Image source: John Marsden website
John Marsden was best known for his Young Adult book series and titles such as Tomorrow when the War Began but here are the titles that I would also like to highlight. I have put the covers I remember - many of these do have updated newer covers. You might also like to notice some of the wonderful illustrators featured here too - Matt Ottley, Shaun Tan, Peter Gouldthorpe, Sally Rippin and Craig Smith. I should also mention my former school and library had a small connection with John Marsden because his niece and nephew attended my school and he kindly gifted us many of his picture book titles.
This one was a very popular class read aloud in several of my previous schools
This is a very important book that explores the issues surrounding the detention of refugees.
1988 Winner, CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers
Bio from Goodreads: John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted, “John Marsden wanted young Australians to read more, and his writing made that happen. Vivid, funny, quintessentially Australian, he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people’s character. His was a great Australian voice that spoke to all ages, here and around the world. John’s work will live long in our national memory.” Kirkus
Read some tributes and other links:
John Marsden's tips for parents (Victorian Parents Council's Facebook Post August 23rd, 2019)
1. Give children space. Back off. Let them roam. Let them be bored. Don't over-plan their lives. Cut way back on the after-school activities programs.
2. Keep away from all those ghastly, soulless, sterile playgrounds. Keep away from shopping malls. Look for real places. Wild places.
3. Be an adult. Say no to your children at least once a day. If the role of adult in your family is vacant, then one of your children will fill it. And it won't be pretty.
4. Don't take up all the space. If you are dominating, loud, forceful, your children are highly likely to become passive, lacking spirit and personality … and/or sullen.
5. Believe about 40 per cent of the dramatic stories your children tell you of the injustices, corruption and satanic practices happening at school.
6. Teach them empathy. For example, after their jubilant victory celebrations when they win a sporting match, remind them that their jubilation was only possible because someone else – the losers – have been made to feel awful.
7. Help them develop language skills. Don't finish their sentences for them. Don't correct them when they mispronounce a word – they'll work it out sooner or later. Ask them open-ended questions, that need a detailed answer, not Yes/No questions.
8. Make sure they have regular jobs/duties at home and that those jobs are done to a consistently high standard.
9. Don't whinge endlessly about the miseries of your adult life. A lot of children now are fearful about growing up because their parents paint such a grim picture of the awfulness ahead.
10. Teach them to be very wary of people who Absolutely Know the Absolute Truth about Absolutely Everything! The colour of truth is always grey. Extreme positions are for the ignorant. Every creature, every person and every situation is complex. The universe is a wonderful mystery.”
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