Book Review – It's Yr Life by Deckert and Bancks

New Book by Australian YA authors Tempany Deckert and Tristan Bancks

Jul 12, 2009

Two teens, one in Australia and one in the US, teamed together for a school assignment think that they have nothing in common, until they have no-one else they can trust.

Former Home and Away co-stars Tempany Deckert and Tristan Bancks have once again combined their talents, this time to co-author It’s Yr Life (Random House, 2009), a creative YA novel featuring a series of emails between two teenagers completing a high school assignment.

Sim is a 15-year-old boy from Byron Bay in Australia. He lives in a foster home, dumpster dives for his meals and wants to be a film-maker. Milla is a 15-year-old girl living in Hollywood with her movie producer father, gorgeous mother, younger brother and household staff.

Paired together for a school assignment, Sim and Milla are supposed to “build an email relationship” where they are encouraged to discover their “personal and cultural similarities and differences”. As Sim and Milla trade emails, they realise that they have more in common than they thought and discover that you can find friendship in the most unlikely places.

Modern YA Novel Format

Comprised primarily of emails between Sim and Milla, It’s Yr Life allows readers to get to know the central characters as they get to know each other. Information about US and Australian culture is scattered throughout the story, sometimes coming directly from Sim and Milla, other times coming in the form of website URLs.

With the use of frequent text-speak abbreviations, particularly in Sim’s emails, references to Google and other internet terms and the quick pace of the correspondence, the novel establishes and maintains a very modern communication style.

Both Sim and Milla are dealing with family issues that many teens will relate to. Milla’s parents’ marriage is in trouble and Milla must decide whether to speak out to help her mother. As a foster child, Sim struggles to know where he fits in, especially as he faces a mysterious discovery that has him questioning those he thought he could trust.

A Quirky Story about Modern Life

Information about significant political figures such as Australian Prime Ministers John Howard and Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush and references to topics such as the Stolen Generation in Australia and environmental and social issues present some big picture topics for readers to consider.

On a more personal level, Sim and Milla discuss Sim’s freegan lifestyle, movies, music, fashion and other pop culture subjects. They recommend specific websites or terms to Google, and it is worth taking the time to check the links they recommend.

The frequent references to current events and popular culture may result in the book feeling dated and irrelevant in a few years, although the references to social trends and cultural customs could also work in its favour as It’s Yr Life offers a snapshot of teen life in the early years of the new century.

Tristan Bancks and Tempany Deckert

It’s Yr Life was written via email exchange between the co-authors from opposite sides of the globe.

Tempany Deckert has appeared in Australian television programs such as Home & Away and The Secret Life of Us and her stage performances include the classic Australian play Away. She has authored 17 books for children including The Shooting Stars and Radio Rebels series. She also writes for the stage and screen.

Tristan Bancks is a writer and film-maker. He is the author of the Mac Slater, Cool Hunter series as well as the new Nit Boy series. His short films have won a number of awards and he has a background as a television actor and presenter in both Australia and the UK.

Fun Youth Fiction

With a combination of the everyday reality of life – family, friendships, bullying, relationships – and some quirky themes and twists, It’s Yr Life manages to be entertaining and informative. The humour in many of the emails between Milla and Sim also ad a great element of fun.

Sim and Milla’s initial antagonism, their developing friendship, their attitude to their assignment and their personal issues make for an interesting story while the additional facts and information add some depth to an otherwise fun and quirky read.

The copyright of the article Book Review – It's Yr Life by Deckert and Bancks in Australian Literature is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Book Review – It's Yr Life by Deckert and Bancks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.