Don't Breathe a Word by Marianne Musgrove
Book Review of New Novel by Author of The Worry Tree
Aug 26, 2009
Australian author Marianne Musgrove offers readers aged 10+ a touching story about the struggles of two sisters dealing with their grandfather’s erratic behaviour. Don’t Breathe a Word (Random House, 2009) shows with humour and thoughtful insight how confusing and challenging dementia can be for both the sufferers and those who love them.
Don’t Breathe a Word
Mackenzie and Tahlia Carew have lived with their grandfather since their parents died in a boating accident when they were young children. Their comfortable life with their grandfather is shaken up when he suffers a fall that not only puts him in hospital overnight, but alerts their older half-sister Lydia to his failing physical and mental health.
Tahlia and Mackenzie make a promise not to let anyone know how confused and unreliable their grandfather has become. They try to hide his irrational behaviour from Lydia and their neighbours, but there is only so much that two girls can do on their own. As things go from bad to worse, Mackenzie must make some difficult choices to protect those she loves.
Discussing Dementia with Children
Don’t Breathe a Word is a touching story with engaging characters and an enjoyable element of humour. The everyday life sibling rivalries and friendship issues offer a contrast to the central storyline of the grandfather’s deteriorating mental health.
Narrated by 11-year-old Mackenzie, who is preoccupied with the everyday challenges of homework and friendships, this story introduces readers to the issue of dementia and the problems that can be caused when the carer/child relationship is reversed.
As Mackenzie struggles to protect her grandfather from himself and maintain the facade of normality, she discovers that there are people in her life that she can rely on and trust to help her. There is a strong message throughout the book that problems are more easily faced when they are shared and the importance and value of good friendships and caring relationships.
Marianne Musgrove
An enthusiastic author since childhood, South Australian author Marianne Musgrove’s first novel, The Worry Tree (Random House, 2007) was granted the 2008 Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature and was shortlisted for three other awards including the 2007 National Children’s Peace Literature Award.
In 2008 Musgrove published her second novel, Lucy the Good (Random House, 2008).
Introducing Themes of Aging and Mental Health
As with the recently released Pearl verses the World by Sally Murphy, Don’t Breathe a Word offers young readers a gentle introduction to some difficult issues. Using this novel as a starting point for discussions at home or school, topics such as dementia, friendships, family relationships and what types of secrets might be considered inappropriate or harmful can be raised. Teachers' notes for Don't Breathe a Word are available.
Don’t Breathe a Word is an engaging story told with a light touch, with sufficient secondary characters and storylines to prevent it from becoming moralistic or depressing. It raises important issues in a way that readers will relate to. It is suitable for readers aged 10+ and will perhaps appeal to girls more than boys given the two central characters are 11 and 15-year-old girls.
Don’t Breathe a Word (ISBN: 978-1-74166-296-2, 137 pages)
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