REVIEW: Tall Story by Candy Gourlay

Review by Mel.

Be careful what you wish for... Andi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long lost half brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London, where he belongs. Then Andi's biggest wish comes true and she's minutes away from becoming someone's little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he'll turn out to be tall and just as mad as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he's tall all right. But he's not just tall... he's a GIANT.

I didn't really know what to expect from Tall Story. Reading the blurb, I couldn't be sure whether it was a contemporary novel, an urban fantasy or something entirely different. What I do know now is that it's all of these things and more.  I loved it!

It's written from the alternating perspectives of sister and brother, Bernardo and Andi, as their lives join after years of living on separate continents.  Both have their own histories, personalities and passions, but despite these differences, they learn to forge a warm relationship over the course of the story. Their journey is complicated - often hilarious and at times, incredibly moving. Alongside the family theme, there are also other plot strands involving witchcraft, legend, wish fulfilment, gigantism and gender inequality to list but a few. This book is tardis-like - small on the outside, but massive once you're inside. It's hard to describe the full scope here, but it's definitely not just about basketball!

So hats off to Candy Gourlay. Tall Story is a cracking debut, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys multi-layered, heartwarming stories with a touch of magic. A potential classic.

Review by Mel

Comments

[Kate Pinn]

Wow! The blurb wouldn't have intrigued me but your review does! It sounds like a superb read. Amazing review.

[Jesse Owen]

Great review - it's made me add it to my wishlist!

[Candy Gourlay]

thanks so much for your kind review, mel - i keep getting emails asking if andi and bernardo will figure in another book and it had never occurred to me! i'm so pleased you enjoyed it!