'Funny, gritty, absorbing.'—
Kirkus'This Australian import has already made waves overseas and is now coming to captivate the States—Christopher Currie's writing has already been compared to John Green, if that's any indication. It feels realistic, opting for an honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.'—Bustle
'A compelling coming-of-age story set in a dead-end Queensland town that's imbued with warmth, empathy and real wit... Clancy of the Undertow blends the excruciation, confusion, and hope of being a teenager into a novel that will pull in readers of any age.'—Guardian
Realistic contemporary teen fiction about the value of friendship, family, and being yourself.
Clancy is a bit of an outsider, and her family have stopped bothering to really communicate with each other. But when her dad is involved in a car accident that kills two local teens the town turns against her family. Clancy's family has to work out how to understand the events, deal with the anger of the community and tackle their own challenges.
Funny and wry, Clancy perfectly conveys the confusion and hope of being a teenager. An insightful novel about growing up and figuring out who you are, this will appeal to fans of John Green.
Christopher Currie is a writer and bookseller, whose fiction has appeared in anthologies and journals internationally. His first novel, The Ottoman Motel, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and the Queensland Literary Awards in 2012. Clancy is his first YA novel.
Industry Reviews
`Clancy of the Undertow is a beautiful story...It's about the importance of fitting in or, failing that, finding someone to not fit in with.' * Books & Publishing *
`[A] starkly realist depiction of life for teenagers who feel at odds with the small towns in which they live. Clancy's biting sense of humour will have readers laughing despite some heavy themes.' * Readings *
`Currie's storytelling reminded me of Robert Drewe and Raymond Carver...Currie may not have consciously set out to write a YA novel-but I'm glad he found 15-year-old Clancy, and I hope he comes back to this readership who will welcome any new words from him with open arms.' * Alpha Reader *
`A beautiful cover is matched by terrific story-telling in this coming-of-age story of the smart and funny, Clancy. Funny and heartfelt and perfect for the over 15s.' * Book Birdy *
`Clancy of the Undertow demanded a slow, savoured read.' * Alpha Reader, Favourite Books of 2015 *
`A compelling coming-of-age story set in a dead-end Queensland town that's imbued with warmth, empathy and real wit...Currie has a talent for keeping his writing real. From the dialogue to narration, Clancy of the Undertow blends the excruciation, confusion and hope of being a teenager into a novel that will pull in readers of any age.' * Guardian *
`A shining example of the power of Young Adult literature...No matter what age you are, read it, it's wonderful and engaging and I could hardly bear to put it down to go to work.' * Incredible Rambling Emily *
`A terrific YA book with lots of appeal. Clancy is a completely believable character, a smart, confused, tomboyish teenager who's struggling to find her identity...An excellent read with plenty of humour.' * Herald Sun *
`This brand spanking new Australian novel has been mentioned in hushed tones alongside adolescent stalwart To Kill A Mockingbird. A better, almost equally impressive, comparison would be Jasper Jones.' * Weekly Review *
`Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice. Anyone having grown up in Australia will see themselves within Clancy's plight. She's relatable, likeable and an incredible young woman who lends her voice to the underdog of our nation.' * Diva Booknerds *
`Currie has created a slightly snarky, yet endearing voice in Clancy, perfectly capturing the confusion, heartbreak and excitement of being on the cusp of adulthood...This is a coming of age story that is gritty and raw.' * Kids Bookshop *
`So real it hurts...All the Aussie references are just ace.' * Dolly *
`It's great to see a LGBT book that is also authentic in portraying small town Australian life.' * Magpies *
'Although billed as a novel for young adults, Clancy of the Undertow is a delightful read for any age. The dialogue is sharp and fresh, with the central players all recognisable personalities, perhaps even displaying traits we can recognise in ourselves or others.' * GlamAdelaide *
'Funny, gritty, absorbing, and occasionally depressing, this is an intriguing if occasionally melodramatic glimpse of a young Australian woman's coming-of-age.' * Kirkus Reviews *
`In short, if I could, I would throw free copies of this book from the rooftops just to get them into the hands of every young adult reader in the world.' * Hazel and Wren *
`Christopher Currie's writing has already been compared to John Green...An honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.' * Bustle *
`As soon as I picked it up, I asked myself why I'd ever waited this long to read such a realistic and moving book which will become one of the most-loved Aussie YA books of our generation...Clancy of the Undertow is brilliant in many ways, but the way Christopher Currie has captured genuine family dynamics as well as the voice of a teen who's struggling to find her place in a small, judgmental Australian town is what makes this novel a must-read.' * Written Word Worlds *
`Currie does very well at getting inside a teenaged girl's head, presenting an authentic voice for Clancy. As he says in the acknowledgments at the end, `if it helps just one person understand that being young is being confused, and that things do get better, and that none of us really know what we're doing, then this whole process will have been worth it.' This is what good young adult fiction can do, and this one is just that.' * The Big Book Club *
