Barry Jonsberg’s
H is for Happiness is a reissue of My
Life as an Alphabet, published early 2013. This stunning piece of work
deserves all the kudos it receives. It won the 2013 Gold Inky, the Children’s
Peace Literature Award, the 2014 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, and was
short-listed for the CBCA Awards in 2014, and a string of other awards. Now the
movie is being released early 2020.
The prose sizzles through the voice of protagonist,
Candice Phee – a girl different to other children. She marches to her own tune;
is clever and loving. Friendless apart from Douglas Benson From Another
Dimension, Candice is unfazed by the ridicule she receives at school. She sees
the good in everyone and never speaks negatively to, or about, anyone. She
adores her Rich Uncle Brian who is estranged from his brother, Candice’s dad.
Douglas is also a rare individual. They fit
together perfectly, as they accept each other’s idiosyncrasies as normal. Douglas
is trying to find a way to return to what he believes, is his real family in an
alternate universe.
A class assignment is set. Each pupil must write
about themselves. Each paragraph must begin with a letter of the alphabet, from
A to Z. But one paragraph per letter is barely enough for the expansive and
eloquent Candice.
This opens the closed doors of Candice’s life and
thoughts. It is through these alphabetically listed paragraphs, that Jonsberg
reveals a detailed and intimate view of just how extraordinary is his main
character. For this book is all about Candice.
The serious problem of loneliness grows worse in
the Phee family. Since the death of her baby Frances, Mum lies on her bed all
the time and never smiles. Her father’s escape is the garage and his computer.
Since his falling out with his brother and the ending of their business
partnership, he is withdrawn and broody. Home is a dark place.
Candice misses her family. She is determined to
bring happiness back into their lives as she can no longer endure the
depressive sadness that has destroyed her parents.
This is an outstanding novel; perfectly executed
and delivered. His previous book, A Song
Only I can Hear, published in 2018 has
now been optioned for a film with the screenplay underway.
Title:
H for Happiness
Author:
Barry Jonsberg
Publisher:
Allen & Unwin, $16.99
Publication
Date: January 2020
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781760527402
For
ages: 10 - 13
Type:
Teenage Fiction