While I Live (The Ellie Chronicles) [Unabridged] [Audio CD]

John Marsden (Author), Suzi Dougherty (Narrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-The first book in The Ellie Chronicles by popular Australian author John Marsden follows the story of Ellie Linton in the aftermath of a fictional war in Australia. In the opening scenes, she returns from a picnic to find that her parents were murdered as part of a guerrilla operation, probably in retaliation for her own activity in the war. Even though she is still in high school, Ellie is challenged to maintain the family farm despite financial problems, requirements to attend school, attempts to take over her farm, and the day-to-day frustrations of being a farmer. She is caring for Gavin, a deaf student, who presumably was orphaned by the war. Most of the Australian terms can be understood in context. Narrator Suzi Dougherty, with her appropriate native accent, becomes Ellie, telling her story realistically and with the right amount of emotion. Changing speed and tone frequently to reflect the different speech patterns of the characters makes the story more realistic and entertaining. Of necessity, Dougherty's reproduction of Gavin's speech is probably more clear than most deaf speech. This coming of age story will entertain today's teens.-Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
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From AudioFile

WHILE I LIVE introduces the new Ellie Chronicles trilogy. The book opens with Ellie Linton discovering the gruesome massacre of her parents, and from there is a roller- coaster ride of brutality and bloodshed. Suzi Dougherty's narration, in the voice of 17-year-old Ellie, is a straightforward, almost emotionless, reading. Her dispassionate retelling of border raids, innocent victims, and senseless violence delivers a powerful antiwar message. Credibility is stretched by clichéd adults who are all either evil or lacking the moral fiber to stand up for the weak and defenseless. In spite of that weakness, older teens will admire the strong youth who have the courage to stand firm in the face of adversity. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Audio CD
• Publisher: Bolinda Pub Inc; Unabridged edition (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740935179
• ISBN-13: 978-1740935173
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,943,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Captivating, November 24, 2004

By 

Sarah (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: While I Live (The Ellie Chronicles) (Audio CD)

Powerful and captivating best describes John Marsden's latest novel, While I Live. Following on from Marsden's award winning Tomorrow series; While I Live is the first in a new series entitled The Ellie Chronicles. Set in the set in the small rural Australian town of Wirrawee, it begins four months after a war has ended in Australia.

While I Live is narrated by Ellie Linton, an independent, mature seventeen year old. She lives on a farm with her parents and Gavin, a profoundly deaf boy who was abandoned during the war. The action begins in a gripping first chapter, when a tragedy occurs and Ellie's parents are killed by a group of enemy soldiers. Ellie's world is once again turned upside down and Ellie has to cope raising herself, Gavin and running family farm, with very little support. However, many challenges confront Ellie along the way and this makes a very interesting plot.

While I Live strongly resembles the style of the Tomorrow series and many old characters from the Tomorrow series make appearances in the book, including Homer, Fee and Lee. New characters are also introduced but unlike the old characters, the reader does not gain a deep understanding of them. Hopefully these new characters will appear more in the books to follow and this way, readers will get to know them better.

During the action scenes, Marsden does not disappoint his readers as he provides nail biting action scenes, making it impossible for the book to be put down. Humour is included into the storyline, possibly added to relieve the tension of the action scenes! It deals with some powerful issues that are best suited for the young adults' age group but it targets the intended age group well, providing the message "never give up hope". John Marsden leaves his readers waiting for more and there are signs to show that there is certainly more in store for Ellie Linton.