Boy Down Under [Mass Market Paperback]

Sally Odgers (Author)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Smooch (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843954531
• ISBN-13: 978-0843954531
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,926,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sally Odgers was born in Tasmania in 1957, and has lived there ever since.

Sally began writing as a child, and her first book was published in 1977. More than 250 more have followed. Recent titles include Replay (a time tapestry), Under the Waterfall, (a YA fantasy), The Python Problem (Book #4 in the Pet Vet series), Reason to Write (a handbook for parents and teachers) and Inspector Jacques (Book #12 in the popular Jack Russell: Dog Detective series).

She is married to Darrel Odgers, and they have two adult children, James (married to Hayley) and Tegan. Darrel and Sally live in a house full of books, music and Jack Russell Terriers.

Apart from writing, Sally runs a small on-line manuscript assessment business called Affordable Manuscript Assessments and offers on-line writing workshops as well as school visits. In her mythical spare time, she loves reading, walking, collecting odd information, thinking up new character names, listening to music, watching science fiction movies, playing with the dogs, growing flowers, writing retro-Victorian fantasy poetry and playing with her websites. She has a collection of china dogs, an on-line library, and a fat file of information about her books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Boy Down Under, March 16, 2005

By 

Sarah (Carmel, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boy Down Under (Mass Market Paperback)

Have you ever tried to explain something but you can't? Maybe you can't find the right words or maybe you don't really even know what happened. When Rowena (Ro) and her mother move to Sydney, Australia, Ro runs into a guy named Patrick Carroll. Actually, he jumps onto her balcony. Right away, Ro feels at ease around him, and she is having the time of her life. Everyday when she and Patrick go on a walk they end up in the most exotic places like, gorgeous gardens, outstretching deserts, and beautiful white sanded beaches. Wherever Ro goes, she sees Patrick. Ro is so excited about Patrick but scared at the same time. One day Hallie, Ro's friend from the United States, calls her. Hallie tells Ro she will be able to come to see her during Spring Break. Ro is ecstatic. She tries to tell Hallie about Patrick but her mouth won't let her. She is just not able to say his name to anyone. When Spring Break comes, Hallie goes to Australia to visit Ro. The first thing Hallie wants to do is meet Ro's unexplained boyfriend. While Hallie is in town, things begin to go wrong between Ro and Patrick.
I loved this book. It kept me wanting to turn the page and find the resolution to Ro's problem. The lesson is, if something is making you happy, other people won't necessarily share your happiness. This book takes you to the most exotic places while sitting your favorite chair.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Boy Down Under, November 3, 2004

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boy Down Under (Mass Market Paperback)

After being yanked from high school and all her friends when her mom takes an assignment in Australia, Rowena (Ro) is naturally lonely. Her heart's cry is heard by a strange young man who is literally beyond description and lands on her balcony. Although she can never remember what Patrick looks like and can't even say or write his name to tell anyone about him, Ro finds herself falling in love. It makes no sense at all, but he gives her all her dreams. When Patrick is around, time stands still and she can walk in the clouds. Is he a dream or an angel? Though he claims to be real, and even gives her roses that people can actually see, there is something mysterious about Patrick. Maybe he is not a ghost or angel, but he definitely is hiding something spooky.

**** I am almost reluctant to categorize this as young adult; it has a depth that you will only understand after reading it, but a magical quality that perhaps you must be at least a child at heart to grasp. Everyone needs a Patrick in there life, even if it's only in print. ****

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Paranormal Romance for Teens, October 1, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boy Down Under (Mass Market Paperback)

All-American girl, Rowena - Ro - Maven, isn't completely excited when her Mother, Dr. Mold, informs her that the two of them will be heading to Sydney, Australia for a year, so that she can conduct a series of lectures in the great Down Under. However, Ro knows that she can try to make the best of it. After all, there are sure to be tons of hot guys with abs of steel, who surf daily along the beach in the bright sunshine. But boy is she wrong. In fact, everything in Aussie is completely boring - or gross, meaning the Roach Hotel she's forced to stay in - until she meets Patrick Carroll, who sppears out of nowhere one day. Soon, Ro has her very own boyfriend, but there's something strange about Patrick. In the blink of an eye the two of them are transported to secluded areas where they exchange ethereal kisses. But the strangest fact is that no one but Ro can even see Patrick, and she can't tell anyone about him, making her think that she could be imagining his presence completely. Then she does the ultimate wrong-doing. She tells her best friend Hallie, and suddenly he's gone. Leaving her to do nothing more than guess about where he could possibly have gone.

Sally Odgers is a wonderful new author to join the team of Smooch YA, as her vivid descriptions, and unique, yet magical situations and plotlines, are utterly unbelievable, and will draw readers in left and right. BOY DOWN UNDER is a lovely tale of first love, filled with a bit of paranormal phenomena, that will capture the hearts of romantics young and old within the first chapter. An absolute must-have for all.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper