READERS
Video of Sensitive by Grace Coy, Year 7 student, Canterbury College, Queensland, Australia - produced 2019
Video of Sensitive by Grace Coy, Year 7 student, Canterbury College, Queensland, Australia - produced 2019
Painting by Allayne
READERS
FROM:
Olivera Simeric - Author of: Surviving Peace, A Political Memoir
I have just finished reading Paper Planes. It is a wonderful book that I read in one sitting. Thank so much for writing it. I,my husband, and our two year old boy live in Brisbane. I am also from Bosnia and published my memoir about war and post war this year with Spinifex. The book is called Surviving Peace.
You have done a wonderful job with this book about Jarko's survival in Sarajevo. I am planning to buy a few copies and send them to young adults but also my adult friends. You captured so well life under siege and made me very emotional a dozen of times. I have many friends who survived the siege and I have read lots of memoirs but your book is something different. It is a very special gift for school age kids.
Thanks again and do keep writing,
Olivera Simeric
FROM:
Robert Barwick, Tasmanian High School Teacher, Hunter River High School
Hi Allayne
I would like to thank you for writing valuable stories that students read and enjoy to the very end.
I realised the type of stories the students like when a student quoted "not bad for a book" after reading Stresshead.
As a teacher I find students relate to the contents of your books with understanding of what is actually happening within their lives. Students enjoy reading Judy Blume and Natasha Friend's books which I have bought and which also relate similarly.
I bought Our Little Secret and the same girl that made the quote about Stresshead has not put it down.
I enjoy watching the students read books that they enjoy so I hope you continue to write similar books that they can relate to as I will buy them.
Best wishes,
Robert
FROM:
Maddie Newman - School Student - 15 years old
I am 15, in year 9 and borrowed out Our Little Secret from my school library yesterday. I have already finished, during history this morning actually, and this book is amazing. Truely inspired me and taught me how manipulative a man can be to get what he wants out of a girl, especially as young as me; and has made me more aware about it. I have told every girl that asked about it to read it! :)
Thank you so much for writing this book!
FROM:
Jess - School Student - 14 years old
I have just finished reading Stresshead and Our Little Secret and I absolutely loved both of them. I have to admit I don't read very much but as soon as I opened Stresshead I couldn't put it down! I finished that one weekend and the next day I went back to my school library and borrowed Our Little Secret and I couldn't put that down either. I love the way you write and the things you write about, I feel like I can relate to most of them and the things that I don't relate to I remember what you wrote incase I need it in the future. I was just wondering if you have any new books coming out? If you do I can promise you I will be in the book shop buying the very first copy! Anyway I just wanted to say how much I love your books and I can't wait for another one.
Thanks
Jess
PS: I don't mind if you put my comments on your website!
FROM:
Valerie Aylesbury, Parent
As the mother of a sixteen year old daughter I was drawn to the cover and read Stresshead with great interest. The language is perfect for setting the scene; you are in the world of another generation and you are being lead through this world which is real and true for teenagers now. This book affirmed my belief that although we see the world for our teens as 'easier' there can be lots more choices and money and entertainment and freedom, it also reminds me that young adults are asked to be more grown up when their veiw of the world is still from their stage of development which is essentially the same over the last hundreds of years. We do not evolve as beings so quickly as to keep up with cultural changes. The pressure young people are feeling is because by parents not recognising the reality of thier world we as parents are failing to nuture them to negotiate it and learn how to become young adults in this very different world. This book brings their world to us as parents Allayne thank you for giving me insight so I can be a more knowledgeable parent.
FROM: Hayley, School Student - 15 years old
Stresshead by Allayne Webster is a deep yet humourous portrayal of what goes on in the mind of a teenage girl, and how the stress can really affect you. As part of a dysfunctional family, 16 year old Dennie goes through a lot in the lead up to Christmas. It was easy to relate to, because I can understand the dread she feels when waiting to receive her exam results, and how the pressure of trying to live up to your families reputation can really take its toll on you. I also understand the helplessness when she realises her mum is sick. Any child would feel terrified if the person who is always supposed to take care of you, like your mum, gets ill, especially if it is life threatening. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend this to everyone.
Margaret Galbraith (about Allayne's YA novel, Our Little Secret)
I agree that every young person should read this book for one reason to show they are not at fault. This is a very vulnerable age and your book shows how easy it is for this age group to become 'sucked in' and used. I still think about the girl in your book and it made me so angry with the person responsible that I wanted to tell the whole world at the time to look out for this type of person. It prayed on my mind, and I would love my daughter to read it.
FROM:
Olivera Simeric - Author of: Surviving Peace, A Political Memoir
I have just finished reading Paper Planes. It is a wonderful book that I read in one sitting. Thank so much for writing it. I,my husband, and our two year old boy live in Brisbane. I am also from Bosnia and published my memoir about war and post war this year with Spinifex. The book is called Surviving Peace.
You have done a wonderful job with this book about Jarko's survival in Sarajevo. I am planning to buy a few copies and send them to young adults but also my adult friends. You captured so well life under siege and made me very emotional a dozen of times. I have many friends who survived the siege and I have read lots of memoirs but your book is something different. It is a very special gift for school age kids.
Thanks again and do keep writing,
Olivera Simeric
FROM:
Robert Barwick, Tasmanian High School Teacher, Hunter River High School
Hi Allayne
I would like to thank you for writing valuable stories that students read and enjoy to the very end.
I realised the type of stories the students like when a student quoted "not bad for a book" after reading Stresshead.
As a teacher I find students relate to the contents of your books with understanding of what is actually happening within their lives. Students enjoy reading Judy Blume and Natasha Friend's books which I have bought and which also relate similarly.
I bought Our Little Secret and the same girl that made the quote about Stresshead has not put it down.
I enjoy watching the students read books that they enjoy so I hope you continue to write similar books that they can relate to as I will buy them.
Best wishes,
Robert
FROM:
Maddie Newman - School Student - 15 years old
I am 15, in year 9 and borrowed out Our Little Secret from my school library yesterday. I have already finished, during history this morning actually, and this book is amazing. Truely inspired me and taught me how manipulative a man can be to get what he wants out of a girl, especially as young as me; and has made me more aware about it. I have told every girl that asked about it to read it! :)
Thank you so much for writing this book!
FROM:
Jess - School Student - 14 years old
I have just finished reading Stresshead and Our Little Secret and I absolutely loved both of them. I have to admit I don't read very much but as soon as I opened Stresshead I couldn't put it down! I finished that one weekend and the next day I went back to my school library and borrowed Our Little Secret and I couldn't put that down either. I love the way you write and the things you write about, I feel like I can relate to most of them and the things that I don't relate to I remember what you wrote incase I need it in the future. I was just wondering if you have any new books coming out? If you do I can promise you I will be in the book shop buying the very first copy! Anyway I just wanted to say how much I love your books and I can't wait for another one.
Thanks
Jess
PS: I don't mind if you put my comments on your website!
FROM:
Valerie Aylesbury, Parent
As the mother of a sixteen year old daughter I was drawn to the cover and read Stresshead with great interest. The language is perfect for setting the scene; you are in the world of another generation and you are being lead through this world which is real and true for teenagers now. This book affirmed my belief that although we see the world for our teens as 'easier' there can be lots more choices and money and entertainment and freedom, it also reminds me that young adults are asked to be more grown up when their veiw of the world is still from their stage of development which is essentially the same over the last hundreds of years. We do not evolve as beings so quickly as to keep up with cultural changes. The pressure young people are feeling is because by parents not recognising the reality of thier world we as parents are failing to nuture them to negotiate it and learn how to become young adults in this very different world. This book brings their world to us as parents Allayne thank you for giving me insight so I can be a more knowledgeable parent.
FROM: Hayley, School Student - 15 years old
Stresshead by Allayne Webster is a deep yet humourous portrayal of what goes on in the mind of a teenage girl, and how the stress can really affect you. As part of a dysfunctional family, 16 year old Dennie goes through a lot in the lead up to Christmas. It was easy to relate to, because I can understand the dread she feels when waiting to receive her exam results, and how the pressure of trying to live up to your families reputation can really take its toll on you. I also understand the helplessness when she realises her mum is sick. Any child would feel terrified if the person who is always supposed to take care of you, like your mum, gets ill, especially if it is life threatening. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend this to everyone.
Margaret Galbraith (about Allayne's YA novel, Our Little Secret)
I agree that every young person should read this book for one reason to show they are not at fault. This is a very vulnerable age and your book shows how easy it is for this age group to become 'sucked in' and used. I still think about the girl in your book and it made me so angry with the person responsible that I wanted to tell the whole world at the time to look out for this type of person. It prayed on my mind, and I would love my daughter to read it.
