Blueback (novel)

Blueback (novel)

"Blueback" is a short novel by critically acclaimed Australian author Tim Winton, published in 1997. It is subtitled: "A fable for all ages".

"Blueback" details the life of Abel Jackson, a diver and later marine biologist, from when he was 10 years old into his adult life. The title of the book originates from a fish Abel meets while diving in the bay near his house; a giant blue groper. Abel and his mother, Dora, name it Blueback, and they repeatedly visit it as it spends its life on the reef there. Abel lives with Blueback through many hard times, including protecting him from a poacher. Abel grows up to become a marine biologist as a result of his passion for the sea and love of Blueback and Monkeys.

Major themes

Described by the author as a "contemporary fable", "Blueback" explores universal human themes such as love for family, passion, growing up, and belonging. [cite journal|journal=American Library Association Booklist|title=Blueback (Winton)|date=Feb 15,"' 1998|pages=986] It has been variously described by reviews as "a clearly articulated call for ecological responsibility" in which "Winton pulls deftly on the heartstrings" [Publishers Weekly, Reed Business Information (review date unknown), [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0684845652 reprinted by Amazon.com] ] and a "mawkish [tale] about world ecology that as message is indisputable but that as fiction is insane

Awards

In 1998, Blueback was awarded the Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature in the Senior Fiction category, [cite web|url=http://www.wilderness.org.au/about/bookaward/book_award|title=Environment Award for Children's Literature - Previous years|publisher=Wilderness Society] and in 1999 was awarded the Hoffman Award by the West Australian Young Readers Book Award association. [cite web|url=http://www.wayrba.iinet.net.au/winners_page_hoffman.htm|title=Hoffman Award past winners|publisher=WAYRBA]

References


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