Walking Naked

(Paperback)

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Description

'Every school has one. They are ugly or fat. They have scars or acne or birthmarks. Or maybe it's just something about them that doesn't quite fit with our video-hits view of how teenagers should be

We are mean to them. We ridicule them. We make monsters of them. We don't want to stand near them or sit next to them.

Perdita was one of those. If you had asked me how I felt about her I would have said that I hated her, but I couldn't have told you why.'

Megan is one of the leaders of the in-group. She wouldn't dream of talking to Perdita, 'the Freak'. But when they are thrown together in detention, she finds herself drawn into a spiky, challenging almost-friendship. Megan then faces an uncomfortable choice: Perdita or the group

Alyssa Brugman's first novel, Finding Grace, has been widely and warmly acclaimed for its humour and freshness. In Walking Naked she has written sharply observed, unflinching story about the ins and outs of girls' friendships, the power of words and poetry and the painful getting of wisdom.

Reviews

'This dark, powerful novel, painfully true to life, bleakly and intelligently questions the ramifications of personal responsibility.' Adelaide Advertiser, 'Highly recommended.' Sarah Mayor Cox, Bendigo Advertiser, 'A profound probing of the nature of friendship. This is a clever, literate book that enjoys language. It explores how we might incorporate the bad things that happen to us, move to a greater understanding and accommodate tragedy within ourselves.' Pam Macintyre, ViewpointAn absorbing and memorable novel.' Good Reading

Author Bio

Alyssa Brugman is Communications Manager for a non-profit training and employment organisation. Her first novel, Finding Grace, was published by Allen + Unwin in 2001 to critical acclaim. This is her second.