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Works about this Work
-
The Family and Adolescent Wellbeing : Alternative Models of Adolescent Growth in the Novels of Judith Clarke
2014
single work
criticism
— Appears in: International Research in Children's Literature , December vol. 7 no. 2 2014; (p. 165-179) 'YA fiction is largely about adolescent maturation – or flourishing – and in Western narratives this is imagined through narratives of growth. Within the institution of the family, growth is typically imagined in YA fiction in terms of adolescent rebellion, and in this frame the institutions that surround adolescents – schools, families, communities – tend to be depicted as repressive. This article explores an alternative view of the institution of the family offered in Judith Clarke's novels. In One Whole and Perfect Day, for example, adolescents flourish when in families that value mutual care above conformity to normative views of what a family should be; in Night Train, adolescents fail to flourish when sufficient (or 'good enough') family caring is not available to them. This article draws on research in cognitive narratology and the interdisciplinary field of wellbeing studies to suggest that Clarke's novels model a kind of caring – 'good enough' caring – which entails a nuanced view of successful maturation that carefully holds in balance both the fragility of the individual and an optimistic view of caring for others. Such balance is essential for the flourishing of adolescents and, indeed, of people of all ages.Keywords. blending, cognitive narratology, emotion, flourishing, Judith Clarke' -
Abjection in Contemporary Australian Young Adult Fiction
2001
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Papers : Explorations into Children's Literature , December vol. 11 no. 3 2001; (p. 24-31)Wilson argues that '...[A]n understanding of abjection is crucial to perceiving both the implied and explicit limitations placed upon the human construction of agency and the effect it has on the construction of teenagers within story discourses' (24). Wilson critiques three novels, Night Train (Judith Clarke), Touching Earth Lightly (Margo Lanagan) and Peeling the Onion (Wendy Orr) alongside the concept of abjection, which is 'intimately associated with the repulsive, despicable and loathsome aspects of human nature and society ' (24). Wilson points out how most young adult novels are concerned with narratives of maturation and the construction of (adult) subjectivity and as such abjection 'is a constant threat to subjective development' through its ability to disturb ordered systems, which includes one's identity (24). According to Wilson,the novels demonstrate an 'ubiquitous concern...with issues of subjectivity and maturation' in fiction for young adult readers and essentially support the view that 'the identity of the subject engulfed by abjection will ultimately be erased' (29-30).
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Untitled
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: School Library Journal : For Children's, Young Adult and School Librarians , May vol. 46 no. 5 2000; (p. 170)
— Review of Night Train 1998 single work novel -
Untitled
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: School Library Journal : For Children's, Young Adult and School Librarians , May vol. 46 no. 5 2000; (p. 170)
— Review of Night Train 1998 single work novel -
Know the Author : Judith Clarke
1999
single work
column
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , March vol. 14 no. 1 1999; (p. 14-16)
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Untitled
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , August vol. 42 no. 3 1998; (p. 38)
— Review of Night Train 1998 single work novel -
Untitled
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , May vol. 13 no. 2 1998; (p. 36-37)
— Review of Night Train 1998 single work novel -
Switching Viewpoints
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , April no. 199 1998; (p. 55-56)
— Review of Border Line 1998 single work novel ; Night Train 1998 single work novel -
Ignore the Label : These Novels Tackle the Generic and the Challenging
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 June 1998; (p. 9)
— Review of The Tiger 1998 single work novel ; A Place Like This 1998 single work novel ; Night Train 1998 single work novel -
Tale of a Pure-Hearted 'Loser'
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 9 May 1998; (p. 20)
— Review of Night Train 1998 single work novel -
The Children's Book Council of Australia Annual Awards 1999
1999
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , August vol. 43 no. 3 1999; (p. 3-12) -
Know the Author : Judith Clarke
1999
single work
column
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , March vol. 14 no. 1 1999; (p. 14-16) -
Short-Listing of First Book Relief to Author
1999
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Canberra Times Sunday Times , 27 June 1999; (p. 18) -
Abjection in Contemporary Australian Young Adult Fiction
2001
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Papers : Explorations into Children's Literature , December vol. 11 no. 3 2001; (p. 24-31)Wilson argues that '...[A]n understanding of abjection is crucial to perceiving both the implied and explicit limitations placed upon the human construction of agency and the effect it has on the construction of teenagers within story discourses' (24). Wilson critiques three novels, Night Train (Judith Clarke), Touching Earth Lightly (Margo Lanagan) and Peeling the Onion (Wendy Orr) alongside the concept of abjection, which is 'intimately associated with the repulsive, despicable and loathsome aspects of human nature and society ' (24). Wilson points out how most young adult novels are concerned with narratives of maturation and the construction of (adult) subjectivity and as such abjection 'is a constant threat to subjective development' through its ability to disturb ordered systems, which includes one's identity (24). According to Wilson,the novels demonstrate an 'ubiquitous concern...with issues of subjectivity and maturation' in fiction for young adult readers and essentially support the view that 'the identity of the subject engulfed by abjection will ultimately be erased' (29-30).
-
The Family and Adolescent Wellbeing : Alternative Models of Adolescent Growth in the Novels of Judith Clarke
2014
single work
criticism
— Appears in: International Research in Children's Literature , December vol. 7 no. 2 2014; (p. 165-179) 'YA fiction is largely about adolescent maturation – or flourishing – and in Western narratives this is imagined through narratives of growth. Within the institution of the family, growth is typically imagined in YA fiction in terms of adolescent rebellion, and in this frame the institutions that surround adolescents – schools, families, communities – tend to be depicted as repressive. This article explores an alternative view of the institution of the family offered in Judith Clarke's novels. In One Whole and Perfect Day, for example, adolescents flourish when in families that value mutual care above conformity to normative views of what a family should be; in Night Train, adolescents fail to flourish when sufficient (or 'good enough') family caring is not available to them. This article draws on research in cognitive narratology and the interdisciplinary field of wellbeing studies to suggest that Clarke's novels model a kind of caring – 'good enough' caring – which entails a nuanced view of successful maturation that carefully holds in balance both the fragility of the individual and an optimistic view of caring for others. Such balance is essential for the flourishing of adolescents and, indeed, of people of all ages.Keywords. blending, cognitive narratology, emotion, flourishing, Judith Clarke'
