John Marsden: darkness, shadow, and light - no. 40

A master storyteller, John Marsden is Australias best known writer for young adults.

Marsden first found success with the publication of So Much To Tell You.

Since then he has gone on to publish many popular and well-recognized titles, including those in the Tomorrow Series and The Ellie Chronicles.

In his books, Marsden explores adolescents caught in a world of opposites, of innocence and guilt, idealism and realism, and joy and despair.Marsdens world view and his faith in adolescents serve as the backdrop for John Noell Moores critical readings of Marsdens major novels.

In John Marsden: Darkness, Shadow, and Light, Moore investigates the full spectrum of Marsdens work, beginning with the authors life as a teacher and writer.

Throughout the book, Moore weaves together Marsdens recurring themes, chief among them writing and storytelling as ways of constructing identity in the transition from childhood to adulthood and the ability of young adults to endure hardships and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

The book is a valuable addition to the current scholarship on young adult literature and will be welcomed by middle and high school English teachers and students alike.