If you haven’t yet read Dust, do not click on this link. It will take you with the speed of light to the newly posted Teachers’ notes (which might spoil it for anyone who hasn’t yet read the book).
If you don’t care about spoilers, click here with impunity; Judith Ridge’s incisive discussion of the text was illuminating, even for me (and I wrote the damn thing).
[Judith Ridge is a longtime advocate of children’s and young adult literature. She is a Churchill Fellow, has an MA in children’s literature, and has written teachers’ notes for books by Melina Marchetta, MT Anderson and Morris Gleitzman. You can check out her Misrule website here and her blog here.]
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Wow. Judith did an incredible job of those notes – very thorough. She obviously has quite an intimate understanding of Dust.
It must have been strange reading through another person’s assessment of your novel – both thrilling and confronting. Especially the themes section – often writers aren’t completely aware of the themes that echo through their narrative until they step back from them.
Great work you, on writing such a rich and complex novel!
It was a strange experience Kath, reading such a discerning reader’s take on my work. Some of her discussion points I wouldn’t mind discussing sometime myself!
I say wow too. These are great teachers’ notes … reminds me why I value education/ teaching so much!
Thanks Mike, I see Women’s College at USyd had their inaugural writers festival; maybe next year St John’s could have writers-in-residence in the Cloisters!