Getting Somewhere

Dinah has always felt inferior to her twin sister Stacy – especially since childhood meningitis left her partially deaf and caused her to miss a year off school.

Now Stacy has left home to study Drama at college and her life seems exciting, adult and accomplished to Dinah, whose only passions are Maths and Kyle, the friend with whom she would like to have a romantic relationship.Slowly, with the support of her family and friends – and a realisation that the glamour she sees in others’ lives is too often superficial – she begins to hone her own academic aspirations in the field of mathematics. Here, Pausacker’s control of the narrative loosens: rather too much time is spent on expounding and developing mathematical theories.

Her new-found confidence helps her to understand that her listening skills and sound advice are invaluable to her friends and she is able to summon up the courage to begin a relationship with Kyle. The message to young women is clear and welcome: rejoice in your talents and fly as high as you can.