Twister

Twister’s adored father has disappeared leaving her with a depressed mother and Aunt Honey who provides delicious home-cooked meals but doesn’t have much time left over for her niece as she is busy running the farm. At school Twister doesn’t fare much better as the other children find her ways odd and ignore her. Their strict teacher Miss Ida does not understand how bright Twister is either. But it is the relentless bullying brutally meted out by Clem that wears her down the most although it is clear that Clem has been abused by his own father who is in prison. The only comfort Twister finds is in her dog Point.

One day fleeing for her life from Clem and his gang who have threatened to cut out her tongue, Twister runs into the reclusive Turrety Knocks whose wife and daughter have recently died in a fire. He gives her a letter from her father which sets Twister off on a perilous journey to find him and make her mother smile again. At this point the story becomes increasingly more fantastical involving a powerful witch Maymay, an ancient and dangerous magical necklace which gives the wearer the power to shape-shift, a ghost child and an evil villain, White Eye.

What stands out in this novel is the unique voice of Twister – she is feisty and brave, fiercely loyal and warm-hearted – a force of nature to be reckoned with like her namesake. There is a strong sense of place too and the writing is wonderfully evocative. At times, though, the magical realism convolutes the narrative unnecessarily and stems the flow. This is a surprisingly dark and menacing tale and the casual violence is perhaps a little too harsh in places. Clem never has to account for his actions as he moves away. Although not exactly a happy ending, there is a satisfying resolution to this original and striking novel.