It’s your ocean of emotion…
so you know you’re still on the ring,
No matter how many colours you feel in a day
Or even a moment.
You are the drop and the ocean.
Highly recommended for teens as a romantic and authentic text capturing a time we long to put behind us, but that stays with many of us because of the scars and memories that are now built into who we are.
Reviewed by Trish Buckley
