Something strange has happened to the public swimming pool in New Lourdes, Victoria. The water is no longer level and is rumoured to have curative powers.
When 16-year-old Wolfgang MulQueen takes a summer job at the pool, he meets Audrey, a blind girl who claims she's nocturnal. With the discovery of a butterfly unknown to science, and an unusual request from Audrey's father, Wolfgang finds himself inextricably drawn into an 18-year-old mystery, the tragic resolution of which will change his life forever.
Jenny Mournfield
Rarely these days do I come across a story that draws me in so completely that I can't put it down. Pool is one such story. It had me at the blurb: Something strange has happened at the local swimming pool in New Lourdes Victoria. The water is no longer level and is rumoured to have curative powers.' How could anyone resist that? D'Ath has created a tale that oozes mystery from every page. Every one of his characters is wonderfully complex and alive. This is storytelling at its best. A highly recommended read for kids 12-adult.
Guest, 14/05/2010
Pool By Justin D'Ath
Sixteen-year-old Wolfgang Mulqueen has a summer-holidays job at his local public swimming pool. The pool is famous because the water is not level and it supposedly has curative powers. A regular at the pool is a blind girl named Audrey, who claims to be nocturnal and chases angels. Add to this, a mysterious black butterfly that is possibly a new species. What is the relationship between all these elements? How are they connected and why? This is what this book is about. What results is a fascinating, gentle, character-driven story that enthrals from beginning to end. D'Ath expertly takes you down a mysterious, winding path. You can never see where that path is leading, yet each time you turn a corner you find yourself saying Well, yes, of course . Until at last you reach the unexpected, yet inevitable, conclusion. I found myself really feeling for the characters. I wanted Audrey to find happiness. I wanted Wolfgang to prove the existence of the new species of butterfly. I wanted them to fall in love. I found myself cringing at Wolfgang's lies, yet understanding why he told them. I found myself hoping that he wouldn't accept the morally dubious offer made by Audrey's father. I found myself hoping lots of things. Did the characters do everything I wanted them to? No! Did their decisions sometimes disappoint me? Yes. All of which made them more real all of which made me care more for them. This book is hard to define or categorise. All I'll say is that it's a young adult novel that is both thoughtful and thought provoking. I'm not sure what I was expecting from it certainly not what I got. Which is a good thing. I like it when a book takes me to unexpected ground, surprises me, then leaves me wanting more.
Katrina, 21/06/2009
